Best of Show: RREC Annual Rally 2022

Congratulations to Frank Janicki for winning Best of Show at this year’s RREC Annual Rally held at Burghley House on Sunday 3rd July with his 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith.  Having driven the car from its home in Bavaria (Germany) to attend the show, this award was well-deserved.

Chassis No. WMB53 is a stunning car carrying 4-door, 4-light saloon coachwork by James Young boasting a stylish ‘razor-edge’ design with beautiful proportions.  We are very proud to have recently carried out a complete coachwork restoration and significant mechanical work to the car, and are delighted with the recognition it has received.

The Wraith was the final Rolls-Royce model introduced before WW2, being launched in 1938 with fewer than 500 examples built. It is a masterclass in silence and refinement, being the ultimate development of the small horse power range.  It was significantly larger than its predecessor (the 25/30), with Rolls-Royce adopting many features of the Phantom III.  These included the cross braced chassis, independent front suspension, a rear anti-roll bar and a hydraulic jacking system to name just a few.  The engine was based upon the 25/30’s 4 1/4 litre unit but carried an improved cross flow cylinder head and a greatly revised front of engine gear train.  The result is a sublime silent running motor car.