A very appealing example of a 4½ Litre, ‘big boot’ model, in excellent, smart, sound and very appealing condition, very nicely finished in silver, with lovely, dark blue leather interior, and excellent veneers, carpets and headlining. The car is well equipped, including the fitment of electric power steering, which is a very worthwhile upgrade, making the driving experience even more of a pleasure! There is also an impressive array of tools, large and small, in their correct locations and in good condition. Accompanying the car is a history file which includes many invoices for repair and maintenance, amounting to about £125,000 over the last 25 years or so, along with a handbook and parts manual.This history shows caring attention over the years, which is well and truly reflected in the way that the car now presents. Offered serviced, newly MoT tested and ready for its next life chapter!

Price. £42,500.

Snippets:  Secrets of Swaine Street

John Rawson took delivery of SPG11 at his business address of 24 Swaine Street in Bradford.  Although that address no longer exists the location does have some interesting history.  In the 1700s land in the Hall Ings area of Bradford was owned by Charles Swaine Booth Sharpe – he was born plain Charles Booth but in 1759 he inherited a fortune from his aunt Miss Swaine, in order to inherit he added the Swaine to become Charles Swaine Booth.  In 1769 Charles married Hannah Gilpin – she had added the name Sharp to her surname when she inherited the estate of a distant relative Abraham Sharp (mathematician & scientist) who lived at Horton Old Hall.  The OId Hall had an observatory & was used for astronomical experiments (Abraham was a friend of both Flamsteed & Sir Isaac Newton).

Charles Swaine Booth Sharp was a man of the future – in 1771 he subscribed to the construction of the Bradford canal and contributed the sum of £500 to the project.  Three streets are named after C S B Sharp – Charles Street, Swaine Street & Booth Street – Swaine Street no longer exists but it was the site Bradford’s 1^st Police & Fire Station.

Later occupiers of Swaine Street included Joseph Sunderland Sons & Co – Mill owners with some 538 looms on which they produced high-quality Cashmere clothing and in 1938 Nr 24 Swaine Street was occupied by Mendel Bergson a bespoke tailor from a long line of tailors.

A spacious, particularly handsome D-back, of attractive proportions with an elegant sweep to the rear styling, fluted rear valance, cut away front wings and a subtle peak above the windscreen, adding to its appeal. The body structure is good and solid, with nicely fitting doors, closing with a pleasing ‘click’.The car also benefits from a large sunroof, stainless steel headlights, and Ace discs to all five wheels, as well as some nice, minor touches here and there. In good mechanical order, running sweetly, driving nicely, and benefitting from a stainless steel exhaust system. The interior is blue/grey leather throughout, which has seen better days but still useable, accompanied by unusual and appealing black lacquer finish to dashboard, door cappings, and all interior wood components, complemented by recent blue carpets and grey headlining. Within the car’s history file is a buff logbook from 1946, an early DVLA V5, some old MoT certificates, various invoices and a copy of an original sales brochure. A charming car, offered prepared, serviced, newly MoT tested, ready to go!

Price. £29,500.

Snippets: Portmanteaus, English Ball Games & Funeral families

The chassis cards state that the Earl of Bradford ordered GZU8 but the 20/25 was actually delivered to Mrs Sybil Gertrude Harvey in Eastbourne.  Sybil’s grandfather, Sir John Pound Bt manufactured portmanteaus, bags & trunks for the discerning person – they are still producing these items today!  In 1916 Sybil married Charles Alexander Harvey (known as Alex) of Lloyds – his sister Ermyntrude (1895/1973) was an international Lawn Tennis player who had played at Wimbledon 22 times!  In 1927 she & her partner Kathleen Godfree won the Ladies Doubles at the US National Championship with Ermyntrude on the winning team in the Wightman Cup (1925 & 1930).  During WWI Ermyntrude & her mother Theodora Harvey volunteered at Frinton Military Hospital – Theodora was fondly known as “Lady Pork”, this was due to her husband Charles Harvey, a provision merchant being known as Lord Pork!  During WWII Michael A. Harvey (Sybil & Charles’s son) served with the Royal Horse Artillery & in November 1942 was captured at Sidi Rezegh, Libya & transferred to Camp 19, Bologna, Italy.  In 1943 whilst being transported in a “cattle truck” from Modena, Italy to Brenner in Germany he & another officer escaped & made their way back to Britain via the Gavia Pass & into Switzerland. After Theodora’s death in 1944 her estate of Frith Manor, including a Bentley Coupe & a Rolls-Royce 20/25 were auctioned by Payne & Co. 

