1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith LWB Touring Limousine, Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner

4,887cc F-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Downdraft Carburetor
Approximately 125bhp
4-Speed Manual Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*Delivered new to Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
*Featured in movies including Batman Returns and Bean: The Movie
*Amelia Island and Pebble Beach Concours Class winner
*Original left-hand drive US market car

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

There are few cars as majestic as a Rolls-Royce in the immediate post-war era as exemplified by this handsome and graceful example. LALW22 was delivered new in the rare left-hand drive form in which it remains to this day. The 'L' prefix of this number denotes the authenticity of this sinistral arrangement. According to copies of the factory records, the car was built for the American market when new, and as completed was imported and retailed through the Hambro Trading Co. for its first owner Cornelius "CV" Vanderbilt Whitney.

CV Whitney, a descendent of two illustrious American fortunes, used his vast inheritance to dabble in horse racing, film production, military service, government service (serving as Harry Truman's Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of Commerce, and Special Envoy on numerous trips), and business. Fresh from his service to the United States government, CV ordered his new Rolls with guaranteed delivery by Christmas of 1952. Prior to delivery, it is understood the car was featured on the Rolls stand at the Toronto Motor Show before heading south to New York.

Well equipped, CV would enjoy his Rolls for about eight years before it was reported to have been sold to a Florida prosperity minister who ran a travelling gospel tent revival ministry. It is understood the preacher would quote the gospels and give sermons while standing on the back bumper of the car, following which he would dispense blessings in exchange for donations.

After many years of use demonstrating the wealth of the gospel (as paid for by the constituents of the ministry), LALW22 had fallen into disrepair when it was acquired in October 1978 by English-born California-based Rolls enthusiast Jim Toole. A self-taught maestro, Toole had a fine collection of Rolls-Royces that he restored himself to the highest standards, becoming a Rolls-Royce expert and judge in his own right. Toole set about restoring his new-to-him Silver Wraith and entered it at the 1979 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it took First in Class. It would win several other awards, as well as appearing in starring roles as Bruce Wayne's (played by Michael Keaton) limousine in the highly successful Tim Burton directed film Batman Returns and in Rowan Atkison's Bean: The Movie, before heading to its fourth owner, Third Story Music, in the fall of 1997.

Run by brothers Herb and Martin "Mutt" Cohen, the two produced records for stars as varied as Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Lenny Bruce, Frank Zappa, and George Duke. During their ownership, a high end stereo was installed in the rear compartment for them to properly enjoy the works of the music artists in their employ. They would keep the car, tooling around Beverly Hills in it, for just over a decade before selling it to Florida-based collector Guy Lewis in 2008. A respected enthusiast, when Lewis acquired the car he found its decades old restoration to be needing updating, and as such undertook a concours level restoration of the car to bring it back to its former glory. Debuting at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours, the car took Best in Class, following that win with a Best in Show at the 2015 Lake Mirror Classic Concours.

Acquired by the present owner in March of 2018, LALW22 has enjoyed further concours wins wherever it has been shown. From November 2018 to February 2019, the Rolls was sent to the experts at Automotive International in Charlotte, North Carolina for mechanical and chrome work, with receipts on file totaling over $16,000.

Showing beautifully today, it is offered with copies of its factory records, an original owner's manual and full tool tray, reprint copies of the owner's handbook and workshop manual, as well as copies or past titlework. With an interesting provenance and rare desirable specification, this is a one-off example of its breed.