1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Chassis number WRB15, a 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith. This vehicle was sold on November 15, 1938, after its final touches were completed by the renowned coachwork builders Rippon Brothers Ltd of Huddersfield, a distinguished coachbuilding company known for their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Originally sold in the UK, this elegant automobile epitomized the luxury and sophistication of its era. For several decades, it remained a prized possession within the UK. It's believed that around 2007, the Wraith embarked on a new chapter, making its way to The Netherlands. There, it found a new owner who cherished and meticulously cared for the classic car.

After spending several years in The Netherlands, the Wraith's journey came full circle when it was reimported back to the UK in July 2023. This return marked a significant moment, bringing the car back to its original home. Throughout its travels and transitions, the 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith has remained a testament to the timeless appeal and enduring legacy of Rolls-Royce craftsmanship.

Finished with Gloss Black over Burgundy, the condition of the paintwork is very well presented. There are a few blemishes and a small amount of blistering around the windscreen and roof gutter.

Looking from the front, the chrome bumper is in good order, with just a small amount of tarnishing but nothing excessive. The headlights are in good condition with no damage to the lenses and the iconic Rolls-Royce grille is in excellent condition with the flying lady mascot sitting pride of place.

Around to the sides of the Wraith, the front wings flow seamlessly into the wide running boards, which do have a rubber section in place preventing any slippages. The rear wheel arches follow the same shape as the front wings and are, like the front, in good condition, as are the Lucas rear light lenses. Both doors appear to align well with an equal gap; the windows open and close as they should, as does the factory-fitted sunroof and also the Trafficator Semaphore Indicators pop out and retract as they should.

At the rear, the chrome bumper, like the front, is in good order with just a small amount of tarnishing. The boot lid aligns nicely, opening and closing as it should; there are a few small chips to the edges.

All five wheels look to be in good condition, finished with a black and chrome centre hubcap that has the Rolls-Royce logo. A full set of period Dunlop Fort tyres are fitted, which have a good amount of tread remaining, but these could be several years old.

Inside, the tan leather interior is in excellent condition; the seats show very little signs of excessive use in both the front and rear. All four door cards are in good order, again with no real signs of excessive use. The wooden cappings have a small amount of patina to them, which is in keeping with the vehicle’s age.

The wooden door cappings match the carefully crafted wooden dashboard. This is also in excellent condition for its age and just has a small amount of patina. There is also the pull-out panel complete with glass, which holds your map, enabling your passenger to navigate. The instruments are said to be working correctly, with the odometer reading 29,483 miles. Considering the switchgear is 86 years old, there is some patina, as you would expect, but nothing excessive, and the lettering is clearly legible. The original steering wheel, like the rest of the interior, has some age-related patina in keeping with the rest of the Rolls.

The privacy division is electric and functions as it should.

Looking up at the headlining, this is in excellent condition with no signs of sagging. The Sunroof is electric and can be operated from both the back and front seats. Under your feet, the black carpets are in good condition, with just a small amount of wear to the driver’s heel pad.

Inside the boot is clean and tidy with just a few scratches to the floor. The outer door drops down easily, enabling you to fasten a large case if needed. The inner door also opens easily, allowing access to the main storage area.

Fitted with a 4,257cc in-line six-cylinder engine, the Wraith was capable of achieving 85mph, depending on which body style was fitted.

The six-cylinder fires up straight away and runs smoothly with no issues reported. The manual four-speed gearbox has synchromesh on second, third and fourth and retains the right-hand side position for the gear lever.

Suspension is coil-sprung on the front and leaf-springs on the rear, and these are used with hydraulic dampers, which give an excellent ride quality as you would expect from a Rolls-Royce. The mechanical drum brakes are servo-assisted, so work as you would expect. 

A nice addition to the car is power steering, which has been retrofitted but makes light work of manoeuvring the 1938 Rolls-Royce.

The Wraith was imported from The Netherlands in July 2023 but has yet to be registered in the UK meaning whoever takes ownership can be the first owner on the V5C. Importantly, it does come with the NOVA certificate, so this does confirm that any duties have been paid when the car came into the country.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a great amount of paperwork with the car other than the Dutch registration title and the already mentioned NOVA letter.

What is nice to see 86 years on is the original order form and a card with the specification dated 22nd November 1938.

Produced for just two years, the Rolls-Royce Wraith is one of just 491 cars built, making it one of the more desirable models to own from this era.

A true masterpiece of British craftsmanship, which remains a symbol of timeless luxury and prestige, which we think will fetch between £20,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.