After just a year GZU8 was bought by Thomas Andrew Common, the son of an eye surgeon, Thomas became a distinguished engineer & he made lenses & telescopes.  In the 1930s he made the largest reflecting equatorial telescope for the Royal Astronomical Society (he was President) & he later gifted the Science Museum with several models of his lenses & telescopes. 

From 1937 to 1946 the 3^rd owner was George Reginald Taylor Thomas (1876/1965) who lived just 3 miles from Thomas, perhaps they knew each other!  George was a son of Thomas Albert Oaks Taylor of Clarence Iron Works who died in 1898.  George & his brother Tom Lancelot Thomas (1878/1960) were both under 20 years old at the time and after their father’s death they continued working for the family concern until it was nationalised in 1951.  George became director of London Midland & Scottish Railway, Deputy Chairman of Vickers, Taylor Bros & Co., International Combustion Ltd and Coal Extraction Ltd to mention a few!!  Tom was the sporting brother and during his spare time played cricket for Yorkshire (1899/1902), Lord Hawke’s team in New Zealand (1902/3) and hockey for England 1900/03!

From October 1946 to Jan 1955 GZU8 was owned by Harold Percy Lymn (1891/1976).  Harold & his father Arthur traded as furniture makers & in 1907 branched out into making coffins.  The family firm is still in existence and the stables now house the collection of funeral cars – Harold’s grandson has confirmed that GZU8 was probably a company car rather than Harold’s personal car.

A rare, 4½ litre, small boot model, one of few constructed in this desirable configuration. Built to export specification, and delivered new to Kenya, before going to the Belgian Congo in 1958. By 1978, the car was in North Carolina, and returned to the UK in 1983. It’s early life in kind climates no doubt led to structural preservation, from which the car still benefits to this day. Nicely finished in sand over sable, with twin red pinstripes to the waistline, which harmonise nicely with the lovely interior of red leather, carpets and over rugs, and fresh-looking headlining, all in excellent condition. Clean, smart, attractive and running nicely, with a good selection of correct, original tools, the car is offered serviced, fitted with a new set of five very well-suited, properly-sized radial tyres and tubes, and newly MoT tested, driving well.

Price. £32,500.

Snippets: African & Airborne Antics

In 1952 the Silver Dawn was shipped to Mombasa on the SS Kenya for Alexander Lovewell Christie (1907/1991) – the family lived on the Nanga Estate in the Rift Valley, Kenya. During WWII, Alexander served in the Royal Naval Reserve as a Temporary Paymaster Lieutenant. That same year as taking delivery of the Silver Dawn, Alexander Christie as appointed to the Nairobi County Education Board, a position which lasted until 1959.

In 1958 the Silver Dawn had been sold to Jack Mat Wilson Poelaert an English architect who in 1947 constructed the main building on the site of what is now Maison St Benoit, a small Benedictine nunnery, overlooking Lake Kivu.  In 1959 this became home of Aloys Bigirumwami – the first African to be appointed Bishop of the Belgium colonies.  In the book “Land of a Thousand Hills”, Rosamond Carr describes Jack Poelaert thus: Jack Poelaert droves a 1922 Rolls-Royce and lived with his mother and a domesticated golden monkey in a spectacular house surround by fragrant citrus groves”.  The 1922 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost is mentioned elsewhere as Poelaert being a shared owner alongside Jack Rubens – the mystery thickens!!  By the 1960s’ Jack Poelaert had left Rwanda and relocated to Uganda, this was partly due to his political views at the time.

During the 1970s the Silver Dawn was in North Caroline with Henry Welfare Jr, during WWII he had piloted B17 the Flying Fortress and was president of the 305th Bombardment Group of the 8th Air Force, they were the most-decorated USAAF heavy-bombardment groups in the European Theatre & had their motto was “Can Do”.

