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'Best car in the world' up for sale

With Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts rarely up for sale, Historics auction house is expecting the luxury Rolls-Royce chassis 1557 to fetch in the region of R5.8-million to R7.1-million when it goes on sale in September 2012.

Awarded the "‘Best car in the world" title by Autocar magazine in 1907, following its launch at Olympia in 1906, the luxury ride gained the “Silver Ghost” moniker from members of the press.

Chassis 1557 was built in 1911, the same year a 37kW Silver Ghost completed a run from London to Edinburgh, with a fuel consumption of 9 litres/100km.

EXTREMELY RARE

The vehicle was delivered on April 1, 1911 to Sir Adolph Tuck in London.

Originally fitted with a Landaulette body in order to be chauffeur driven, the vehicle was late redesigned as a period two-seat tourer.

In 2001 a complete restoration was commissioned and the entire process took over 12 months.

Complete with Acetylene head and side lights, boa constrictor horn and a complete original tool kit under the passenger side running board, the model is painted in dark blue, with red coach lines matching the red leather interior.

Historics’ auction director Edward Bridger-Stille said: “With nine sales now under our belts and nearly 1000 cars put forward, this is one of the finest examples we’ve had the pleasure of bringing to auction.

“The opportunity to acquire a Silver Ghost – particularly one as beautiful as this – is extremely rare, and I anticipate that this significant, museum quality example, should generate interest from all corners of the world.”
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