An absolutely delightful, sweet car, beautifully designed and in excellent condition all round. A major restoration in the 2000s still gives the car a fresh feel, and the standard of the work and attention to detail is just fabulous. Paintwork, nickel plating, and upholstery are all lovely, correct and ‘just right’, as is the car as a whole. The engine bay is presented just as we like to see them, with all the right equipment and finishes, clean and tidy, but not over restored as is sometimes the case. Equipped with correct 23” split-rim wheels, divided windscreen, lovely set of lamps, including a scuttle-mounted spotlight and an excellent fitted tool kit. As you may have gathered from this description, we like this car very much! We sold it in 1994, prior to its restoration, at that time in bare aluminium, but greatly admired then as well. When new, the car was painted in ‘Majestic blue’, with black wings and dark red leather interior, a colour scheme which seems to have been recreated during the restoration. Offered serviced, prepared and newly MoT tested.

Price £62,500.

Snippets: Road Racing and Yacht Racing

GCK35 was owned by Henry Leeson (1889/1932) for just 1 month before he sold it back to Rolls-Royce at the full retail price! Why he did so is not known, he had previously owned GA11 & after GCK365 went on to buy two other 20hps namely GMJ74 and GRJ78. Henry Leeson was a successful farmer, pig breeder & butcher with some 8 shops in the Eastbourne area. He learnt to drive in 1906 & during his life he owned & flew a Gypsy Moth (G-ABBX), owned & raced a 1930 Aston Martin LM4 team car & in 1926 he ordered a Bentley Super Sport which he had bodied by Surbico in the style of a boat-tail tourer. In 1932 whilst racing his MG at Brooklands he careered down the banking, over the into the paddock approach road just missing another car and he was killed on impact leaving a widow & 7year old son. The next owner of GCK35 was a wealthy Argentinian gentleman Santiago E. Soulas, chairman of Sansinena Co of Buenos Aires (import & export of frozen meats, transport, laundry & more). Soulas owner of Blue Red an 8 metre racing yacht which in 1924 was entered for the Olympic regattas at Le Harve. Soulas was a keen yachtsman and in 1928 he commissioned Camper & Nicholson to build M.Y. Monica (named after his daughter) – the yacht had a steel hull of some 147ft long and her later owners included Sir G. Tilley, 1939 she was requisition by the Royal Navy, renamed HMS Rion and took part in the Dunkirk evacuation and even participated in the capture & sinking of a submarine! After Sir Tilley’s death in 1948 she was sold to Aristotle Onassis who renamed her “Arion”, after himself & in 1956 he gave Arion as a wedding gift to Grace Kelly & Prince Rainer who kept the yacht until 1958, these days Arion is known as M.Y. Grace after HRH. The 3rd owner of GCK35 was John Goold Dorn a partner in the auctioneering firm of Mallam, Payne & Dorn of Oxford, his father had held the position Sherrif of Oxford in 1900. After only 3 years GCK35 was sold to W. J. Egerton of Ulverston whose family connections include the Pocklingtons, Fitzwilliams, Duke of Leeds & the Knaresboroughs.

A very stylish car, re-bodied in a format based upon the sought-after Gurney Nutting design. Strongly constructed, very smartly and attractively finished to a high standard, and a real eye-catcher, sporting P100 headlights, rear-mounted trunk and spare wheel with ‘clam shell’ cover and quarter bumpers. The car has a lot going for it, and to many, is the ultimate coachwork design for a 20/25 chassis. Although running and driving (as you can see in the video below)it is in need of some mechanical attention due to an engine noise, and is therefore priced accordingly. Having said that, the compressions are good, the car has been rewired in cloth-covered cable, has a stainless steel exhaust system, and in all other ways has been given a clean bill of health. So TLC is needed, but the work should be well and truly justified, both from the point of view of the satisfaction it would bring about and in all probability financially as well. Comes with multiple photo albums showing the restoration and body construction taking place.

Price £ 49,500

Snippets: Murray of Pirnie Hall

Robert Alexander Murray (1862/1937) took delivery of GTZ8 at his family home of Pirniehall, Drymen in Dumbartonshire. The property had built in 1896 for his father – Sir Alexander Murray and upon his death was inherited by Robert & his wife Katherine and shortly after WWII the house was sold to the Dunbarton Education Dept who converted it into a residential school focusing on outdoor activities. In the Directory of Directions (1927 edition) Robert Murray (chartered accountant with Brown, Fleming & Murray) was listed as a director of 18 companies, including British Celanese Ltd, Ceylon Estates Ltd., Clydesdale Bank, Midland Bank, New Transvaal Chemical Co., New Zealand & Australian Land Co and Waterproofing Co Ltd., Upon his death the terms of his will stated that his widow, Katherine was due an annuity of £7,000 per annum (free of tax) and the lifetime use of Pirniehall together with his other properties. In August 1918 just prior to the end of WWI his only daughter, Katherine, had married Capt. Henry William Bunbury of the Royal Air Force, an earlier ancestor of Capt Bunbury was Sir Henry William Bunbury who was a talented and well-known caricaturist. During the 1940s to the 1990s GTZ8 spent some time with Capt Michael Hollinshead before being acquired by Mel Wilde who commission the coach-building team of Jack & Duncan Buckley to produce the bodywork that the car wears today.

