Ghost Story

Peter Burn recalls a wonderful little memory from September 1965, just four months after he first joined Autosport.

'Before I even had a company car, I was – rather at the last minute – despatched to Crewe, by train, to meet up with John Bolster to photograph the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow at its launch.

'John Bolster was Autosport technical editor in those days, and he had travelled up to Crewe in his own 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. When I was offered a lift back to London by John in his Silver Ghost, l obviously accepted.

'Ronald 'Steady' Barker, of Autocar, was the front seat passenger, while I had the whole of the rear bench seat to myself.

‘Steady’ and John were in frequent conversation, much of it being Steady's questions about the car. One of these has stuck with me ever since…
"Why no rev counter?" asked Steady.
To which John instantly replied: "No bleeding revs to count, old boy."

'With the prodigious torque of its seven-litre engine, the Silver Ghost could pull from below 10mph in top gear.'

By Peter Burn