Rolls-Royce has announced plans to produce 35 bespoke edition Silver Ghosts in homage to the 1907 original, which ended up inspiring a model line that ran for two decades and produced nearly 7,500 cars.
The company says it will produce a “collection” of 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghost, the full-size luxury sedan unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and on sale since September 2009, to commemorate the 1907 Silver Ghost’s long distance run of 23,128 km to promote the start-up company and the reliability and refinement of its car.
“The extraordinary accomplishments of our marque’s founding fathers are honoured by the creation of this elegant ‘Silver Ghost Collection,’” said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective masterfully weave the rich narrative of the original ‘Silver Ghost’ into just 35 motor cars, creating a contemporary homage to the original motor car.”
Rolls-Royce says its Collection Cars are born-collectibles destined to become future classic, hand-crafted by the talented artisans of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design team. The Silver Ghost collection includes “references” to the past skillfully crafter into the interior and exterior, to make this a much a representative of the current line as a throw to the past.
The signature cue is a sterling silver Spirit of Ecstasy (even though the sculpture wasn’t on The Silver Ghost, having been introduced to the marque in 1911) on a black-gold base engraved with the collection name and bearing a newly designed Hallmark of AX201 (the registration plate of the original), itself engraved on a hammered copper insert (in tribute to the metal extensively used in the original’s engine bay).
In tribute to the original’s shiny silver body, the body of the Silver Ghost Collection car is painted in Cassiopeia Silver, a complex silver paint that shows both warm and cool tones, is imbued with 100% pure silver particles and takes 8 hours to apply by hand.
The classic waterfall Rolls-Royce grille is fitted with black painted grille veins, meant to mimic The Silver Ghost’s black grille, and the polished-wheel centres feature a “SILVER GHOST – SINCE 1907” engraving on a Cassiopeia Silver backing.
Opening up the cabin, you’re first struck by the “Silver Ghost Collection – One of Thirty-Five” door sill plates, and the Forest Green leather (a nod to the original’s interior) on the door trim accents and seat piping, as well as newly-designed silver-tipped leather on the map pockets. Open pore wood panels are inset into the door trim caps and on the instrument panel, emblazoned with the silver-ingot clock engraved with the “Silver Ghost Since 1907” tagline and the hallmarks of the collection.
Accessories include the umbrellas (with wood handles and collection colours) stored in the doors for ready access when needed, a centre console stocked with bespoke sunglasses, a time piece, accessory case and a pen, and a Silver Ghost hamper for al fresco dining when desired.
The 35 bespoke Ghosts will be created at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex.