A spacious, clean and well-presented limousine, nicely finished in black and soft white, with excellent black leather to the front and ivory to the rear. The whole car is smart in appearance, nicely sound with doors that close with a satisfying ‘clunk’, and would be well-suited to wedding hire use. Appealingly correct under the bonnet, with correct, bakelite coil, etc, and included within the history file is a buff logbook from 1945, the original handbook and correspondence from the original owner. The car comes equipped with a very impressive set of original tools, correctly housed in trays in the drawer under the front seat. This, in itself, tells us something about the life that the car has had, indicating care and attention.  Mechanically good too, running well, and offered MoT tested, serviced and prepared.

Price £29,500.

Snippets: J P Mitchelhill – Impresario & Philanthropist

The first owner of GXK23 was John Percy “Mitch” Mitchelhill (1879/1966) a successful theatre owner who started the careers of stars such as Gracie Fields (1915 production of “Yes, I think so”).  In the 1930s attendees at Mitch’s productions included HRH Princess Louise “The Rose Without a Thorn” and HM Queen Mary & Princess Mary saw T. S. Eliot’s poetic play, “Murder in the Cathedral”.

In December 1937 Prince Bernhard & Prince Aschwin of Netherlands whilst visiting London together with a large party attended “I killed the Count” at the Whitehall.  Authors of plays produced at the Mitchelhill theatres included – T S Elliott, J B Priestley, Clifford Bax, Christa Winsloe, Emlyn Williams & John Hill which was Mitch’s pseudonym.  We have acquired the book “J P – The man called Mitch” by Peter Cotes which is a tribute to the man, his plays, theatres & the scholarships he set up both in the theatrical & medical worlds including a library, allotments & homes for retired nurses.<br>

In 1948 he transferred ownership of GXK23 to his wife Sarah, why he did this is unknown; Sarah died in October 1965 and in April 1966 at the age of 87 Mitch married Margaret Sutherland who had been his nurse & companion since 1951.  In 1959 and by now in declining health (Meniere’s Disease) the Rolls-Royce, which he was always chauffeured in, was sold to Lady Cooke of Kingston House.

From our research we think that this Lady Cooke was the widow of Sir James Douglas Cooke, who although an Australian by birth was knighted in 1945 for his political work.  Lady Cooke only kept GKX23 for a few years before it was shipped to America.

The first American owner was John Crosby of Woodside, Redwood City in California, the second was Howard Frazee who was a pioneer of 3D photograph and from 1969 to 2003 the car was with Robert Hood of Howthorne,  California whose electronic company WEMS contributed to the space race.

A smart, clean and handsome example, very nicely finished in silver, with wings and waistline moulding in a lovely shade of blue. The interior – excellent leather to the front, cloth to the rear and headlining all in deep blue, with light blue carpets and particularly attractive wood veneers – all work together to create a very unusual and pretty combination, all in fresh, smart condition, and to a high quality.  Appealing features include ‘trouser crease’ wings, an original Philco ‘Transitone’ radio control on the dashboard, flashing indicators incorporated into the existing sidelights and taillights, as well as trafficators worked from a different switch.  Mechanically very good, running and driving nicely, clutch just overhauled and various preparation carried out. Offered newly MoT tested.

Price £29,500.

Snippets: Grocers & Milk

The first owner of GUB77 was Susan Herald Cochrane the widow of Andrew Cochrane who with his brother Alexander, started their Grocery & Tea trade in the 1870s with 3 shops.  When Andrew died in 1924 (of appendicitis) Cochrane’s had expanded to over 100 stores in the Glasgow area and Andrew’s estate was valued at some £238,000 which today would be in excess of £10m.

In 1921 Andrew Cochrane & James Fyfe-Jamieson purchased Viewfield Villa in Alyth which they gifted to the local nursing association – it remained used by the medical profession until 2014 when it was sold to a private family.  It is not known how long Susan Cochrane kept GUB77 but from 1965 to 1990 the 20/25 was with Edward Stanley Domnarski of Ledyard in Connecticut. Edward had 3 sons Edward Jr, William & David who all appear to be involved in the legal industry & have remained in Connecticut.

The last long-term owner was Cornelius de Rijke (1922/2015) who owned GUB77 from 1990 until his death but the car remained with the family until 2017.  In 1945 Cornelius started his milk transport company which rapidly expanded into general haulage – today the company has some 27 branches in 7 countries with 1,300 employees in Europe.  The wealth the company produced enabled Cornelius to indulge in his hobby of classic cars and he started his private collection which ended up with some 200 cars in a purpose-built museum in Oostvoorne.

