oogieobanyon: You may well be correct about the Packard from the same year being technically superior but the Rolls has one thing no Packard ever did - charm. We must remember that 1947 was only 2 years after WW2, the U.K. was still recovering from its near-defeat. Rolls-Royce vehicles from this time were certainly out-of-date but they are still fine cars nonetheless.
"Majesty" = Prince? But I never understood why they designed the jump seats as they did: When in use they completely occupied the leg space for any passenger that would otherwise have been behind them.
The 47 wraith was one of Abbas Austrailian and or Stockholm photo op vehicles. As to whether abba photo on their 74/75 album was shot in local Stockholm or Australia I am not entirely sure. Thank you for the beautiful shots of ROLLS 47 model year. Most greatful! Abba buff!
The engine in the above Silver Wraith had its orgins in the junior R-R Model 20 appearing in 1922, based on the concurrent Buick Six, though in the words of another English motoring jounalist of the day, "....not so good." Nice bespoke furniture, but we're not drinking the R-R Kool Aid then or today.
What pomposity. In the words of English motoring writers of the day, Rolls-Royce was "....a triumph of craftsmanship over engineering," and "....a terrific confidence trick." We'll take a Packard from the same year. In fact, so did Rolls-Royce in the fall of 1955, when their new Silver Cloud/Bentley S-series looked like a razor-edged 1941-47 Packard Clipper with a one-piece, curved windshield.
There's no doubting that Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow were every bit the American equal to Rolls-Royce, but a Wraith was not the equivalent of a senior Packard. The 20HP, 20/25HP, 25/30HP, and Wraiths were all designed to be owner/driver cars. Compare a Wraith with an appropriate saloon body to a Packard 120, and it's on an even footing. Having the owner choose the body (unlike Packard, who designed their bodies in house) sometimes wasn't ideal. A Wraith with an overweight chauffeured limousine body like this is too heavy and ponderous for its engine. It's a bit of an affectation, like the bloke couldn't afford a proper Phantom limousine, so he bought the cheaper chassis instead. There's also no doubting the quality engineering of the R-R chassis, though. It was very overbuilt to a very high standard. Sir Henry wouldn't have it any other way.
![The Car's The Star - The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud [BBC 1995]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BpfYH93e8h8/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Car's The Star - The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud [BBC 1995]](/img/tr.png)
oogieobanyon: You may well be correct about the Packard from the same year being technically superior but the Rolls has one thing no Packard ever did - charm. We must remember that 1947 was only 2 years after WW2, the U.K. was still recovering from its near-defeat. Rolls-Royce vehicles from this time were certainly out-of-date but they are still fine cars nonetheless.
Also RR still exists and Packard went bust.
"Majesty" = Prince? But I never understood why they designed the jump seats as they did: When in use they completely occupied the leg space for any passenger that would otherwise have been behind them.
That was my t thought also.
Highness = Prince. Majesty is reserved for kings, queens, emporers, and empresses.
The 47 wraith was one of Abbas Austrailian and or Stockholm photo op vehicles. As to whether abba photo on their 74/75 album was shot in local Stockholm or Australia I am not entirely sure. Thank you for the beautiful shots of ROLLS 47 model year. Most greatful! Abba buff!
Well, the uber-rich english overlords had to be driven around in opulent style and Rolls Royce was it.
so very mini but look beautiful and comfortable rollsroyce
The high roofline permitted the wearing of a top hat (front) or crown (rear).
No glove compartment lids - that's a bit stingy!
this guy whistles everyime pronounced "s" so annoying
Definitely on my BUCKET list!
British Herbert
The engine in the above Silver Wraith had its orgins in the junior R-R Model 20 appearing
in 1922, based on the concurrent Buick Six, though in the words of another English
motoring jounalist of the day, "....not so good."
Nice bespoke furniture, but we're not drinking the R-R Kool Aid then or today.
The Brazilian presidencial vehicle 🇧🇷🇧🇷
What pomposity. In the words of English motoring writers of the day, Rolls-Royce was
"....a triumph of craftsmanship over engineering," and "....a terrific confidence trick."
We'll take a Packard from the same year. In fact, so did Rolls-Royce in the fall of 1955, when their new Silver Cloud/Bentley S-series looked like a razor-edged 1941-47
Packard Clipper with a one-piece, curved windshield.
There's no doubting that Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow were every bit the American equal to Rolls-Royce, but a Wraith was not the equivalent of a senior Packard.
The 20HP, 20/25HP, 25/30HP, and Wraiths were all designed to be owner/driver cars. Compare a Wraith with an appropriate saloon body to a Packard 120, and it's on an even footing. Having the owner choose the body (unlike Packard, who designed their bodies in house) sometimes wasn't ideal.
A Wraith with an overweight chauffeured limousine body like this is too heavy and ponderous for its engine. It's a bit of an affectation, like the bloke couldn't afford a proper Phantom limousine, so he bought the cheaper chassis instead.
There's also no doubting the quality engineering of the R-R chassis, though. It was very overbuilt to a very high standard. Sir Henry wouldn't have it any other way.