Autocar coined the Silver Ghost’s “best car in the world” phrase in 1907. The wording helped turn the Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp into a lasting symbol of engineering quality and refinement.
The Silver Ghost was introduced in 1906, although “Silver Ghost” originally referred to one specially named example, chassis 60551, registered AX 201. The press gradually applied the name to the whole 40/50 hp series. Its quiet running, smooth six-cylinder engine and remarkable reliability impressed contemporary motorists and journalists.
The phrase was not originally a Rolls-Royce model name or a formal engineering designation. It was a journalistic accolade from Autocar that the company’s reputation later adopted and reinforced. That distinction is the common mix-up: Rolls-Royce became associated with the slogan, but Autocar supplied the famous wording.
The 40/50 hp remained in production until 1926, with manufacture in Britain and, later, the United States. Its success established the template for Rolls-Royce’s long-running image as a maker of exceptionally durable luxury cars.