1950 Rolls Royce From Bucks Wins First Place At Grand National Meet

NEWTOWN, PA — A rare 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith owned by renowned Bucks County car collector Gene Epstein, rolled to first place in Concours at the Rolls-Royce Grand National meet held in Gettysburg on June 17 and 18.

It is the latest award for the "world's rarest roadster."

"It felt great to be judged by a team of methodical judges who are knowledgeable in every nuance of the vehicle that you are showing," said Epstein. "When showing at a Rolls-Royce Bentley grand national event they have a team of judges broken into groups. Two or three will inspect the chassis of the automobile for its condition. While that is happening another team is inside the vehicle's engine compartment checking off item after item.

"This is a two-door roadster, which is extremely rare," relates Epstein. "I purchased it from a museum in Florida almost 20 years ago. The car, when I bought it, I liked the style of it, but I didn't know at the time anything about its history."

After a lot of research, he discovered that it was ordered by one of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom - industrialist Frank E. Rhodes, who owned Ready Mix Concrete, the company that built many of the roads in England. He purchased the car for his new wife, Sybil Rhodes, who came from America. She wanted to bring her Bugatti to their 119-room "Cottage” in York, England however he refused because he did not want anything French on his property, relates Epstein.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith rolls across Pebble Beach, California.

"He told her that he would have Rolls-Royce build whatever she wanted and they built this car, which is totally French-designed. It is complete with a full bar behind the driver seat and has sterling silver sandwich boxes and Bacharach Crystal for scotch and bourbon spirits," he said.

Since Epstein acquired the car, the two-door, two-seat vehicle has won numerous awards including:

• Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance - Best in Class
• Greenwich Concours d’Elegance - Most Distinguished Rolls Royce
• Eastern U.S. Concours d’Elegance - Best Car of Foreign Origin
• Wm.Vanderbilt Concours d’Elegance - Best in Class plus the Chairman’s Award for Excellence
• New Hope Auto Show - Governor’s Cup Best in Show
• Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance - Best in Class
• Buckingham Concours d’Elegance - Best in Class and Best in Show
• AACA Hershey National - First Place and Foo Dog Award
• Washington Crossing Rebels and Redcoats - Best in Show
• Rolls-Royce Grand National - Best in Class

It has also won several major national awards, including the Rolls-Royce Regional Queen Elizabeth II Trophy for Best in Show.

"Most people think that show cars are trailer queens - that they look great, but never get used and put to the test," says Gene. "I use my cars multiple times a week."

Gene and his wife celebrate another win for their 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.