Who designed the Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp, later known as the Silver Ghost?

Henry Royce designed the Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp, the car later known as the Silver Ghost.

Royce was the engineering partner in the Rolls-Royce business, while Charles Rolls brought sales, motoring experience, and social connections. Royce developed the 40/50 hp as a technically advanced, refined car, and the model became famous for its quietness and reliability.

The Silver Ghost name originally referred to a particular 40/50 hp car, chassis number 60551, registered AX 201. The nickname later became widely applied to the entire model series. This is why “40/50 hp” and “Silver Ghost” can refer to closely related but not perfectly identical things.

Claude Johnson was Rolls-Royce’s managing director and helped promote the car, but he did not design it. Charles Sykes created the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot much later, in 1911.