Historic classic rides #2: Rolls Royce Silver Wraith State Landaulette by Hooper

State cars have always been a source of fascination for me: how the head of state traveled could indicate a lot about his/her prestige and, to an extent, the loyalty to the country. Most office-holders will travel around in the respective car brand from the country, but for those that do not have an automobile industry, it is also interesting to see what cars are used too. I was inspired to find out more about these special cars from an Instagram post showing how the vehicles featured in our National Day celebrations have changed over the decades, and was I surprised when I discovered this 1954 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith State Landaulette by Hooper that existed here before!

The Silver Wraith was the first post-war car made by RR, introduced in 1946. It replaced the earlier RR Wraith made between 1938 to 1939 (where 1 unit exits here!), although in keeping with the mood of post-war austerity, the size was somewhat reduced. England after the war had more urgent requirements than luxury cars: there was a shortage of raw materials and even petrol was rationed. As a result, RR was initially hesitant to take on this project. However, it was decided that both RR and Bentley cars, which were strictly separate series previously, would have parts that were interchangeable so as to cut costs.

Some changes included a more rigid frame, a newer type of gearbox and chromium-plated cylinder bores for the engine. As with RR cars of that period, only the chassis was provided and the bodywork were supplied by various independent coachbuilders: it was unlikely that 2 units looked alike due to customer specifications and requests. The Silver Wraith was available in 2 different wheelbases: 3226 mm and 3378 mm. Depending on the bodywork placed on the car, it could easily exceed 5 m in length. It was powered by a 4566 cc i6 engine, which was pretty huge considering the time period. Production of the Silver Wraith ended in 1958, of which 1,244 were the short-wheelbase version and 639 were the long-wheelbase version.

This particular unit [chassis number #BLW92] is not a typical Silver Wraith, but a one-off State Landaulette version built by Hooper & Co. The coachbuilder had been commissioned in 1953 to build this car, and other than its unique collapsible roof at the rear, it also featured a internal telephone, seats coated in special plastic to deter termites and teak covering the dashboard etc. In all, it weighed an estimated 2340 kg when it was sent to Singapore in 1954! The Governor of Singapore had used a RR Phantom III as his official car and this Silver Wraith was its replacement.

Throughout its time here, it was used for official duties such as ferrying our first President, Yusof bin Ishak: he is most well-known for gracing his visage on our dollar notes. Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh also travelled in it when he visited Singapore in 1959. Interestingly, it does not sport a number plate but a crown insignia instead. You can see how the landaulette would work in the above picture.

Unfortunately, it was sent back to Europe some time after 1965, where it was owned by a automobile collector: as seen below he took it to the Swiss Alps in one of his many adventures. It was also loaned for use in official ceremonies back in the UK as well: the late Queen Mother and Princess Alexandria travelled in it before. Currently, someone else bought it from the collector and it is now available for wedding rentals and film features, while sporting a nice number plate too.

It boggles the mind to imagine that such a grand, imposing car literally ruled the roads so long ago. Such a sight would be very uncommon nowadays, as flashiness is generally frowned upon in the current economic climate. This was a car that commanded immediate respect from the poor to the rich, and it continues to strike awe even today. It would have been really cool to see it still around here, but it seems like good things must come to an end. I hope this has given you a sneak peek of the over-the-top grandeur that we used to possess!

[Credits to National Archives of Singapore, rrab.com and Google Images]

More than an old car #109: Rolls Royce Camargue

Recently, I found out about a classic car drive that was taking place during Hari Raya public holiday and naturally it piqued my interest. Mr V graciously let me be his passenger for the day and it was really interesting to see many classics that I was aware of in the flesh. Among the many beauties that caught my eye, this 1975 Rolls Royce Camargue was a car that I had wanted to see for quite some time!

The Camargue was developed by Pininfarina, the famed car design company responsible for producing Ferraris at that time, and was designed to be the replacement for the Corniche. It was unveiled in 1975, with the distinction of the most expensive car in the world at £30,000 – equivalent to around S$413,410 in today's money. Interestingly, it shares its name with the Camargue region in southern France. A main selling point of the Camargue was the advanced automatic split-level climate control system: it could blow cold air in your face and hot air at your feet. Though modern cars feature them currently, it was the first of its kind back then.

