A new arrival to Oldtimer Australia is this majestic Australian delivered 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost.

The build sheets on file confirm that this particular chassis was on test on the 20th April 1921, off test and delivered to Lillie Hall on the 13th August 1921. The car was despatched shortly thereafter to be loaded on the ship the SS Euripidies bound for Sydney.

The car was sold through Dalgety & Co, the Australian Rolls-Royce agent in Sydney to a Mr AP Mullens of Strathfield, Sydney in New South Wales. Mullins engaged the services of coach builders Smith & Waddington of Camperdown, Sydney to build a body for the car. He decided the car should have a California hardtop style body, similar to what he had seen on cars during his recent visit to the USA.

Mullens used the car regularly, often driving it work which was a short trip of around 6 miles each way. When Mullens wasnt using the Silver Ghost his wife would use the services of their part time chauffeur, Harry Wilson, to drive her around in the car.

Unfortunately, their marriage didnt last and when they separated Mrs Mullens (née Todman) kept the house, the Silver Ghost and the chauffeur! In the late 1920s Mrs Mullens decided it was time for a new car. She purchased a Cadillac and the Silver Ghost was parked up. Unfortunately, the Cadillac had lots of issues and a decision was made to recondition the Silver Ghost and return it to service.

For practical and social reasons it was commonplace to rebody prestige cars back in this period. In 1935 Mrs Mullins decided that she wanted a new Silver Ghost and she engaged the services of Sydney based coach builders Jackson, Jones and Collins Ltd to build a new seven seat aluminium limousine style body for the car. Whilst the new body was being built, Rolls-Royce agent Appleby & Ward went about overhauling the chassis from front to back. The car was painted dark blue with black mudguards and the period photos on file show a grand and very regal looking limousine!

Mrs Mullens kept the car until after World War II. In 1945 it was sold by Appleby and Ward on her behalf to WH Bull Pty Ltd, undertakers from Newtown in central Sydney. It was only used by them for a short period and it then passed through a few owners in quick succession, before being acquired by Mr RJ Field from Leura in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales in November 1950.

Field intended to use the car as a tourist hire car in the Blue Mountains, however, the licensing authority wouldnt give him the necessary approvals to do so. Field then sold the car to a poultry farmer, Granny Brown, from Kellyville, Sydney. The condition of the Silver Ghost was slowly deteriorating and its subsequent owner, Mr Zane Yalaski, intended to refresh the car mechanically. He had started to strip the engine but was unfortunately killed when he collided with a train (whilst driving another car!) at a rail crossing. Mr George Williams from Glebe, Sydney acquired the car from Yalaskis estate. Unfortunately, Williams made no progress in getting the Silver Ghost back on the road. He had a shortage of storage space and as a result was a motivated seller when he was approached by Rolls-Royce enthusiast John Gillies in October 1960.

Gillies was not a fan of the current body on the car and soon had it removed. The car remained a rolling chassis for many years until in 1970 Gillies had the opportunity to acquire a 7 passenger touring body (circa 1927, understood to have been built by Queensland Motor Bodies in Brisbane) that was fitted to a 1913 Silver Ghost belonging to Mr Graham Wilkinson from Brisbane.

Gillies quickly had the car back on the road and Titania (named after the Queen of the Fairies) was finished in time to be driven to Canberra in June 1970 for the Rolls-Royce Owners Club Federal Rally. It is understood that Gillies fully restored the car during his ownership. He was then able to use and enjoy the car, often attending various Rolls-Royce Owners Club of Australia events and rallies.

In 1978 the car was put up for sale and acquired by George Sicklinger from Emerald, which is a small country town some 270 km west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. For the next 23 years the car remained in Emerald. It was used sparingly over the years, with its longest trip understood to be a return trip to Springsure and a journey of around 168 miles. The cars noted claim to fame during Sicklingers ownership was that it was occasionally used to carry some high profile dignities around the district, including Prime Ministers Whitlam and Fraser.

The current owner acquired this Silver Ghost in May 2001 and decided to rename the car to Sir Roderick or Roddy for short, after the famous ghost in Gilbert and Sullivans comic opera Ruddigore.

The Silver Ghost hadnt been used for a while so it was decided to have it transported to vintage car specialist Joe Wilson in Sumner Park, Brisbane. After some light recommissioning work it was deemed the car was ready to be used and enjoyed as its makers intended. It was soon a regular attendee on various Rolls-Royce Owners Club and Vintage Car Club of Queensland events and rallies. The car successfully completed a 1,250 mile trip from Brisbane to Longreach, Queensland (and back) in 2002. The car ran well, though it was using a considerable amount of oil.

Later in 2002, Roddys next adventure was a trip to Armidale in New South Wales. Whilst the car ran well it became obvious that the car was mechanically tired and it was time for an engine rebuild. The car was taken off the road and the work began. The engine was removed from the car and subsequently rebuilt. With the engine out, the chassis was stripped and repainted along with the axles, petrol tank, linkages and anything else that needed a refresh. At the same time a decision was made to repaint the car in its current colour of Royal Plum with black guards. A new hood was also fitted and the interior was retrimmed.

All this work was completed in time for the 2004 Rolls-Royce Owners Club of Australias Federal Rally in Melbourne.

