The production of the Rolls-Royce Wraith was carried out from 1938 and 1939 at their Derby factory. It took over the Rolls –Royce 25/30. The Wraith had a wheelbase which was four inches larger than its earlier model. The overhead valve and the 4257cc engine were also based on the 25/30. The car had a cross-flow cylinder head and a four speed gearbox. Other than the first speed, the higher ones had synchromesh and was a right hand change going by the tradition.
The front suspension of the Wraith retained the leaf springs of the rear axle. The governor controlled the damping rate of the front hydraulic dampers and so it differed with the speed of the vehicle. This made the car superior than the 25/30. The chassis of the car did not have the riveted construction but was welded. Hispano-Suiza had the car engine patented and its drum brakes were built by Rolls-Royce. The 17 inch wire wheels of the car had removable discs that covered the spokes.
The car also had hydraulic jacking system fitted underneath the passenger seat which could be operated with the help of a lever. The speed of the car depended on its style and weight and could notch up a speed of 85mph. According to the test by one of the renowned motor magazine the car could speed up from 0 to 50 in just 16.4 sec. The Rolls-Royce also featured in some of the famous Hollywood movies like My Favorite Brunette and Johnny Dangerously.