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.

A delightful, early 20/25 with traditional, tall, upright coachwork, very stately, but fresh and cheerful in very nicely carried out primrose paintwork with tan leather interior, attractive veneers, and excellent headlining and carpets. In fact, the car is very fresh and clean throughout, inside and out. The car has some appealing vintage features, such as two-way divided windscreen, a ‘porthole’ communication window to the division, a lovely set of instruments, P80 ‘bullseye’ headlights, ‘Windover patent’ slimline bumper front and twin bladed quarter bumpers at the rear, a full set of wheel discs (also Windover’s own) and a very ‘characterful’ trunk on the rear. We have just completed an engine overhaul, which included new main and big end bearings, new pistons and little ends, timing case bearings, etc, and a clutch overhaul while we were at it, giving the car new lease of life. In addition to this, the car is fitted with a recent aluminium cylinder head, another bonus! Correct, attractive and smart, offered newly MoT tested. The last owner very effectively turned the car into a ‘Darling Buds of May lookalike’, and we have included a Lledo model of it to complement this, as you will see in the photos. MoT tested.

Price £ 42,500

Snippets:Rugby Union, Civil Engineer & Football boots

The 1st owner of GXO48 was Sir David McCowan (1860/1937) of Park Circus Place, Glasgow who between 1880/84 had played international Rugby for Scotland and was capped 10 times, he later became President of the SRU in 1928. His career was that of a senior partner with William Euing & Co who specialised in Marine Insurance, in 1889 David married Gertrude Cargill whose father David Cargill in 1886 had founded Burmah Oil Ltd and remained as their chairman until his death in 1904. It would appear that with a few years GXO48 had been sold to Sir Frederick Llewelyn Palmer (1862/1934) who worked for the civil engineer Sir Alexander Rendel and was seconded to the East Indian Railway Company in the capacity of assistance engineer. Whilst stationed in India he was responsible for the construction of the Moghalserai-Gaya line which took over 4 years to complete and included the Sone Bridge which at the time was the 2nd longest bridge in the world with some 93 spans of 100ft. In 1909 he returned to the UK and became chief engineer to the Port of London Authority with work on the Albert Dock & the King George V Dock. During WWI he was consulting engineer to the Air Ministry, his international works included Port Churchill for Hudson Bay River, Montreal Terminal and the harbour at Haifa and the new Zambesi Bridge – there are many more beside. In 1907 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire and in 1930 Commander of the Order of St Michael & St George for his contributions to engineering. His home of Crowhurst Place had previously been home to Consuelo Vanderbilt, 9th Duchess of Marlborough after her separation and subsequent divorce from the 9th Duke. During the 1990s GXO48 was with V. A. Lovelock who applied for a patent for various sporting gear including a headband and a football boot cover which consisted of a band that wrapped around the “sweet spot” of a football boot thereby increasing the friction between boot and ball and hopefully allowing the ball to “struck with greater accuracy”…….

An appealingly unusual car, its design harking back to an earlier era, with faux canework, opera lamps, etc. It is, however, correct and as built, but benefitting from much attention, including restoration work in the USA many years ago, and continued attention in the UK since its return here in the 1970s. This work included an engine overhaul by Brunts of Silverdale, including new cylinder head and block, steering box rebuild, and more besides. Comes with a large, informative history file. The paintwork is in very good order, sharp and smart, as is the interior – brown leather to the front and cream to the rear, in both cases with matching carpets. Even the headlining is leather! The car features louvred bonnet and scuttle, Carl Zeiss headlights, Lucas ‘owl eye’ tail lights, twin tubular blade bumpers front and rear and a rear-mounted spare wheel. Running well, lovely all round and offered freshly MoT tested.

Price £ 55,000

Snippets: Art & Jewels

The 1st owner of GMD36 was the socialite, heiress and scandalous Florence Evelyn St George, (known as Evelyn) whose father was George Fisher Baker (1840/1931) the co-founder of today’s Citibank. During his lifetime he was on the board of 40 companies, held the majority of the Central Railroad stock. In 1918 the first Forbes Rich List was published & it listed George Baker as being in joint 4th place with William Rockefeller with an estimated fortune of $150million, Nr 1 was John D. Rockefeller (William’s older brother) with a staggering $1.2billion. When George Baker died in 1931 the bulk of his estate was inherited by his son George with his two daughters gifted $5m each. In 1891, age 21, Florence Baker married the Irish land agent Howard St. George but by 1906 she had met the artist William Orpen (1878/1931) with whom she had a long-term liaison – and a daughter. Evelyn & her brother took annual trips to Paris to ensure they were dressed in the latest fashion and this of course included jewellery with Rene Lalique being commissioned to produce a choker with a lattice design of green glass cabochons on an enamel backing with diamonds set in each corner, this piece was later recut into a suite of bracelet, brooch and earrings with them being auctioned in 2020. There is a portrait of Evelyn St George by Orpen showing her reclining on her bed at Clonsilla in 1908 wearing that very choker. When she died in 1936 the auction house Sotheby’s were tasked with selling the contents of Cam House and this including artworks by El Greco, Goya, Cranach and of course works by Orpen.

