ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER WRAITH

The 'Silver Wraith' was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959.
The first cars had a 127 inch wheelbase chassis based on the one from the pre-war Wraith with coil sprung independent front suspension and semi elliptic rear with a live axle. The engine was also based on the Wraith but had a new cylinder head with overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves and initially a capacity of 4257 cc. From 1951 this was increased to 4566 cc and in 1954 to 4887 cc on the long wheelbase models. The braking system was a hybrid hydromechanical system with hydraulic front brakes and mechanical rears using the mechanical servo from the pre-war cars.
The long, 133 inch, wheelbase chassis was announced in 1951 and 639 were made until 1959. The last short wheelbase cars were made in 1953.
Initially only a four speed manual gearbox was offered but this was suplemented by a General Motors automatic option from 1952.
None of the cars carried factory bodies, all chassis going to independent coachbuilders.
The Irish Presidential State Car is a 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.