The first post war Rolls Royce model was the Silver Wraith which was built from 1946 to 1959.

The initial 127″ wheel base chassis was similar to the pre war Wraith with independent front suspension and semi elliptical leaf springs for the live rear axle.

The 6 cylinder motor was fitted with a new cylinder head that featured overhead inlet valves and side exhaust valves, in 1951 the displacement was increased to 4566 cc / 278 cui as seen fitted to the vehicle built in 1952 featured today.

The Royal houses of Holland, Denmark and Greece all selected Silver Wraith’s for their automotive collections. Silver Wraiths were also chosen as Presidential vehicles by the Brazilian and Irish governments and I believe both are still in use.

Reassuringly expensive Silver Wrath models have landed roles in numerous films including The Return Of the Pink Panther (1975), Arthur (1981), a fine Sedanca de Ville by Hooper bodied example in Withnail and I (1987) and Batman Returns (1992).

Chassis #WVH4 was the last to be bodied by Rippon Bros, the Silver Wrath was also the last model to be offered as a powered chassis, and appeared at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show. More recently after a restoration that started in 2002 this car appeared in the 2011 film The Deep Blue Sea.

In all 1883 Silver Wraith’s were manufactured 639 of them with a 133″ long wheel base option, that was available from 1951 and replaced the 127″ wheel base chassis completely in 1953.

Thanks for joining me on this “Royal Presidential Film Star” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at the reincarnation of a World Land Speed Record Car that lay buried beneath the Pendine Sands for 40 years. Don’t forget to come back now !