1. Rolls-Royce Wraith (1938) – This article is about the 1938 model of the Rolls-Royce Wraith. For the 2013 model, see Rolls-Royce Wraith, the Rolls-Royce Wraith was built by Rolls-Royce at their Derby factory from 1938 to 1939 and supplied to independent coachbuilders as a running chassis. Wraith is also the name of a new coupé announced by Rolls-Royce in 2013, Wraith is an old Scottish word meaning Ghost or Spirit. The in-line six cylinder, overhead valve,4,257 cc engine was based on that of the 25/30, the four-speed gearbox had synchromesh on second, third and fourth speeds and retained the traditional right hand change. The later engines were used as the basis for the Bentley MK V, the Wraith featured an independent coil sprung front suspension based on a Packard 120 retaining semi elliptical leaf springs on the rear axle. The car was built on a separate chassis but this was now of welded rather than the traditional riveted construction. The drum brakes were assisted by a mechanical servo driven by the engine patented by Hispano-Suiza, wire wheels of 17 inch diameter were fitted, with the spokes usually covered by removable discs. A built in hydraulic jacking system was fitted operated by a lever under the passenger seat, cars based on the Wraith chassis could reach 85 mph, this was very dependent on the weight and style of body fitted. In one test by The Motor magazine in October 1938, a 0–50 mph time of 16.4 seconds was recorded, in 1938, a typical touring car cost £1700, which included the chassis cost of £1100. Although chassis were produced in 1939, cars bearing 1940 or later delivery. Some cars were finished off during early 1940, others were held in storage and sold and first registered during the war years. A few were actually bodied during wartime, in addition,16 prewar chassis were bodied in early 1946 and duly delivered to the government. The final Wraith was delivered in 1947, Rolls-Royce Wraiths are featured in My Favorite Brunette and in a brief scene of Johnny Dangerously. The eponymous registration plate of the novel NOS4A2 belongs to a Rolls-Royce Wraith, a Rolls-Royce Wraith is also featured in The Man from U. N. C. L. E. Episode The Foxes and Hounds Affair, the vampire Lara Raith temporarily provides wizard Harry Dresden with the use of a 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith in Turn Coat

2. Rolls-Royce Limited – This article covers from 1904 to 1987 when this business by then owned by Rolls-Royce plc was again listed on the Stock Exchange. For the present day owners of the business enterprise, see Rolls-Royce Holdings for aero-engines etc. Rolls-Royce Limited owned a British luxury-car and aero engine manufacturing business founded in 1904 by Charles Stewart Rolls, Rolls-Royce Limited was incorporated on 15 March 1906 as a vehicle for their ownership of their Rolls-Royce business. Their business quickly developed a reputation for superior engineering quality, best car in the world, Rolls-Royce became a leading manufacturer of piston aero-engines after it was brought into building them by the First World War. In the late 1960s, Rolls-Royce Limited became hopelessly crippled by its mismanagement of development of its advanced RB211 jet engine and the consequent cost over-runs. In 1971 their financial collapse was dealt with by sale, at a price which took years to negotiate, of the entire business to a new government-owned company. Insolvent Rolls-Royce Limited was put into liquidation, everything that could be sold off was sold off but more than 45 years later there are still assets remaining to be sold. Rolls-Royce Limited continued to trade and realise the surplus assets bought from the former company, in 1977 Rolls-Royce Limited, given the necessary consent, was re-named Rolls-Royce Limited. It remained nationalised until 1987 when, re-named Rolls-Royce plc, the government sold its shares to the public, today it owns and operates Rolls-Royces principal business though it is no longer listed on the stock exchange. Instead it has been a subsidiary of a holding company currently Rolls-Royce Holdings plc since 2003. A marketing survey in 1987 showed there was one brand name more widely known than Rolls-Royce. In 1884 Henry Royce started an electrical and mechanical business and he made his first car, a two-cylinder Royce 10, in his Manchester factory in 1904. Henry Royce was introduced to Charles Rolls at the Midland Hotel, Rolls was proprietor of an early motor car dealership, C. S. Rolls & Co. in Fulham. In spite of his preference for three- or four-cylinder cars, Rolls was impressed with the Royce 10, the first Rolls-Royce car, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp, was unveiled at the Paris Salon in December 1904. During 1906 Royce had been developing an improved model with more power than the Rolls-Royce 30 hp. Initially designated the 40/50 hp, this was Rolls-Royces first all-new model, the new 40/50 was responsible for Rolls-Royces early reputation with over 6,000 built. Its chassis was used as a basis for the first British armoured car used in world wars Aero-engine manufacture began in 1914 because the government requested it. After the First World War, Rolls-Royce successfully avoided attempts to encourage British car manufacturers to merge, faced with falling sales of the 40/50 Rolls-Royce introduced the smaller, cheaper Twenty in 1922, effectively ending the one-model policy followed since 1908

