Restore or sell 52 Silver Wraith by Hooper
Discussion
I'm the new owner of a 52 Silver Wraith by Hooper. It's has the all aluminum body. It's fairly rough condition so I'm wondering if it's worth restoring. It needs a head gasket but runs otherwise. It is all original, never even been repainted. Everything is there and working, but it's a bit rough; worn interior, needs refinishing inside and out. No rust.
I read that there were only 8 Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths made. I don't know if this is correct, but if so, it would seem to be valuable. I don't want to drop $60K or so into restoring this car and end up with a value of $35K to $40K. The value of this model seems to vary greatly. Does anyone know what the value of this car would be either restored or as is? Does anyone have any input as to the rarity and/or value of Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
I read that there were only 8 Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths made. I don't know if this is correct, but if so, it would seem to be valuable. I don't want to drop $60K or so into restoring this car and end up with a value of $35K to $40K. The value of this model seems to vary greatly. Does anyone know what the value of this car would be either restored or as is? Does anyone have any input as to the rarity and/or value of Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
Well, to start with, there are a lot more than 8 Silver Wraiths with a Hooper body. My 1953 one, for example is one of 20 made with the 7-seater limousine body (design number 8330). Hoopers were consider by many as the most elite of the coachbuilders probably due to all their Royal Warrants but they did body many (hundreds) Silver Wraiths (and Daimlers) in that period.
Prices do vary as you allude to. I have been tracking their prices for a few years now and can say that good condition ones (but not show level) average out at around £54k. You can get them from the £20k mark right up to the unrealistic $1m ones (the occasional 1-off special and in an American market). Most of the average runners are in the high £30k - mid £40k.
As for whether to restore it or not well that is down to you, your interests and desires. They are fabulous cars to drive and turn heads. They are the last of the coach built cars from Rolls-Royce. Yes, it will be all aluminium so rust is not an issue. Finding the wood for one (if that is missing) is extremely hard or very expensive. Even the tools are expensive. Mine had none so I have had to collect them all and am just 3 spanners short of a full kit now. That cost me £1,500 over the years.
I hope that helps.
Prices do vary as you allude to. I have been tracking their prices for a few years now and can say that good condition ones (but not show level) average out at around £54k. You can get them from the £20k mark right up to the unrealistic $1m ones (the occasional 1-off special and in an American market). Most of the average runners are in the high £30k - mid £40k.
As for whether to restore it or not well that is down to you, your interests and desires. They are fabulous cars to drive and turn heads. They are the last of the coach built cars from Rolls-Royce. Yes, it will be all aluminium so rust is not an issue. Finding the wood for one (if that is missing) is extremely hard or very expensive. Even the tools are expensive. Mine had none so I have had to collect them all and am just 3 spanners short of a full kit now. That cost me £1,500 over the years.
I hope that helps.
I added the link to some photos in my My Garage. Here is the link http://s831.photobucket.com/user/gwashburn/library...
The rear 3/4 view is just like my Dad's MkVI (a Bentley but also Hooper).
Nice to see still on UK plates, States side.
I think it's the more swoppy, European bodies that are more desired ($$$).
(or see even Hooper Empress Styles)
The weak point in Saloons can be if the doors have dropped.
As to restore or sell, up to you.
To my mind it depends on what you can do with the car.
In the UK the RREC is fairly active, is the RROC near you, your scene?
Not sure one makes money with a commercial restoration and to my mind a home restoration has to be a labour of love.
Nice to see still on UK plates, States side.
I think it's the more swoppy, European bodies that are more desired ($$$).
(or see even Hooper Empress Styles)
The weak point in Saloons can be if the doors have dropped.
As to restore or sell, up to you.
To my mind it depends on what you can do with the car.
In the UK the RREC is fairly active, is the RROC near you, your scene?
Not sure one makes money with a commercial restoration and to my mind a home restoration has to be a labour of love.
Edited by davepen on Thursday 4th September 18:00
Actually, that is a fine motor. Most of it looks to be there (including the torchlight clipped on the bulkhead - that's a couple of hundred $ right there!). Yes, the rear seat is unusable like that and I would pretty quickly want to be looking at the wood door cappings (the front one looks awful - don't let them get destroyed anymore.)
The front wing paint is bad but the rear quarter view from further back still shows her elegance. She would turn heads in traffic!
My view is - get the mechanics working right first so you can use it whilst you save and do pieces of restoration over the years. Gradually you will improve her and I am sure you will get great joy in doing so.
The front wing paint is bad but the rear quarter view from further back still shows her elegance. She would turn heads in traffic!
My view is - get the mechanics working right first so you can use it whilst you save and do pieces of restoration over the years. Gradually you will improve her and I am sure you will get great joy in doing so.
gwashburn said:
I'm the new owner of a 52 Silver Wraith by Hooper. It's has the all aluminum body. It's fairly rough condition so I'm wondering if it's worth restoring. It needs a head gasket but runs otherwise. It is all original, never even been repainted. Everything is there and working, but it's a bit rough; worn interior, needs refinishing inside and out. No rust.
I read that there were only 8 Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths made. I don't know if this is correct, but if so, it would seem to be valuable. I don't want to drop $60K or so into restoring this car and end up with a value of $35K to $40K. The value of this model seems to vary greatly. Does anyone know what the value of this car would be either restored or as is? Does anyone have any input as to the rarity and/or value of Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
If the car is complete I would suggest you have two realistic options. Sell it as is and wait for the right offer or restore it to the correct standard, show it and then auction/sell it. Both options could you make you money but you'd have to commit at least $300k on a tight budget if you went for option 2. $60k wouldn't scratch the surface of what this car needs.I read that there were only 8 Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths made. I don't know if this is correct, but if so, it would seem to be valuable. I don't want to drop $60K or so into restoring this car and end up with a value of $35K to $40K. The value of this model seems to vary greatly. Does anyone know what the value of this car would be either restored or as is? Does anyone have any input as to the rarity and/or value of Hooper bodied Silver Wraiths?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!
I get the impression you have no commitment with the car and only see profit so perhaps best sell as is to someone who has.
Hooper bodied cars are very well built and their Wraith designs were among the best.
Edited by Byteme on Thursday 28th August 21:22
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