Rare Car Archive

Makes › Rolls-Royce United Kingdom › Silver Wraith › Silver Wraith · Rare production · 1946–1959

Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith

Silver Wraith built in 1,783 units at Crewe.

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (Wikimedia Commons search)
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
1946–1959
Engine
6-cylinder in-line · 4,257 cc / 4.3 LFactory: 4,257 cc
Power
94 kW / 128 PSFactory: 126 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Silver Wraith was Rolls-Royce's first post-war model, revealed in 1946 as a rolling chassis for coachbuilt bodies. It was the last Rolls-Royce model to offer a wide range of coachwork styles. The Phantom IV was built on a lengthened version of its chassis.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Revealed in April 1946, the Silver Wraith was sold as a rolling chassis. Independent coachbuilders such as H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward and Hooper supplied the bodies.

The car was updated through the 1950s. An engine bored out to 4,566 cc was phased in during 1951, and capacity reached 4,887 cc by 1954. An automatic gearbox became an option in 1952, power-assisted steering arrived in 1956, and a longer 133-inch wheelbase replaced the original 127-inch layout.

Production ended in 1959, when the six-cylinder engine was replaced by a V8.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Silver Wraith.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyB601 Independently researchedThe B60 engine line also powered the prewar Wraith.
Engine codeNot yet verified
Layout6-cylinder in-line2 Independently researched
Displacement 4,257 cc / 4.3 LFactory: 4,257 cc2,3 Independently researchedBase figure. S2 gives 4,566 cc from 1951 and 4,887 cc from 1954; S3 dates 4,887 cc to 1955.
Bore 88.9 mmFactory: 88.9 mm2 Independently researchedBase figure. S2 gives 92.08 mm from 1951 and 95.25 mm from 1954.
Stroke 114.3 mmFactory: 114.3 mm2 Independently researched
Compression ratio6.4:11 Independently researchedFigure for the 1954 museum car (4,566 cc), not a series figure.
Fuel systemStromberg carburettor; Zenith from 1951; twin SU from 19562 Independently researched
Power 94 kW / 128 PSFactory: 126 hp · converted3 Independently researched1947 figure from the S3 year table. S3 also lists 150 hp (1951-52), 125 hp (1953-56), 180 hp (1957), 177 hp (1958) and 135 hp (1959). S1 says the factory never revealed dynamometer outputs and cites 132-150 BHP from various sources. No rating standard is stated.
Power atNot yet verified
TorqueNot yet verified

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox4-speed manual synchromesh; 4-speed automatic option from 19521,2 Independently researchedS3 names the automatic option as General Motors Hydra-Matic.
Gears41 Independently researched
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisRolling chassis for coachbuilt bodies2 Independently researched
Front suspensionIndependent, coil springs2 Independently researched
Rear suspensionLive axle, semi-elliptic springs2,3 Independently researched
BrakesDrum, servo-assisted2 Independently researchedS3 describes hydraulic front brakes and mechanical rear brakes with a mechanical servo.
SteeringPower-assisted from 19562 Independently researched
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 3,225.8 mmFactory: 3,225.8 mm2 Independently researchedBase 127 in. S2 gives 3,378.2 mm (133 in) from 1951; S3 dates the 133 in wheelbase to November 1953.
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Most cars were bodied outside the factory, so the coachbuilder's records are the main identity check. H.J. Mulliner's files list individual cars by body number and design number.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Rolls Royce Silver Wraith 1 (1954 car, Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum) Level C Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum
    • These engines designated B60
    • COMPRESSION RATIO | 6.4:1
    • controlled an excellent 4 speed synchromesh gearbox
    • NUMBER OF FORWARD SPEEDS | 4
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith (1946-1958) Level C rrab.com
    • 6 cylinder in-line engine (Technical Data)
    • capacity 4,257 cc
    • bore x stroke 88.9 x 114.3 mm (Technical Data)
    • Stromberg carburettor (from 1951 Zenith carburettor, from 1956 twin SU carburettors)
    • from 1952 4-speed automatic gearbox optional
    • delivered these cars to be bodied by independent coachbuilders
    • independent front suspension with coil springs
    • semi-elliptic springs rear
    • drum brakes servo-assisted
    • power assisted steering in 1956
    • wheelbase 3,225.8 mm (127 in)
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  3. 3
    1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Level C conceptcarz.com
    • thus the same 4,257cc displacement
    • 6 cyl., 260.00 CID., 126.00hp
    • a live axle with convention semi-elliptic springs at the rear
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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