Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith: which version to choose
If the question is which Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith to buy, the data split the answer into two eras, not four similar cars. Generation 1 (1946–1959) is a Cabrio with three petrol versions: 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, and 4.9 AT. Generation 2 (1975–1980), the Silver Wraith II people search for as “Silver Wraith 2”, is a Sedan with one version: 6.8 AT. Power runs 126 hp, 140 hp, 157 hp, then 220 hp.
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith: which version to choose
If the question is which Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith to buy, the data split the answer into two eras, not four similar cars. Generation 1 (1946–1959) is a Cabrio with three petrol versions: 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, and 4.9 AT. Generation 2 (1975–1980), the Silver Wraith II people search for as “Silver Wraith 2”, is a Sedan with one version: 6.8 AT. Power runs 126 hp, 140 hp, 157 hp, then 220 hp. Displacement runs 4257 cm³, 4559 cm³, 4887 cm³, then 6751 cm³. There are no prices, no for-sale listings, and no 0–100, top speed, or fuel-consumption figures in this dataset — those are not measured. The comparison below is only the numbers that exist.
Generations: what actually changed between 1 and 2
1 generation (1946–1959), Cabrio, 3 versions. All three share the same chassis recipe: Gasoline, 6 Inline cylinders, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, RWD, Independent, spring front suspension, Dependent, leaf spring rear, Drum brakes front and rear. The 4-speed gearbox is Manual on 4.3 MT and 4.6 MT, Automatic on 4.9 AT. Compression is 6.4 on the two manuals and 6.6 on 4.9 AT. Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank, wheels, torque, 0–100, top speed, and consumption are not measured on any of the three.
2 generation (1975–1980), Sedan, 1 version. 6.8 AT is not a restyle of the Cabrio; it is a different body, a different cylinder count, and a different gearbox count. It is Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, engine Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, Automatic with 3 gears, RWD, Independent, spring at both ends. Fuel is listed as 92. Compression is 7.3. Gross weight is 2200 kg. Valves per cylinder, boost, bore × stroke, brakes, kerb weight, ground clearance, tank, wheels, torque, 0–100, top speed, and consumption are not measured.
Arithmetic on what generation 2 bought versus the last generation 1 car (4.9 AT 157 hp, 4887 cm³, 4-speed Automatic): 6.8 AT adds 63 hp (+40.1%) and 1864 cm³ (+38.1%), drops from 4 gears to 3, moves from 6 Inline to 8 V-shaped, from Cabrio to Sedan, from Dependent, leaf spring rear to Independent, spring rear, and from compression 6.6 to 7.3. Versus the first car (4.3 MT 126 hp, 4257 cm³): 6.8 AT is +94 hp (+74.6%) and +2494 cm³ (+58.6%).
Engines and specs (all versions, names as in the database)
| Version | Generation | Body | hp | kW | rpm | Nm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Gears | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 MT | 1 (1946–1959) | Cabrio | 126 | 92 | 3750 | not measured | 4257 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Manual | 4 | RWD |
| 4.6 MT | 1 (1946–1959) | Cabrio | 140 | 102 | not measured | not measured | 4559 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Manual | 4 | RWD |
| 4.9 AT | 1 (1946–1959) | Cabrio | 157 | 115 | 4000 | not measured | 4887 | Gasoline | 6 | Inline | No | Automatic | 4 | RWD |
| 6.8 AT | 2 (1975–1980) | Sedan | 220 | 161 | not measured | not measured | 6751 | Gasoline (92) | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | Automatic | 3 | RWD |
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 4.3 MT 29.6 hp/L; 4.6 MT 30.7 hp/L; 4.9 AT 32.1 hp/L; 6.8 AT 32.6 hp/L. Specific output barely moves from the last Cabrio to the Sedan; most of the extra 63 hp on 6.8 AT is extra cubic centimetres, not a denser engine.
Stroke on 4.6 MT and 4.9 AT is the same 114.3 mm. Bore is 92 mm on 4.6 MT and 95.3 mm on 4.9 AT (+3.3 mm). Bore × stroke on 4.3 MT and 6.8 AT is not measured.
Performance, mpg, and reliability-related figures that are not measured
0–100 km/h: not measured on 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, 4.9 AT, and 6.8 AT. Top speed: not measured on all four. City / highway / combined consumption (mpg): not measured on all four. CO₂ and eco class: not measured on all four. Torque (Nm) and torque rpm: not measured on all four.
You cannot rank these cars by acceleration or mpg from this catalogue. You can rank them by power, displacement, gearbox type, cylinder layout, body, and — for 6.8 AT only — gross weight.
Dimensions and weight
Kerb weight: not measured on 4.3 MT, 4.6 MT, 4.9 AT, and 6.8 AT. Gross weight: not measured on the three generation 1 versions; 6.8 AT is 2200 kg. Weight per horsepower on that figure is 10.0 kg/hp (2200 ÷ 220). That is gross mass, not kerb, so it is not a power-to-weight comparison against the Cabrio versions, which have no mass at all in the data. Ground clearance: not measured on all four. Fuel tank: not measured on all four. Wheel sizes: not measured on all four.
