The Rolls Royce Wraith of 1938 to ’39 had a six cylinder 4,257 cc engine that was enlarged in the post-war Silver Wraith chassis to 4,300 and later, 4,600 cc. This silver Wraith was the last Rolls Royce to be issued as a chassis only thus exhibiting a wide variety of body styles, among which is the present chassis WTA 45 of 1947.
The chassis was purchased by Sir John Gaul of London who had initially intended it to be clothed by Freestone and Webb who had produced for him in 1937, a flambouyant Phantom III Sedanca De Ville in flame red highlighted with burnished copper grille, headlamps and accents on its wings.
Perhaps aware of Jaques Saoutchik’s extraordinary new forms, he had the chassis sent to Paris where the present modestly sized Sedanca De Ville, without division and with a very personal aire was created. Unquestionably flambouyant and yet at the same time modest, it is among the most recognizable of post-war Rolls Royce and won Best Of Show at the Monte Carlo Concours D’Elegance of 1948.
At some point during the 1950s the sedanca roof was altered to create a fully closed saloon perhaps giving it a more contemporary feel but fortunately has recently been restored to its original, 'Personal Sedanca’ style and was again presented at the Pebble Beech Concours D’Elegance, Monteray, in 2010 wining its class trophy.
