The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, is the car that made its reputation as the most reliable luxury car builder in the world. This shimmering car was impossible to ignore. It quickly became known as The Silver Ghost, a name that was bestowed on it because its shimmering appearance and the fact that it moved as quietly as a ghost. In 1907 the Silver Ghost name was born when Rolls-Royce managing director, Claude Johnson, who was known for his promotional skills, silver plated all the fittings of a 40/50 horsepower Rolls-Royce, and while he was at it, painted the body silver. The Silver Ghost name caught on and was eventually used for all the 40/50hp cars built between 1907 and 1925. The original car earned its place in automotive history by helping to forge the reputation of Rolls-Royce as the builder of the most reliable cars in the world. In May 1907 Johnson, under the watchful eye of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC), drove the car to Scotland and back using just one gear. A feat made possible by the high torque engine. The Silver Ghost covered the 2000 mile route with no problems and later, Johnson and a team of drivers motored effortlessly up and down Britain for almost 15000 miles virtually non-stop, without any breakdowns. This was more than twice the existing record of 7089 miles. The car was awarded a gold medal by the RAC and it secured its place in history.
Keywords
Rolls-Royce, Silver Ghost, Claude Johnson, Royal Automobile Club
