You can't miss Billy Vigeant arriving in his cream-colored Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, and that's the whole point.

Journal photos / Steve Szydlowski

Billy Vigeant of Johnston, right, owns the 1948 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith above -- he says it's the only one in the state.

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The 1948 beauty is his calling card. He says it's the only Silver Wraith in Rhode Island, and he uses it to transport athletes and celebrities and to spotlight the events he promotes through his Good Sports and Entertainment firm in Johnston. But the car means more than that to him.

"I always wanted one, since I was a little kid," he said. Vigeant, who calls himself Billy V, grew up in the Silver Lake section of Providence and sees the Rolls as a symbol of success. This is the third one he has owned.

"I bought my first one in 1986 in Monterey, California," he said. "It was a 1982 Silver Shadow." He also had a 1967 right-hand drive model but says the Silver Wraith "is the one I wanted for a long time." They are rather rare: only 1,144 were made.

This right-hand drive is the short wheelbase model with a straight-6 engine, making about 122 horsepower, and four-speed manual transmission. Rolls is famous for its powerful and durable airplane and tank engines. The Wraith has 56,000 miles on the odometer, and Vigeant believes that's the original mileage, though he thinks the engine was rebuilt.

"For a 1948 car it handles extremely well," he says. "If you take care of these engines, you can drive them forever."

Though it isn't classified as a limousine, you can use it as one. It has a privacy window separating the front seat from the back, and it's powered, though the other windows aren't. There is also a beverage bar in the center console, fold-down picnic tables, a vase and a metal sunroof over the front seat.

The interesting feature that other drivers can see are the turn signals -- lighted arms that pop out between the two rear-hinged doors. "A lot of people aren't used to seeing blinkers like that," Vigeant says.

The famous Rolls Royce grille is nickel silver, and is smaller than the previous year's model. Vigeant says the RR lettering was red until 1929, when Harry Royce died, and then it was changed to black. The huge headlights flank the grille, and the single light in front of the grille is the high beam.

With a body by coach maker Hooper, the classic flowing lines incorporate the running boards into the fenders. The trunk lid folds flat so that a real trunk, probably made of leather, can be tied down for additional storage.

The 17-inch wheels aren't original, and there are solid hubcabs, not wire wheels. This is an older restoration, though most everything is original.

"I bought it [a year ago] pretty much as it is," Vigeant said. "My biggest goal is to do the [interior] and dashboard. I'm going to keep it as original as possible, but I want to work on the burl trim."

Vigeant, 46, who lives in Johnston, has restored other cars, a 1966 Jaguar and a '52 Bentley that he just finished. He also has a Fiat Spider that he loves, and his daily driver is a 2001 Cadillac DeVille. But he enjoys driving the Rolls.

"I can't say enough about it," he said. "I drive it quite a bit, it doesn't have to be a special occasion. It's not like I baby it. It does 70 mph. But it's not an everyday driver; it's not made for that."

The Rolls attracts people wherever it is parked, and Vigeant keeps getting asked if he will rent it for special occasions, such as weddings. He doesn't, but he says he is considering it. This is, after all, a car to be seen in.

Auto Biography is a new feature that tells an interesting story about a car and its driver. If you think you have a newsworthy story to tell about your car, write to Auto Biography, Features Department, The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St. Providence RI 02902 or e-mail projocars@projo.com. Be sure to put "Auto Biography" in the subject field.

The car doesn't have to be a classic or expensive, but it should be somehow unique. The driver must be willing to be interviewed by a reporter about what makes this car special and to be photographed with the car.