The 2nd American owner was William Fank Helms Jr. of Monroe.  His enterprises included College Shoppe (a pair of men’s clothiers) & Frank’s Ltd which was also an out-fitters.  In Weddington he was the proprietor of Endless Endeavours were he sold & bought vintage cars internationally and he owned various real estate!!

A handsome car, which has benefitted from a good deal of attention, including an engine refurbishment, with a new block & pistons, and a while before that a new cylinder head. The car is good and sound, and has correct P100 headlights, long-trumpet horns, and twin side-mounted spare wheels, as well as attractive ‘trouser crease’ wings. In the boot is a fitted tray with a good selection of correct, original tools, and the car is accompanied by a sizable file of paperwork, which include invoices for work carried out over the years amounting to nearly £50,000, photos of the car being repainted, old MoT certificates, an original handbook, and various other documentation. An overall very good example, running nicely, waiting for its next life chapter.

Price £36,500.

Snippets:  Oil Wells & a Ship Yard Actress.

Thomas Lavington-Jacks (1884/1966), Resident-Director of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later known as BP) was stationed in Tehran from 1926/35.  Whilst there Thomas Lavington-Jacks amassed an important collection of Iranian antiquities which included a 4th Century Achaemenid silver bowl (the time of Darius III who was defeated by Alexander the Great).  In 1935 the bowl was displayed in Russia at The Hermitage & in 1998 was acquired by the British Museum.

The Rolls-Royce remained with Thomas Lavington-Jacks until 1944 when she was sold to J. Lloyd Shakespeare, trumpet virtuoso & dance time band conductor whose 1920s recordings included: “Roll Away Clouds”, Baby Blues”, “Laughing Marionette” & “Whistle Away Your Blues”.  In 1942 Lloyd Shakespeare & his partner (later wife) stage & screen actress Miss Betty Warren purchased Stebbings Shipyard on the River Thames.  During this time the firm produced lifeboats, whales & dinghies for the Admiralty & MoWT.  Co-incidentally Thomas’ wife Elsie Sheridan-Stevens was also involved in the theatre – she was a direct descendant of Richard Brinsley Sheridan – MP, Playwright & a notorious rake!.

Later owners of GTL68 included Colonel A S Lowe of Baker Street & Captain Neville John Buss who served with the Zambian Army, he registered GTL68 in Ndola, Zambia.  Whilst in Africa it is understood that GTL69 was with Capt C. Tilney, a commercial pilot with British Airline Emerald Airways, whose fleet included De Havilland Herons!  GTL68 remained in Africa and during the 1980s the owner was Wilse Mare, an architect in Pretoria, a keen car enthusiast & a leading member of the Pretoria Old Motor Club.

A handsome and slightly out of the ordinary car, although referred to as a ‘Continental’ saloon, it would be described by many as a sports saloon. Incorporating ‘trouser crease’ wings, rear-mounted spare wheel, quarter bumpers and top-opening boot, the car is refreshingly different and attractive. Painted in a cheery shade of yellow, with black wings and leather-covered roof, which incorporates a sliding sun roof, and with excellent pale tan leather interior. Chrome work too, is very good. Fitted with a stainless steel exhaust system and – importantly – an overdrive, making the car well-suited to longer distance cruising.  Running well and offered serviced and newly MoT tested. The original registration number was BGF 890, which may well be available to claim back, and this is a process that we would be more than happy to help with. One of the photos shows how the car could look with black wall tyres, rather than the whitewalls currently fitted. We can change them if you prefer black. In addition to the video below, there is another showing a walk around and the engine, which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/VuB9n-cU-9s?si=6IAXGYfl64fDFChF

Price £ 35,000

Snippets: The Sailing Stockbroker

Hugh Carron Scrimgeour (1883/1958) was a scion of the Stockbroking Scrimgeour family of Sussex. The family can trace their origins back to Scotland – the surname is taken from the old English Skrymser meaning swordsman with members of the Scottish clan being Earls of Dundee, Royal Standard Bearers and Constables. Hugh Scrimgeour himself was a keen sailor owning the 8mtr Bermudan Sloop built by William Fife in Scotland & christened Oonah which he raced at Cowes with his daughter Pamela crewing, in honour of her father she later commission the Pamela Snagge Trophy which is awarded annually to the winner of the Mermaid Class. Hugh Scrimgeour’s fleet of yachts included Eastmora (built 1926) and Sans Peur. Hugh had early brushes with the law as in 1909 he was summoned for driving at excessive speeds and in 1912 he was summoned for the lack of an identification plate on his motor and again 1913 for exceeding the speed limit! Perhaps there was less chance of a summons whilst out at sea.