Over the last 20 years, this Silver Ghost has been used and enjoyed exactly as its makers intended. It has successfully completed some remarkable journeys along the way, acquitting itself admirably wherever it was taken.

Some of its major adventures include the 100th Anniversary of the Silver Ghost celebrations in England and Scotland in 2007, a trip from Brisbane to Darwin and back to Brisbane (a 4,200 mile trip) in 2011, two trips to Tasmania and various Rolls-Royce Owners Club of Australia Federal Rallies and events.

In 2017 and after 17 years of enjoyable motoring, the car was taken to David Fords restoration workshop in Stanthorpe, Queensland, for some loving care and attention. New valves, seats and guides were installed, the governor was repaired, new springs and rollers were installed, the door hinges were repaired and the bodywork was refurbished.

In April 2023 the car went back to Ford for a major service and mechanical work, which included fitting a new clutch.

Since that time the car has only been used sparingly.

This 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost has been an integral part of the current owners life for the past 25 years. He has incredibly fond memories from his time with this fabulous car, but has made the difficult decision that the time is right for it to pass on to its next custodian.

Today this Silver Ghost still presents really well, particularly considering that it is a car that has been driven. From say a meter the paint looks stunning, accentuated by its unique and fabulous colour scheme, however, on closer inspection there are some defects. There are some stone chips, cracks and blemishes here and there, though it is the black guards that present with the most wear and tear. The bright work is subtle, though the tall, upright and perfectly proportioned polished nickel radiator shell rises proudly at the front of the car with an almost architectural presence. Crowning the radiator is the famous Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. Its overall condition is very good.

The interior presents nicely and its everywhere you look there are signs of meticulous craftsmanship. The button tufted upholstery is in good condition with no rips, tears or damage. Ahead of the driver, the dashboard is a work of art in itself. Finished in polished timber, it is adorned with an array of finely crafted instruments and controls, each with a purposeful and elegant appearance. All the instruments and controls are working, with the exception of the speedo. This car has a right hand gear shift and the tall lever is housed within a distinctive metal gate. The gears are clearly numbered with visible slots that physically guides the movement of the gear lever through the shift pattern.

The current owner prefers open top motoring, hence, the two tonneau covers are often used. The car does have a soft top, though it has rarely seen the light of day. It is somewhat of an exercise to get it up, but once you know how it can be raised and lowered expeditiously. The soft top is in good condition, though the small rear screen is coming loose. The large trunk fitted to rear of the car is currently full of tools and miscellaneous spare parts.

Access to the engine bay is from either side of the long bonnet, beneath which sits the imposing 7.4-litre (7,428 cc) inline six cylinder engine. Visually, the engine bay is every bit as impressive as the mechanical specification. Everything is relatively neat, clean and tidy.

This car was never intended to be a concours winner, rather its strength is its mechanical condition. The current owner has done everything he could to make sure this Silver Ghost is a reliable car and we can confirm that he succeeded in that.

Starting the car is not a simple as just turning the key, in fact it doesnt even have a key, but when you understand and follow the starting procedure it isnt that complicated. If you are familiar with vintage cars you will understand! You need to turn the battery isolator off, set the ignition timing and throttle controls, set the mixture control, prime the carburettor, turn the fuel pump on, turn the ignition on and you are ready to start the car. The starter button is a foot control on the firewall. Follow the steps and the car will start easily and it immediately settles into a smooth idle. The first thing you notice is how quiet the engine is. You must let it warm up before driving.

From the moment you settle behind the large steering wheel and glance across the long bonnet, there is an overwhelming sense of theatre. The upright driving position and commanding view ahead make you feel more like a chauffeur or captain than a conventional driver. There is a wonderful awareness of the cars scale and presence, and the vast bonnet stretching toward the radiator seems to disappear into the horizon.

This is a car that engages all of your senses and the overall driving experience is extremely rewarding. The car has more than enough power and torque, which ensures that it will easily keep up with modern traffic and cruise the motorways in comfort. The gated gear selector requiring measured movements and the non-synchromesh gearbox rewards patience and technique, making each shift feel satisfying and deliberate . . . particularly when you get it right!

The steering is quite direct, though heavy at parking speed. Being a 1921 model, this car is fitted with two wheel (rear) brakes only. The brakes work, but the pedal is heavy and it requires a firm push to pull the car up.

Indicators are fitted for enhanced driver safety. They are operated by a switch under the dash.

Driving this car is an event and most memorable of all is the occasion it creates. People wave, smile and stare. Driving a Silver Ghost is not simply transportation, it is stepping back into an era when motoring was an adventure and the process of driving itself was every bit as important as the destination.

Accompanying this car are two tonneau covers (one front and one rear), side curtains, two spare wheels (one mounted on either side of the car), two tool kits (see photos), miscellaneous tools & spare parts (in the trunk), an excellent history file which contains the original build sheets as well as the original Owners Manual.

The car is competitively priced and we think offers great value for money.

Highlights:

- an Australian delivered example.
- matching numbers chassis & engine.
- a rich and fascinating history.
- well known in the Rolls-Royce community.
- a fabulous driving car.

Price $189,950.