Although it was intended to be the flagship model of RR, it was ultimately let down by poor styling. The Camargue featured a rather large grille that did not help to accentuate its supposed classiness, as it had to accommodate the huge 6750 cc V8 engine. Furthermore, the bodywork was deemed too bloated and slab-like, making the rear wheels look smaller than it looked. Early drawings of the car depicted a smaller front, and something seemed to be lost when translating into reality.

As a result of its fancy air-con system, the Camargue was twice as expensive as the hot favourite 4-door Silver Shadow and 50% more compared to the Corniche: it was therefore hard to justify why the Camargue was better than its siblings. Furthermore, while it faced little rivalry in the luxury-car niche, other cars such as the Ferrari 400 or Cadillac Eldorado were cheaper and of better quality. It could reach a top speed of 190 km/h, weighed 2330 kg and was 5169 mm long.

Production of the Camargue ended in 1986 with 531 made, of which only 184 were in RHD. In a rare instance, RR was vulnerable to complacency and lack of market understanding, as purists derided its astronomical price and poor unique selling points. Even the Camargues available today suffer from a reduction in value in the classic car market.

According to the owner, this unit was recently imported from Hong Kong and he is the 3rd owner currently. He believes it is the only one in South-East Asia at the moment: apparently none were brought into Singapore when it was released. An estimated 400-450 units still exist and this particular one is unit number 29. He felt that this epitomises the 'gentlemen's coupe', like what James Bond would drive while chasing the baddies! While reliable, the parts are difficult to acquire partly because of their rarity.

Despite the disparaging labels tacked to it ("high-end lemon", "uncool and horrid"), it was certainly interesting to see it up close. It really imposes itself just like what a RR must do, and it must be a leap of faith for the owner to bring in an unconventional classic. However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I heard a few others complimenting it too. Do keep an eye out for this pretty unique classic!

More than an old car #94: Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

It is no surprise that Rolls Royce (RR) often takes the lead in combining luxury and sophistication in its vehicles. They are built in such a way that compels you to pay attention to its elegance and huge size, including this 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud 2!

The Silver Cloud was first produced in 1955 and was the main flagship model of RR during the post-war years. It was the last RR car to have a body-on-frame construction, ie a fixed chassis with the car body being designed by various coachbuilders. However, the majority were built with a standard-sized steel body shell, while the doors and front hood were made from an aluminium-based alloy. The Silver Cloud 2 was externally identical to its earlier version, the Silver Cloud 1, except with a more powerful 6230 cc V8 engine. This allowed the car to reach a top speed of 166 km/h, with an acceleration of 13.5 seconds [0-100 km/h]. Considering that it was 5378 mm long and weighed 2113 kg, its performance is considered impressive.

Production of the Silver Cloud ended in 1966. Out of the 7,372 that were made, 2,417 were the Silver Cloud 2. This unit belongs to the Fullerton Hotel, and it is only used to ferry important personages or as a wedding car. I am aware of 3 other units here and they are not spotted often. What is more impressive is that it still has a regular car plate, meaning it bears the full amount of road tax amounting to more than $7000! On the other hand, it would be just a small trifle in the hotel's profitability. Rarely will you get to come across such a stunning car like this, so drop by Fullerton Hotel to check it out!

More than an old car #55: Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 2

I admit Rolls-Royce models are always a sight to behold, even for the newer models. It can somehow demand you to take a second, or third look--the sleekness of the exterior, its imposing size, and even the customised interior. It is interesting to note that no two RRs are alike as each model is made according to customers' specifications. It is on this note that I want to introduce you to this stately 1992 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 2.

The Silver Spirit was first introduced in 1980 as the first of a new generation of models. It carried over styling similarities with the previous Silver Shadow [which I covered back then]--new changes included a more rounded and less upright appearance. Furthermore, it was the first car to have the disappearing Spirit of Ecstasy logo, which could sink into the radiator shell. The 2nd-generation Silver Spirit was first made in 1989 and it featured an active suspension system, where the vertical wheel height was adjusted along with the road's condition. It was powered by a 6750cc RR L410 V8 engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 202km/h with an acceleration of 10.6 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 5.27m long and weighed a whopping 2350kg.

Production ended in 1995 with 1152 made, of which only 417 were in RHD. There seems to be at least 3 other specimens here based on my knowledge. I specifically chose this as its nice number plate coincides with my 55th post! I'm really grateful for all your continued support and do stay tuned to more cars coming your way!

More than an old car #52: Rolls-Royce Twenty

Rolls-Royce [RR] vehicles tend to be large in size, and the fact that they are produced in small numbers give them an aura of exclusivity. Somehow, RRs are designed to make you stop in your tracks, even for this 1926 Rolls-Royce Connaught Twenty tourer here.

