An extremely smart, sharp and lovely example of the 4½ litre Silver Dawn, very nicely finished in black, with Ivory leather, all in excellent condition, accompanied by excellent headlining, superb woodwork and a fresh set of newly made carpets in beige, with binding to match the leather are currently being made. Externally lovely too, with high grade paintwork, excellent chrome, and sharp panel lines, door fit, etc.  Unusually, and very positively, the car is fitted with electric power steering, and Avon radial tyres of very suitable size, which suit the car well. Both of these features are upgrades which we are strongly in favour of, making the driving experience all the easier and more enjoyable. The boot contains a correct set of ‘large tools’ in their clips, and there is an impressive set of small tools, in the tray under the driver’s seat.  In the region of £88,000, all documented with invoices from specialists, has been spent on the car in recent times, ensuring that it really is one of the best! Driving nicely and performing well, offered newly MoT tested.

Price. £39,500.

Snippets:  The Left Handed Baseball Player

The first owner was Luigi Comi – this gentleman was either a stockbroker from Milan, Italy & the mentor of Umberto Maiocchi who in turn became one of Italy’s most famous international financiers, a pioneer in the European Eurobond & director of Banca Indosuez; or he was an estate agent!!

From 1960 to 1978 the car was back in the UK with the firm of R M Birds, distributors of wine & fine spirits in Stratford on Avon.

In 1978 the Silver Dawn was exported to America & registered to Vic Wertz Distribution of Mt Clemens in Michigan.  Vic Wertz (1925/83) was a major league Baseball player (left-handed) who during his career of 17 seasons played for Detroit Tigers, St Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox & the Minnesota Twins.  During WWII Vic Wertz enlisted in the Army with the 81st Division (June 1942 / Dec 1943), his posting was to the Pacific where apparently, he saw little action but managed to get in some games at his postings!  After WWII he worked in the beer distribution business & was a spokesman for the brewers of National Bohemian Beer & Colt45, he started his own company – Vic Wertz Distributorship in 1955 & this became a multi-million Dollar operation.  By the time of his death in 1983 he had 45 delivery trucks sending Miller Beer throughout the Detroit area.  His widow Lucille took over as President of Vic Wertz Distribution until her death in 1989.

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 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.

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!