The model upon which Rolls-Royce's reputation as makers of 'The Best Car in the World' was founded, the 40/50hp debuted at the November 1906 London Motor Show.

A somewhat conventional yet beautifully executed design, the newcomer was based around a massive ladder-frame chassis equipped with all-round leaf-sprung suspension, powerful rear wheel brakes and spiral-bevel final drive.

Displacing 7036cc (7428cc from 1910), its superlatively smooth six-cylinder engine featured a seven-bearing crankshaft, full pressure lubrication and twelve spark plugs (fed via a dual magneto / coil ignition system).

Allied to four-speed manual transmission (though, a three-speed gearbox was utilised from 1909 to 1913), the sidevalve unit proved both wonderfully torquey and eerily quiet.

Possessing a legendary eye for detail, Henry Royce continued to develop the 40/50hp throughout its 18-year production life.

Thus, late Silver Ghosts boasted considerably more horsepower (up from 48bhp at 1,250rpm to 80bh...