Back in 1911, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1701 set a record speed run at the London-Edinburgh Trial, completing the 799-mile trip at an average speed of 19.59 mph while achieving over 24 mpg. For the time, this was an impressive feat that showcased the Silver Ghost's unrivaled reliability and performance - especially when you consider how rough and primitive roads were 110 years ago.

After the Trial, the Silver Ghost 1701 achieved 78.2 mph on a half-mile speed test, proving that no modifications were made. In another test, the Silver Ghost 1701 became the first Rolls-Royce to exceed 100 mph at the Brooklands circuit in Surrey, England. Now, 110 years later, Rolls-Royce has recreated the record run. Originally designed as an Experimental Speed Car, the original Silver Ghost 1701 is now a priceless collector's car.

For the re-enactment, the Silver Ghost 1701 started at the Royal Automobile Club where the Trial was originally hosted at 6.00 AM on September 5, 2021, and traveled to Edinburgh, recreating the original route as closely as possible. In keeping with the original Trial regulations, the Silver Ghost 1701 was locked in top gear for the entire run. Of course, road surfaces are much smoother now than they were in 1911, but the fact that the 110-year old car survived the 800-mile trip without any reliability issues is a remarkable achievement. It's a testament to its engineering, which was ahead of its time.

Joining the 1701 for the commemorative run were nine other historic Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost cars preserved by the 20-Ghost Club and a brand new Rolls-Royce Ghost finished in Tempest Grey.

The run was completed on September 6th, 2021, with a grand reception at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Edinburgh. "Silver Ghost 1701 has a unique and special place in the marque's history and affections," said Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

"It's difficult to think of many machines that can still perform exactly as they did 110 years ago; this extraordinary car is a remarkable tribute to our predecessors who designed, engineered and built it. We're proud to continue their work and uphold their values in today's Rolls-Royce motor cars - which are still the best in the world."