A STRIKINGLY MODERN SILVER GHOST

As is typical for a pre-World War I “parallel bonnet” Silver Ghost, the history of chassis number 1524 is fascinating reading. Its chassis’ original order was cancelled and reassigned to “Royalty,” with a Hooper limousine body ordered “like H.M. the King’s,” as recounted on the factory build records. However, this appears to have been a reach for a royal customer that came to naught; when no such buyer could be found, subsequent sheets in the records note “ex-Royalty,” with the customer name now recorded as C.H. (Charles H.) Angas, member of a prominent South Australian family and already a longstanding Rolls-Royce customer.

Prior to delivery to Mr. Angas, Rolls-Royce modified the new chassis to his order, fitting an external slipper drive in front of the timing case, necessitating a repositioning of the radiator and lengthening the hoodline. In addition, Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels were mounted, the steering rake altered, the rear axle ratio changed, and a Colonial-specification front axle fitted. Most prominently, the briefly mounted Hooper body was removed, and replaced with an unusually handsome open drive limousine crafted by Grosvenor, the owner’s favored coachbuilder. It is said that Mr. Angas contributed to the design of the body himself; if so, he missed his calling in the coachwork field, as the lines are strikingly beautiful and incredibly modern for the Brass Era, with body panels that flare upward into an elaborate outward-curving roofline, descending in a “C-curve” through the chauffeur’s compartment. Few limousines have ever been as sporting!

While in most recent years there was some discussion of whether chassis number 1524 appeared as-such when new, a photograph of the car in its complete state was published in the American publication Motor Age on 21 November 1912, showing it at the Angas townhouse on Brougham Place in Adelaide and confirming that it did indeed begin its useful life in this form. Mr. Angas was one of many early Silver Ghost owners who gave their cars fond nicknames; in fact one of his cars was the original “Silver Dawn,” from which Rolls-Royce would borrow that name in the post-war era. Chassis number 1524 was dubbed “The Dreamer,” a moniker which is very apropos and has remained ever since.

SALVATION OF A DREAM

Many Silver Ghosts fell slightly from grace in their “used car” years, and despite its pomp and circumstance, chassis number 1524 was no exception. It was reconditioned thoroughly by the factory for Mr. Angas in 1924. By the late 1930s, however, it had wound up at the railroad station in Koomooloo, with an open body mounted for use as a “hack.” By the early 1950s it was at the Koomooloo refuse facility, its chassis actually being used as part of the fencing! Fortunately, it was rescued from that fate by Robert Murray and brought to his friend Colin Angas, grandson of the original owner. This was a noble gesture but Colin Angas sold the car soon after to Gavin Sandford-Morgan; sufficient payment was the sale proceeds from the set of usable tires fitted, an indication of Angas the younger’s opinion of the car’s value!

Longtime Silver Ghost enthusiast and historian Charles Wright of Adelaide acquired 1524 from Sandford-Morgan in 1963, and invested many years in the yeoman task of its restoration to original condition, although with bodywork of considerably more conservative design. It remained with Mr. Wright until 2001, when it was purchased by Malcolm Jones, who undertook further authenticity and cosmetic improvements to the restoration, such as extensively reworking the coachwork to the original Grosvenor design, relocating the spare wheel, and fitting Lucas self-generating headlamps. Reportedly the bronze radiator mascot was the original for the car, and was reacquired from the Angas family during restoration.

The current collection acquired the car in 2012, and has further improved its restoration while also maintaining it in fine order. An examination of the Silver Ghost, included in the file, indicates that it retains what are believed to be all of its original mechanical components as rebuilt by the factory for delivery to Mr. Angas, save only for the gearbox which is nonetheless a correct replacement from another chassis. Accompanying the car is a detailed history file, including numerous articles, the aforementioned build information, and restoration invoices from the Johns and present ownerships.

An important formal Silver Ghost, “The Dreamer” is now fully resurrected, and stands ready to take pride of place in a new owner’s distinguished collection.