3. Bentley Mark V – The Bentley Mark V was Rolls-Royces second Bentley model. Intended to have announced at the Earls Court Motor Show set down for late October 1939 it had much in common with its predecessor. War was declared on 3 September 1939 and a few days later Bentley announced it had ceased production of civilian items, the Mark V was sold only as a bare chassis to be fitted with an owners own coachbuilder. It proved to be the last Derby Bentley, after the war moved to Crewe. Piston crowns were raised and rectangular combustion chambers provided, externally an oil filter was mounted on the forward right hand side. Without a beam axle the engine could be mounted forward and particular care was taken to mount it so as to minimise noise. The engine displaced 4¼-litres with an 88.9 mm bore and 114.3 mm stroke, syncromesh was provided on all ratios but first and reverse. Previously it had provided on just third and fourth speeds. This proved a very welcome refinement adding greatly to the pleasure of driving the car. The gear change lever was moved closer to the driver by the seat squab. The clutch employed an improved design, a new divided transmission shaft eased potential vibration problems. This was the first Bentley to dispense with a front beam axle. It followed Rolls-Royces lead from 1936 and instead used a new design of independent front suspension in its new chassis. Low rate open coil springs sat within pairs of triangulated wishbones holding the front wheels at their outer point. The upper wishbones acted on a hydraulic damper, the arms at the bottom were set wide apart so that the rearward one could act as a torque member under braking. These assemblies on each side were linked by a strong anti-roll bar, by Girling using Rolls-Royces mechanical servo assistance. 57% of the effort was now applied to the front of the car, Chassis B-24-AW Thirty five MK V Chassis were manufactured numbered B-2-AW through to B-70-AW with even numbers only being used. Mark V, seventeen cars completed Corniche MK V, One car completed, the chassis number given was 14-BV Some consider Marks I, II and III to have been Rolls-Royce development vehicles and therefore Mark IV the first Derby 3½-litre and 4¼-litre Bentleys

4. Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith – The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce. It was made from 1946 to 1958 as only a chassis at Rolls-Royces former Merlin engine plant, their Crewe factory, the Bentley too was available as a chassis for coachbuilders but also for the first time could be bought with a Rolls-Royce built standard steel body. It was announced by Rolls-Royce in April 1946 as the 25/30 hp replacement for the 1939 Wraith in what had been their 20 hp and 20/25 hp market sector, the size was chosen to be in keeping with the mood of post-war austerity. Even very limited production of the chassis of the car, their Phantom, was not resumed until 1950 and then. Improvements announced were, chromium-plated cylinder bores for the engine, a new more rigid frame to go with new independent front suspension. There were new main and big-end bearings and an efficient drive to the timing gear. To this prewar mix Rolls-Royce added chromed bores, initially, this engine retained the Mark Vs capacity of 4257 cc. increased from 1951 to 4566 cc and in 1955, after the introduction of the Silver Cloud, to 4887 cc for the remaining Silver Wraiths. The first cars had an entirely new 127 inch wheelbase chassis which differed considerably from that of the pre-war Wraith and was much nearer rigid and it matched the new Bentley chassis but with an extra 7 inch section added to the centre. The new chassis had coil sprung independent front suspension, which required a rigid chassis to function properly. The braking system was a hybrid system with hydraulic front brakes. The last short-wheelbase cars were delivered in November 1953, the long,133 inch, wheelbase chassis was announced in 1951 and the first delivered in January 1952. 639 were made by the time of the last deliveries in October 1958, most of the bodies selected used formal limousine designs. Initially only a four-speed manual gearbox was offered, but this was supplemented by a General Motors Hydramatic automatic option from 1952, from 1949 until 1955 customers wishing to buy their Rolls-Royce car fitted with the much smaller standard steel body could purchase Rolls-Royces Silver Dawn. It was almost identical to Rolls-Royces Bentley Standard Steel saloon that had been alongside the Silver Wraith since July 1946. The Silver Wraith chassis was seven inches longer. com Pictures, information, history and specs