Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith I gallery (1946–1959)
The first post-war Rolls-Royce vehicle, built primarily with custom coachbuilt bodies from independent styling houses.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith was the brand's first post-war passenger car introduced in 1946, laying the foundation for the company's revival. Built on a separate ladder-frame chassis sharing engineering fundamentals with the Bentley Mark VI, it featured an extended wheelbase designed to accommodate bespoke coachwork. Customers could choose from various independent coachbuilders like Park Ward, Hooper, James Young, and Freestone & Webb, resulting in highly customized limousines, sedans, coupes, and convertibles. Initially powered by a 4.25-liter inline-six engine with an overhead inlet and side exhaust valve configuration, the displacement was increased to 4.56 liters in 1951 to improve performance. Power was routed through a manual transmission before transitioning to a GM-derived four-speed Hydramatic automatic gearbox in later years, significantly enhancing driving refinement. The suspension utilized independent coil springs at the front and a live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, featuring driver-adjustable ride control dampers. Throughout its production run until 1959, the model received continuous bespoke interior and exterior refinements tailored to an elite clientele including heads of state and aristocracy. Primary export markets included the United Kingdom, European nations, and Commonwealth territories.