From 1958 / 62 GMD36 was with the noted architect & interior designer Sir Hugh Casson – his clients included Air Ministry (Camouflage Service) Royalty (Royal Yacht Britannia) (Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Sandringham), WH Smith, NatWest Bank & Glyndebourne. During the time GMD36 was with Sir Casson the car was used, like his earlier Rolls-Royce as an everyday car and the mascot was replaced several times after being taken as a trophy.

A sound, spacious, and practical example in good, sound condition throughout. The car was with one owner from 1986 until 2016, and has been well cared for, having been fitted with a new cylinder head, re-cored radiator and more besides. As a result of the care and attention that it has received, the car runs very sweetly and drives nicely, with a smooth, powerful engine, and performs well. Smartly painted in black & ivory, nice bright work, with excellent (recent) black leather to the front and beige cloth to the rear, with original black leather fold-down occasional seats. The structure is excellent, the doors closing with a satisfying ‘clunk’ and fitting very nicely, and being Hooper, certain items, including the windscreen and fittings are beautifully made in stainless steel. P100 headlights, long trumpet horns, a full set of ‘Ace’ wheel discs, an impressive set of correct, original tools, and (unusually) a sliding sunroof to the front compartment complete the picture. A lovely car, ready to go and offered MoT tested.

Price £ 36,500

Snippets: Camp Coffee & Racing Yachts

GRM60 was ordered by James Davidson Paterson a scion of the Paterson manufacturing company – they started off producing vinegar, Tangerine Sauce and Eureka Chutney! James’s father Campbell joined the company in 1868 and legend has it that in 1885 Campbell Paterson was asked by some Gordon Highlanders if Patersons could create a drink that was easy for brewing on the battle field in India – the result was Camp Coffee – named after “Camp”bell himself. James (one of 10 children) and a younger brother Campbell Jnr were both keen yachtsmen – between them they commissioned Mylne & Fife to design elegant racing yachts including – Kelpie(1903), Vanda (1934), Mariella (1939) & Madrigal (the last yacht Fife designed) – in 1914 Kelpie was used to smuggle guns into Ireland!. In 1934 the yacht designer Alfred Mylne designed (for himself) a 12mtr sailboat named Vanda but he never had the delight of sailing the yacht as J. D. Paterson saw Vanda whilst she was under construction and made Alfred Mylne an offer that he simply could not refuse!! In 1947 Gregor Grant (1913/1994) of Kilmarnock acquired GRM60 from James Paterson. In 1929 Gregor Grant moved from Nethy Bridge to Kilmarnock & in 1935, aged just 24 he took over the construction firm of John Moulds Ltd, Gregor later bought the Mar Lodge Hotel in Troon, a magnificent building which dates back to the late 1800s. Gregor Grant was also a Free Mason and was a member of the Mother Kilwinning Lodge (Nr 0) – the existence of which can be traced as dating back to the early 12th Century.

On the instruction of the owner, we have now reduced the price of this car by more than £20,000 to £99,500, 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 £ 99,500

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!

Price £110,000

Snippets: Location, Location, Location

Exclusive Locations of a Rolls-Royce

The first owner was Mrs Edith Helen Campbell whose husband John Donington Campbell was chairman of J C & J Field Ltd – soap and candle makers which was founded circa 1642 by Thomas Field. Edith registered GAF81 at two London addresses – 22 Down Street in Mayfair and 44 Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge.  John Campbell died in 1939 on the way to hospital and it is thought that GAF81 was placed into storage for the duration of WWII. 

A later resident of Down Street was Sir Robert Young (1871/1959) a noted physician & tuberculosis specialist and during the mid 1800s Rutland Terrace was the home of Septimus Godson (1799/1877) barrister & brother of Richard Godson MP for St Albans.  South Lodge at Rutland Gate was the London base of the Llangattock family and was purchased shortly after the birth of their most famous family member – Charles Stewart Rolls. 

