Two Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts in Newfoundland: but which ones?

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Today we might have a multiple-choice mystery for you. John Peirson has been researching Silver Ghosts that came to Canada for over 40 years and sent us the attached picture.

The picture (originally circa 1953 and reproduced circa 2000) comes from an old newspaper with the headline: nearly 50 years ago two antique Rolls Royce let St. John`s for restoration in Montreal. The caption to the photo reads as follows: reproduced from a faded newspaper clipping of approximately 47 years ago to dilapidated Rolls Royces (a 1914 touring model at left and a 1913 sedan at right) sit on the wharf at St. John`s harbour awaiting shipment to Montreal).

John would like to find out which two Rolls Royces these are. He already did some research himself and found six Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts that (very likely) went to Newfoundland before World War 1. Namely:

#1569 a 1911 Barker Cabriolet - H. D. Reid

#1797 a 1911 Barker Torpedo - R. G. Reid (re-bodied Barker Landaulette by F.R.Wood Landaulette)

#1921 a 1912 Barker Tourer - Sir Edgar Bowring

#2622 a 1913 Barker Landaulette - H. D. Reid

#52MA a 1913 Barker Cabriolet - R. G. Reid, (re-bodied Tourer)

#4EB a 1914 Barker Cabriolet - H. D. Reid

John's conclusion: "None of these seems to be the 1913 sedan in the picture. I thought it might be #2622, but that car had Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels and the photo shows wooden wheels."

Then we also did some research. We found two other pre-1916 Silver Ghost chassis that were ordered by H. D. Reid and Sir Edgar Bowring (and delivered to Newfoundland?). Namely:

#1892 a 1912 Baker Cabriolet - H. D. Reid (re-bodied Baker Saloon)

#58EB a 1914 Baker Cabriolet - Sir Edgar Bowring

But the build sheet for #1892 says “delivery in London”. Besides this, John could tell us that both cars spent their early lives in England. So, it could well be that they never left England.

Going back to the first six. A contact in Newfoundland told John that only four pre-1916 Silver Ghosts came to Newfoundland. And that he thinks the Reids may have kept some of their cars in Montreal.

Then there is also the book “The Edwardian Rolls-Royce” which says #52MA was with Joe Loecy in 1955. But also says #1797 was with Joe Loecy in 1976...

There are numerous unanswered questions here. Who can help us solve today's mystery?

Words by the editor. Picture source unknown.

Originally published: Monday June 15th, 2020

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