The Twenty was ironically considered RR's "small car" and was first produced in 1922. Its target market was supposed to be owner drivers, but many were also sold to customers with chauffeurs. The "Twenty" name was so named for its power output of 20 horsepower. Curiously, only the chassis and mechanical parts were made by RR and the body was made by a coachbuilder [a manufacturer of car bodies] selected by the owner. In this case, this specimen was made by London-based coachbuilder Connaught, a firm that traced its origins back to the 18th century. This was one of only 3 lightweight tourers built by them. It was powered by a 3127cc 6-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 105km/h. It was 4.52m long and weighed 1930kg.

Production ended in 1929 with only 2940 made. This specimen was shipped to West Malaysia in 1926 and was used in a rubber estate. After surviving World War 2, it was neglected until the current owner acquired it in 1981. A full restoration was carried out in 1983 and this car has been shuttled between Singapore and Malaysia. It is currently believed to be the oldest surviving RR in good condition in this region. I am aware that it is currently in a car workshop, but if you are lucky enough, you may get to see this antique grand behemoth on our roads!

More than an old car #34: Rolls-Royce Corniche

Rolls-Royce has been known to produce exquisite vehicles, and this 1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche is no exception.

Production began in 1971 and its name is derived from the French and Italian term for a 'coastal road along a cliff'. Its clientele was the rich and famous, including musicians David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. Despite its high selling price back then, the people who bought it were even richer. This car saved Rolls-Royce from bankruptcy as it reaped in some 6.3 million pounds from its sale. Each car is hand-built for 6 months, which is similar to what RR is still doing today.

The Corniche was powered by a 6750cc 8-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 191km/h and an acceleration of around 10 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 5.2m long and weighed a whopping 2185kg. There were 5 generations of Corniches produced and of which, only around 3200 1st-gen convertibles were made. The specimen here seems to be imported as seen from the rather new number plate. Based on my knowledge, there are fewer than 5 in Singapore currently. Seeing older RRs is a once-in-a-blue-moon sighting and I hope you will be able to recognise this gem too!

More than an old car #25: Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T1

Rolls-Royce [RR] and Bentley have always been associated with the super-rich who prefer something more eye-catching than a normal Ferrari. Drop by any luxury hotel in Marina Bay and you are bound to see at least one. However, older models are even rarer, partly due to the COE system and that it remains as expensive as ever to own and maintain them. This makes the above 1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1 and the 1975 Bentley T1 even more exquisite in its own right.

RR was founded in 1904 by Charles Steward Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce, which started out making luxury cars and airplane engines. It quickly established a reputation for superior engineering quality. Bentley Motors was founded by Walter Owen Bentley in 1919, and RR acquired Bentley in 1931. After a series of further acquisitions, both RR and Bentley are currently owned by BMW. Strictly speaking, RR cars currently are not made by RR themselves as only the aerospace branch remains.

Production of the Silver Shadow began in 1965, with 2 generations made when production ended in 1980. Initially, it was supposed to be called 'Silver Mist', but the name was changed after it was realised that 'mist' is German for manure/rubbish. It was the first RR vehicle to adopt a 'unibody' construction [car body and floor are produced together as one unit]. The Silver Shadow 1 was equipped with a 6750cc L410 8-cylinder engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 193km/h, with an acceleration of 11 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 5.17m long and weighed 2108kg.

The Bentley T1 was technically an identical twin of the Silver Shadow, except that its front grille was simpler and lighter. The logo on the wheels and the front was of course different. It also had a 6750cc L410 8-cylinder engine, but with a lower top speed of 183km/h and an acceleration of 10.2 seconds [0-100km/h]. It was 5.17m long and weighed 2100kg.

Only 16,717 Silver Shadow 1s and 1703 Bentley T1s were made. What I found rather unique for this Silver Shadow specimen above is its rather old number plate. That is certainly not original, as the 916th vehicle to be registered in Singapore would have been in the 1950s. The owner must have liked it so much that he/she retained the original plate, although with the red-yellow background. I have seen quite a number of Silver Shadow 1s in Singapore [they are there if you look hard enough], but this Bentley T1 specimen seems to be the only one here. It has been imported from the UK, but it has not been moved for quite a few years already. I don't know what the buyer plans to do with it, but hopefully he can recognise its rarity and let it grace our roads.