1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith

1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith -- Additional Info:

This 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith was arguably the finest car in the world when it was built, and today it still puts many luxury machines to shame. With old world presence, the Wraiths are some of the most exquisite of the coachbuilt cars that were hand-tailored to their owners' tastes, making this elegant beauty a very special machine in today's mass-produced world. When you show up in this car, there's no question what it is, and even someone... who's never seen a Rolls-Royce before will innately recognize that this is an important car with an important person inside. The two-tone color combination was about as flashy as Rolls-Royce got, and it highlights the most interesting aspects of the car quite nicely, particularly that long hood and sweeping fenders, complements of familiar Rolls-Royce coachbuilder Thrupp & Maberly and their Sports Saloon body. The paint job was done in the 70s to a very high level and uses traditional colors to great effect and it has lost none of the hand-crafted details that make Rolls-Royce motorcars so special. It's unlikely you'll ever see another one at a red light, and even at shows, this car will draw a crowd because everyone recognizes that towering grille and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. And speaking of the grille, it shines up beautifully and might be the most recognizable shape in the automotive world, and there's enough chrome and brightwork on the rest of the car to make it look very substantial indeed. The opulent deep burgundy leather interior is every bit as supple and comfortable as you would hope in a car like this. For some, the choice may seem out of character (we get so used to seeing mohair inside pre-war cars), but it was actually a very popular choice, hearkening back to the days of early coachbuilding where the cabins would get dark leather seats to protect against stains. The front seat shows the most age (chauffeurs always logged the most miles), while the rear seat, door panels, and headliner have held up very well in the decades since this Rolls was expertly restored. That's real burled walnut trim on the doors and instrument panel, and while it shows some lights signs of age, it also has a wonderful, warm patina that would be a shame to erase. Centrally-mounted Smiths gauges look the same as they did for decades, with white numbers on a black background and their unique upside-down orientation. All the handles and switches are substantial chrome pieces that feel expensive and when it's closed up, the interior is as quiet as a tomb. Rear seat passengers are treated to ample leg room and there's a well-shaped trunk offering plenty of luggage space. The pre-war Wraith was powered by the steadfast 4,257cc (260 CID) overhead-valve straight six-cylinder engine, which was a smooth and torquey motor that was right up there with the best built of the era. It looks somewhat complex in the engine bay, but works superbly and idles almost silently, moving the car with a sophisticated hum that's perfect for the big sedan. That silky smooth performance is thanks to Rolls Royce's adoption of the cross-flow cylinder head for the Wraith's engine (just like the one in the 4.5L Bentley), which placed the exhaust ports on opposite sides of the block. Seems simple now but it was quite revolutionary for 1938. It has been well-maintained, which is critical in a car like this, and thanks to a 4-speed manual transmission featuring synchromesh in all gears but 1st, it's actually very easy to drive. The front suspension features independent coil springs, while the rear axle hangs on leather-wrapped, semi-elliptical leaf springs. Handsome wire wheels are fitted inside 6.00-19 whitewall tires that look extremely impressive and complete the look. With only around 490 Wraith chassis ever produced, this special Rolls-Royce is a very rare piece of automotive history. Beautifully restored many years ago and well-maintained ever since, it's a turn-key marvel of British engineering that we're proud to feature in our inventory. Call today!