1909 Rolls-Royce aces Alpine Trial

Published Jul 25, 2013

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In June 1913, four Roll-Royce Silver Ghost tourers - a works team of three cars and a privateer entry driven by James Radley - took on the Austrian Alpine Trials, the most arduous test of automotive endurance of the time.

All four completed the 2880km of mountain terrain, over mostly gravel roads that today would be regarded today as rally stages, without missing a beat, helping to build the Roll-Royce reputation for reliability that endures to this day.

In fact, the company proudly boasts that three out of every four Roll-Royce cars built since the Honourable CS Roll and Mr (later Sir) Henry Royce joined forces in 1904 to build 'the world's best car' are still running.

One of the most celebrated is a Silver Ghost completed in 1909 for an Australian customer, Charles Angus, the first of a number of Rolls-Royce cars owned by the Angus family, all nicknamed The Silver Dawn.

ORIGINAL RUNNING GEAR

Chassis number 60992 was built in 1908, and fitted with a hand-built body in 'Roi de Belges' open tourer style by renowned coachbuilder Barker, finished in a pale blue-grey colour called 'Silver Mink'.

It was first registered on 9 March 1909 as R562 - a number it still carries. The body and trim have been restored to concours standard by vintage Rolls-Royce specialist P&A Wood, but the running gear is almost entirely original.

The chassis with its under-seat fuel tank, engine, gearbox and both axles are all original; the major components are stamped 1908 and the engine still has its original cast-iron pistons.

In June 2013 the Silver Dawn was brought out of retirement to take part in the Centenary Alpine Trial, proudly wearing the 'Number 1' rally plaque as the oldest Rolls-Royce entered. The 104-year-old veteran successfully completed the demanding 2900km route, which included the notorious Stelvio and Loibl passes, carrying four passengers up (and down!) some of the steepest roads in Europe.

This remarkable motor car is now on display in the foyer of the Roll-Royce head office.

Note for anoraks:

Sharp-eyed readers will have spotted that the Silver Dawn has an AA badge on the radiator cap, rather than the iconic Spirit of Ecstacy statuette. This is correct for the period: the Spirit of Ecstacy was created in 1911 by English sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes for pioneer motoring enthusiast John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, second Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (the model was his mistress, Eleanor Velasco Thornton) and has adorned all Rolls-Royce cars since.

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