Old Rolls Royce Wallpapers

Old Rolls-Royce cars have been a passion since the age of ten, when I was captivated by a Brewster P-I tourer in a California museum. In the late 1960's I took the leap and purchased a 20/25 and later a 1939 Wraith which I kept 27 years. Ever-increasing pressure of work eventually deprived me of time to use the car often enough, so I reluctantly parted with the Wraith and went "Rolls-less" for five dreary years.

By the time I went shopping again, e-mail had come into use, and as it happened, I wrote the Rolls/Bentley publisher and historian Bernard King, telling him I was driving to see an especially lovely 20/25 car in Maryland, GPG70. On returning home, the following e-message was waiting: "News travels fast and Bernard has just rung me with the news that you are going to inspect this car . . . Where do I start? GPG70 was the second of my grandfather's Rolls-Royces . . . (!)" The writer, Will Morrison, is not only the grandson of the original owner, he owns a handsome 1936 Bentley and is a researcher who traces Rolls and Bentley car histories for customers under his business name MotorHistorica. And so the story of GPG70 emerged, not through months of searching on my part, but miraculously, from someone who has first-hand knowledge.
The car was bought by William Morrison as a "retirement treat" when he stepped down from the board of the Distillers Company in Glasgow at age 70. The chassis was ordered in November of 1934 and sent to Hooper for "allweather" coachwork. His younger son (also William) had a hand in the design and especially wanted rakish front wings "like the MG's used by the Glasgow Police." The result was more conservative; Will says: "Possibly Grandpa put his foot down!" A native Highlander, Morrison used the car for sporting and fishing trips but did not drive it himself. When the car passed to his eldest son, Myles (Will's uncle), the family continued to employ a chauffeur, but Myles loved to drive and care for the car himself and had a spacious workshop with a pit. Also an avid climber, Myles went off to Everest at the age of 68 and walked the base camps (18,000 feet) in his kilt!

In the late 1960's Myles met Ronald Henges from St. Louis at a vintage car rally in Glasgow. Mr. Henges admired the car and seven years later, when Myles was 71, reached an agreement for purchase. GPG70 then came to join Henges' Springfield P-I "Tilbury", S123RP in October of 1974.
Aspects of formal elegance obviously have not been the most important criteria when this design was developed. What was the reason then for Hooper who were renowned for their attractive creations to erect this body on the chassis of the Rolls-Royce Phantom II #89MW that was delivered to H.H. The Maharajah Sir Sawai of Jaipur? This remarkable design can be traced back to the year 1926 and early Rolls-Royce Phantom I experimental cars. The manufacturer had not been amused when tests had shown that the new Rolls-Royce Phantom's top speed and acceleration was inferior to what had been achieved with certain Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the predecessor. Frederick Henry Royce did investigate and found as a major reason that over the years coachwork had become much heavier. To a certain extent that was due to higher weight of components (to increase stability), though the fact that more opulent features (fitted to meet clients' demands) added weight couldn't be neglected either. The company ordered three special bodies from various coachbuilders. These were open touring cars that combined lightweight and stability with a coachwork to a design by Ivan Evernden, a member from the team of F.H. Royce. For that period the design was far ahead of its time and the result were true sports cars. These were as fast expected – as regards acceleration and top speed they did beat the ‘old’ Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.
Brewster & Co., a very old (okay, by American standards), internationally known and respected coachbuilder had reached a pinnacle of its success when in 1878 the company's entries at the Paris Exposition won highest awards. Hence the New York based coachbuilder's world-wide reputation had its roots in the era of horse drawn vehicles. Their first experience on a Rolls-Royce chassis dated from 1908. In 1914, Brewster & Co. became sales agents for Rolls-Royce, Ltd. The company had moved into a huge new building at Queensboro Plaza, Long Island City; most carefully Rolls-Royce had chosen a top address in the trade as their agent. Brewster & Co. built bodies for quite a few Rolls-Royce chassis which had been imported directly from

The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost built prior to the Great War had earned the much envied slogan "The Best Car in the World". The cars built after hostilities had ceased remained the best money could buy as these were improved by light alloy pistons and electric self starters to name but the most important from a variety of modifications. Hence this Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, chassis number #72GE can be considered as a fine amalgamation of the best that was available both sides of the Atlantic. The body as a Sedanca Cabriolet offered rear seat passengers the snug comfort of a limousine when fully enclosed; the chauffeur might have been in a more exposed position with the hood above his place rolled back. But there was the choice too to fold down the top completely and enjoy to travel on board a cabriolet.
However this Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost wasn't employed too often, being but one of five cars in the family it was used as a "Town Car". When laid up in 1932 the mileage was a mere 7,000 miles. Very few miles were added since the car was found some time ago. It was carefully checked over and started and runs particularly quietly and well. The Silver Ghost is totally original including paint and interior. Neither the engine nor other technical components have been subject to any alterations - with the fine effect, that nothing had been treated insufficiently. At present the car is offered for sale in England. The price is £135,000, should you be interested, contact Rossfeldt Archives and e-mails, faxes or letters will be forwarded to the owner.