Which version to choose: generation 1 Cabrio first
Stay in 1946–1959 if you want the Cabrio, 6 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Drum/Drum, and a 4-speed gearbox. The three versions differ by displacement, power, compression on one of them, and Manual versus Automatic.
4.3 MT — the smallest, lightest-spec engine in the set. 126 hp (92 kW) at 3750 rpm from 4257 cm³, compression 6.4, Manual 4, RWD. Versus 4.6 MT it has 14 hp less (−10.0%) and 302 cm³ less (−6.6%). Versus 4.9 AT it has 31 hp less (−19.7%) and 630 cm³ less (−12.9%). Specific output 29.6 hp/L is the lowest of the four. Peak power rpm is measured (3750); on 4.6 MT that rpm is not measured. Choose 4.3 MT if the requirement is the smallest Gasoline 6 Inline in this model and a Manual 4 — not if the requirement is maximum hp inside generation 1.
4.6 MT — the middle Manual. 140 hp (102 kW) from 4559 cm³, compression still 6.4, bore × stroke 92 × 114.3, Manual 4, RWD. Versus 4.3 MT: +14 hp and +302 cm³ for +1.1 hp/L (30.7 vs 29.6). Versus 4.9 AT: 17 hp less (−10.8%) and 328 cm³ less (−6.7%), and Manual instead of Automatic. Peak power rpm is not measured. Choose 4.6 MT if you want more displacement than 4.3 MT without leaving the Manual 4 column.
4.9 AT — the generation 1 power and gearbox step. 157 hp (115 kW) at 4000 rpm from 4887 cm³, compression 6.6, bore × stroke 95.3 × 114.3, Automatic 4, RWD. Versus 4.6 MT: +17 hp, +328 cm³, bore +3.3 mm with the same 114.3 mm stroke, compression +0.2, and Automatic instead of Manual. Versus 4.3 MT: +31 hp, +630 cm³, Automatic 4 instead of Manual 4, peak listed at 4000 rpm instead of 3750. Specific output 32.1 hp/L is the best of the Cabrio trio and only 0.5 hp/L behind 6.8 AT. Inside generation 1, 4.9 AT is the version that buys both the highest hp and the only Automatic.
What the extra displacement buys inside generation 1, in hp per extra litre: 4.3 MT → 4.6 MT is +14 hp / +0.302 L ≈ 46 hp per extra litre; 4.6 MT → 4.9 AT is +17 hp / +0.328 L ≈ 52 hp per extra litre. Those ratios are arithmetic on the given figures, not a claim about how the engines were designed.
Which version to choose: generation 2 Silver Wraith II
6.8 AT is the only 1975–1980 car in this model. Searches for “Silver Wraith II”, “Silver Wraith 2”, and “which generation” all land on this one Sedan: 220 hp (161 kW), 6751 cm³, Gasoline, fuel 92, 8 V-shaped, Carburetor, Automatic 3, RWD, compression 7.3, Independent, spring front and rear, gross weight 2200 kg.
It is not an alternative to 4.3 MT / 4.6 MT / 4.9 AT on the same checklist. Body is Sedan, not Cabrio. Cylinders are 8 V-shaped, not 6 Inline. Gears are 3, not 4. Rear suspension is Independent, spring, not Dependent, leaf spring. Brakes, valves per cylinder, and boost are not measured (on generation 1 they are Drum/Drum, 2 valves, boost No). Fuel grade is measured only here (92).
If the question is maximum listed power in the Silver Wraith line, 6.8 AT is the answer: 220 hp versus 157 hp on 4.9 AT. If the question is power density, the gap is small (32.6 vs 32.1 hp/L). If the question is a Cabrio with a 4-speed, 6.8 AT is the wrong generation. If the question is a Sedan with Independent, spring at both ends and the only measured gross weight (2200 kg), 6.8 AT is the only version that matches.
Short decision map (numbers only)
- Cabrio + Manual 4 + smallest engine: 4.3 MT (126 hp, 4257 cm³, 6 Inline, 92 kW at 3750).
- Cabrio + Manual 4 + more displacement: 4.6 MT (140 hp, 4559 cm³, 92 × 114.3).
- Cabrio + Automatic 4 + most generation 1 power: 4.9 AT (157 hp, 4887 cm³, 95.3 × 114.3, 115 kW at 4000, compression 6.6).
- Sedan + Automatic 3 + most power in the model: 6.8 AT (220 hp, 6751 cm³, 8 V-shaped, compression 7.3, gross 2200 kg, fuel 92).
Prices, 1948 transaction values, and cars for sale are not in this dataset. 0–100, top speed, mpg, tank, wheels, kerb weight, and ground clearance are not measured on any version, so they cannot decide the purchase. The decision that is supported is body (Cabrio vs Sedan), gearbox (Manual 4 vs Automatic 4 vs Automatic 3), cylinder layout (6 Inline vs 8 V-shaped), and the hp/displacement ladder: 126 / 4257, 140 / 4559, 157 / 4887, 220 / 6751.