During the 1950s GAF81 was still in London this time in the Belgravia area with L. Candler of Chesham Place which via the master builder of the 19^th century – Thomas Cubitt – is connected to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall as she is a direct descendant of his.  By the 1980s GAF81 was with a “Singing Solicitor” – this was Winston Ku who had studied law at Oxford and had been trained as a classical singer by the French Baritone – Gerard Souzay. 

Price Reduced. An exceptionally exciting opportunity, being an open Phantom II Continental two door, two seater with dickey, with very sleek, stylish coachwork by H.J.Mulliner, aided by sweeping, open wings, a low windscreen, a beautiful set of stainless steel lamps, including P100S headlights, etc, all of which add to the overall eye-catching appearance. The comprehensive original, special order specification of the chassis, which we have copies of, shows large, 5″ tachometer and speedometer, “loudest type of Bosch horn”, special attention to the cooling system, and special testing of the chassis when complete. The car started life as a James Young Tourer, but the current H.J.Mulliner body, originally fitted to another PII Continental (149TA), has been on for several decades, something like two thirds of its life in fact. With one family (father & daughter) from 1960 to 2018, and with us for a second time, and comes with a great deal of background information, including a fabulous set of photos taken on a continental tour when the car was brand new, adding more to the already considerable history file. Cosmetically very useable, equipped with a neat cover for the compact hood which folds easily and sits low, and a tonneau cover. Very promising mechanically too, driving particularly well, with delightfully light steering, decent brakes, and getting better and better with use, after being laid up for about a decade in recent years. We have just carried out some re-commissioning service work and fitted a brand new cylinder head, adding to the car’s appeal (and value) and at the same time giving confidence and security for the future and contributing to the cool-running that the car enjoys. Complete with the aforementioned history file, two impressive, original tool trays, mounted either side of the boot interior, and we have now been successful in having the original, very appropriate, registration number, GY 4050, re-allocated to the car. We are unlikely to ever be able to again offer an opportunity such as this. Offered newly MoT tested. In addition to the video below, we have added a walk around as well, which can be seen here: https://youtu.be/ZBsfAVEAAFI?si=4byur5n0ymNhvQDC

Price £195,000

Snippets:

The first private owner of 28MS was Robert Edwin McAlpine (1907/1990) the grandson of Sir “Concrete Bob” MacAlpine. The chassis cards show that in 1932 Archibald Henry Pass (of Pass & Joyce Ltd) drove 28MS along the Stelvio Pass in order to “determine whether a 1932 Continental Phantom Rolls-Royce would negotiate the Stelvio Pass at the speed requisite for the Alpine Trial in view of the 44 hair-pin bends”. The trip was undertaken with A.H. Pass driving, Geoffrey Smith of Autocar as co-driver and G.W. Hancock from the RR experimental dept – the distance covered was some 2,300miles at an average of 9miles per gallon! 28MS was then sold to R. E. McAlpine as a 2nd hand car with the extra bonus of having a few extras plus already run in! In the 1930s Robert McAlpine purchased Lyttel Hall in Nutfield and registered 28MS there in 1937, the car was later, possibly during WWII, rebodied as a shooting brake & was apparently taken to West Africa by Dr Geoffrey Cuthbert Tooth (1908/98) who used it as a mobile surgery (more research needed here)! Dr Tooth was a qualified MRCS and a LRCP but he later specialised in the field of psychology with particular interest in juvenile delinquency; he produced several papers on Studies of Mental Illness in the Gold Coast. During WWII Geoffrey served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. In 1958, two years after 28MS returned to the UK, Geoffrey Tooth had not only relocated to Teheran but he had also married a member of the Russian Royal family – Princess Xenia Andreevna, whose paternal grandfather was the 4th son of Grand Duke Michael, a grandson of Tsar Nicholas I; Princess Xenia’s paternal grandmother was Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna – she was the eldest daughter of Tsar Alexander II and the sister of Tsar Nicholas II. Now that is what you call a pedigree! In 1956, after having been imported by J. O. Auclair the PII became the property of Major Cyril Edward Darlington who in 1949 was mistaken for Captain Charles Evan Darlington & it was reported erroneously that Cyril had had the Legion of Merit, Degree of Legionnaire conferred upon him by Harry Truman, President of the United States! A rebuttal notice was placed in The London Gazette to correct the error! By 1960 28MS was with H. R. Wilkins, the family firm of Wilkins & Mitchell dates from the early 1900s and at one stage the firm employed over 1,000 people. Wilkins & Mitchell produced machine tools, power presses and later in 1929 washing machines – Servis Domestic Appliances.