1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost ‘Top Hat Brougham de Ville’
Distinguished by its towering formal coachwork, the Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost “Top Hat Brougham de Ville” represented the height of Edwardian luxury motoring.
The body style featured an exceptionally tall enclosed passenger compartment that allowed occupants to enter without stooping (hence the “Top Hat” designation).
The opulent interior often showcased sumptuous upholstery in rich tapestry fabrics, frequently depicting elaborate hunting scenes in a baroque style, complemented by quilted leather seating and finely executed woodwork.
This formal coachwork configuration separated the open chauffeur’s compartment from the enclosed rear salon, providing maximum privacy and comfort for distinguished passengers.
The car featured a then-advanced 7.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 48 horsepower, with cylinders cast in twin blocks of three rather than the more common paired-cylinder layouts of the era. This design contributed to the exceptional smoothness and mechanical refinement that defined the Silver Ghost’s reputation.
Production of the Silver Ghost ran from 1906 to 1926, cementing Rolls-Royce’s standing through rigorous endurance testing, including the famous 15,000-mile reliability trial that helped establish the marque as “the best car in the world.”
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