1928 Rolls-Royce 20hp Park Ward Limousine

A delightfully correct and handsome car, with some appealing touches and an interesting background. Bought in 1964 by John Fasal, author of “The Rolls-Royce Twenty”, this car ‘changed his life’ he says, and was the inspiration for his love of the marque and his future research into Rolls-Royce history, ownership, etc, and indeed his writing of the book itself. John restored the car in the 1960s, and following several years use by the subsequent owner, it was put into storage in the early 1990s. Now re-commissioned, looking lovely, and delightfully matured sixty years after the restoration, the car is now ready for it next life chapter. Features such as divided, opening windscreen, rear-mounted trunk with fitted suitcases, chauffeur communication device, etc, all add to the attraction. The car is equipped with correct, 21” wheels and all nickel brightwork, including the Lucas lamp set, in very good condition. Offered newly MoT tested, ready to go.

Price £32,500.

Snippets: An Actress, a Countess, a Vet’s wife & a Circuit Judge’s mother

Handwritten on the chassis cards for GBM38 is that it was sold to the actress Miss Maxine Elliott of St John’s Lodge, Abbey Road for Brenda, the Countess of Wilton of Milton Hall, Cambridgeshire. An unusual situation as we haven’t, yet, found any direct links between Maxine & Brenda but perhaps that will come to light.  Miss Elliott 1868/1940 was an American by birth who moved across the Atlantic to England and later settled in France.  Her niece Diana Forbes-Robertson (1915-1987) wrote Maxine’s biography which portrays her as being a great beauty & actress whose social life included George Keppel, JP Morgan & the Churchills, with a personal life that was both scandalous and tragic.  The 2nd lady on the chassis cards being Brenda, Countess of Wilton was a twin daughter of Sir William Petersen (shipping entrepreneur) & in 1929 was the widow of Seymour Edward Frederic Egerton, the 6th Earl of Wilton, he died in 1927 aged just 31.  Three years later in 1930 the Countess herself died (after an operation), she was only 35 and left behind two children – a 9-year-old son Seymour (7th Earl) and a daughter of 11 years old. It would appear that the 6th Earl was noted as being a philanderer – in 1920 he was cited in the divorce of Col & Mrs Ross Hume but as the 7th Earl was born 10 months after this event the Countess must have forgiven him! However, this was neither the first nor last of the 6th Earl’s liaisons – the Countess later sued for divorce – but at the time of his death in 1927 a decree absolute had not been issued. In June 1930 Christie’s Auction house held a major jewellery sale the majority of the items were from the estate of the late Countess.   The Wilton family are direct descendants of the Norman lord Gilbert le Grosveneur (1139/99) and share a bloodline with the families of the Greys, Egerton’s & the Grosvenor’s (Duke of Westminster).  The 3rd named lady on the chassis cards is Mrs. J.G. Runciman of Cambridge – this is is Edith May White a pork butcher’s daughter and wife of James Graeme Runciman a vet and breeder of Bower Winalot, the champion stallion Shire of the 1939 London Show.  The 4th lady shown on the chassis cards is that of Mrs Dulcie Marian Bevington of Gallowbrook House in St. Neots.  Dulcie was originally from Rhyl as was her husband Michael whose father Ernest had an established dental practice on St Asaph Road in Rhyl.  Dulcie & Michael’s daughter Christian Veronica became a lawyer (like Michael) and was appointed a Circuit Judge in 1998.