Formally established in 1906, it is remarkable how quickly Rolls-Royce Limited gained a reputation for superlatively built cars—and how readily the Rolls-Royce name was adopted as a byword for quality in other consumer goods, from motorcycles to home appliances.

This enduring legacy was built on the Silver Ghost, which debuted in 1906 and was officially designated the 40/50 HP in reference to the output of its quiet-running 7,036-cubic-centimeter side-valve inline-six.

Carefully engineered and overbuilt by design, the Silver Ghost was soon judged by the contemporary motoring press to be “the best car in the world.” The 40/50 HP quickly proved itself on rallies and endurance runs of all lengths and around the globe; as further evidence of their robustness, Silver Ghosts would serve with distinction during World War I, when many were converted into armored cars.

This Rolls-Royce, chassis number 1175, was built with a much more genteel purpose in mind.

As noted in the original build s...