The chassis cards show that the 2nd owner was William Stanley Reeve-Tucker (1888/1939) who was a rubber planter in Malaya and a member of the Malayan Federal Council. Whilst in Malaya William Tucker pioneered a method of killing mosquitos which reduced the number of estate workers suffering from Malaria on the Sungei Way Estate. When William first moved to Malaya in 1907 he joined the MSVR and received his commission in 1913, during WWI he was ranked as a Captain. After his death it is thought that GRC81 was laid up for the duration of WWII as in 1945 it is shown as being with Kenneth & Kitty Hutchison. They were both keen motorists and in 1954 Kenneth entered the Monte Carlo Sun Motor Rally in his 1951 Bentley Chassis Nr. B130MD with N. Birkett as co-driver – they were judged as being joint winners in a triple tie and they won the 4th category – Mass Produced Touring Cars over 2600cc.

On the instruction of the owner, we have now reduced the price of this car very significantly to £75000, meaning that it is now particularly good value! An unusual, very stylish and possibly unique open car, of interesting and particularly handsome design, being relatively sleek, with spats to the rear wheels, quarter bumpers to the rear, twin side-mounted spare wheels, louvred bonnet & scuttle and ‘dropping’ waistline moulding, all complemented by a correct set of lamps and long trumpet horns. All six wheels are fitted with Ace wheel discs, which we feel suit the design nicely. The car is in good, smart condition, the paintwork, chrome work, leather are all very good and nicely presented, and the coachwork is good structurally with excellent door fits, etc. It has recently been fitted with a new cylinder head and is smartly presented under the bonnet. According to the factory records, the paintwork was originally light green throughout with “speckled grey leather and hood material to match”. Amongst the documents in the car’s history file are several photos taken when new, as well as original sales documentation, Jack Barclay invoices, etc, some of which can be seen on the ‘More Photos’ page. All in all, a rare opportunity to acquire ‘something different’. Back to the original colour scheme perhaps? Serviced, prepared, running nicely, driving well and MoT tested.

Price reduced from £99,500 to £75,000.

Snippets: An Indian connection & a tragic family

GGR54 was initially ordered by J. N. Mookerjee of Messrs Martin & Co, India but he did not take delivery of GGR54 – this was because he saw 3CP76 (a Phantom III) in Jack Barclay’s show room and immediately traded in GGR54 + £600 for the PIII which is still with the Mookerjee family in India. The 1st owner of GGR54 was Robert Henry Arthur Rivers-Bulkeley who had a very tragic childhood; his father Captain Thomas Rivers-Bulkeley was aide de camp to Duke of Connaught and whilst serving in the Scots Guards he was killed in action during WWI (Oct 1914) – his son, Robert was just 9 months old. When Robert was 9 ½ years old his mother, Annie Evelyn Pelly died leaving Robert an orphan, his godparents were the Duke of Connaught, the 1st Marquess of Curzon & Sir H. V. Meredith. Robert’s aunt Constance was the wife of David Lindsay, the 27th Earl of Crawford & it is possible that Robert was raised by the Crawfords temselves, perhaps someone can confirm this? GGR54 was only with Robert Bulkeley for a few months as he & his young family were posted to Egypt with the 2nd Battalion of Scots Guards. The 2nd owner of GGR54 was James Miller, a Scottish engineer who in his life time was Lord Provost of Edinburgh (1951/4) and Lord Mayor of London (1964/5) whose mayoral cars had the registrations of S0 (Edinburgh) and LM0 (London). From 1955 to 1974 GGR54 was with the prolific author Ken Ullyett – his books covered topics ranging from Silver Ghosts, Clocks, Pewter and 7 books on various makes of cars. His home of Glycine House in Hampton Court Road dates from the 1700 and is reputed to have been built by George I for his physician and in the cellar there was a connecting tunnel built between Glycine House and Hampton Court!