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. Chromework too, is very good. Fitted with a stainless steel exhaust system, running well and offered serviced and MoT tested until July 2025. 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.

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 Carron’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 summoned for 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 Malay Federal Council. Whilst in Malaya he pioneered a method in killing mosquitos which reduced the number of estate workers suffering from Malaria on the Sungei Way Estate. When he 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 keen motorists and in 1954 Kenneth entered the Monte Carlo Sun Motor Rally in his 1951 Bentley B130MD with N. Birkett as co-driver and they were judged as being joint winners in triple tie and they won the 4th category – Mass produced touring cars over 2600cc.

A delightful car, sound, nicely proportioned and all correct, with excellent door fits – closing with a satisfying ‘clunk’. It has been with the last owner for 36 years since 1988 when he bought it from us – a significant proportion of its life so far! It has been well cared for and retains gorgeous, original, soft brown leather upholstery, complemented by excellent headlining and carpets, and a large sliding sunroof to the front. Although built as a six light saloon, at some point a division has been fitted, making it more like a limousine, but done in such a way that it can be relatively easily removed if desired. Unlike some limousines, the driving position is quite generous, rather than being tight as some are. Comes with an excellent tool kit, including jack, wheel spanner, hammer, etc in their clips in the engine bay, some extra spares, a large history file, which includes early buff and green logbooks, lots of invoices, various books, and is all-in-all a lovely car, with early characteristics adding to its appeal. Running and driving well, very nicely re-wired in correct, cotton-covered cable, fitted with a stainless steel exhaust system, and offered serviced and newly MoT tested. Nicely rounded off with a wicker basket on the rear!

Price £32,500

Snippets: An Accountant & an Average Adjuster

James Barclay Peat (1880/1965) took delivery of GFT22 at Park End Ormsby and a few months later registered the car at Wykeham Place in Totteridge. J. B. Peat was a son of Sir William Barclay Peat (the Barclay was the maiden name of Sir William’s mother Margeret) and his siblings included Harry (accountant & also for the Ministry of Food in WWI & WII), Charles (MP, accountant, cricketer and recipient of the M.C.), Roderick (accountant & recipient in WWI of French Legion d’Honneur, Belgium Order of the Crown & Luxemburg Order of the Oak Crown, Margaret (married to the artist H. A. Olivier – the uncle of Lawrence Olivier) and Edith who died in 1899 aged just 24. James B. Peat himself was also an accountant and in 1905 he wed Lucy Birds Slater whose father – the timber importer John Slater – at the time he owned Ty Craig in Llantysilio (a previous owner – Exuperius Pickering – built a canal wharf by the house). When Lucy & James married the house was “profusely decorated” & cannons were “fired at intervals” prior to them going to Germany for their honeymoon. By 1935 GFT22 was back on the market & acquired by Charles Barry Cooper of Darley Dene in Addlestone. This magnificent house, originally called “Tudor House”, was built circa 1855 & demolished in 1960. C. B Cooper (1887/1949) was an “Average Adjuster”, which is a specialist in marine & engineering insurance claims (as was his father Charles Cooper (1856/1940). In 1933 the family firm of Charles Cooper & Sons became members of the Baltic Exchange and in 1944 CB Cooper was elected Chairman of the Ass. of Average Adjusters. After his death in 1949 the Rolls-Royce was bought by Godwin Southon who regularly entered the Ripley Run – he was a known & respected collector of cycling machines & his museum included items such an 1810 invalid chair, 1886 Humber and an 1877 Salvo Quadricycle which was patented by the Englishman Starley in September 1877. Godwin owned GFT22 until his death in 1965 when it was inherited and sold on by Mrs. J. Richardson.

A very pretty, early, short wheelbase 20/25 which could be described as a Doctor’s Coupe, but whatever term you use, it is a lovely configuration, very desirable, attractive to the eye, and very nicely proportioned. Having been with one family from 1965 until 2021 – 56 years, two thirds of its life so far, it has been well cared-for, and is nicely correct. Properly re-wired in correct, cotton-covered cable, fitted with overdrive, which is a very worthwhile upgrade in our opinion, and unusually has radial ply tyres – not often seen on these cars. Desirable touches include a very nice set of correct instruments, pillar-mounted spotlight, ‘Gothic’ rear lamps, and original trafficator arms, which work in conjunction with flashing indicators incorporated into the existing lamps (front & rear), all operating from the same switch. The car is smart, sound, running very well, and benefits from a combination of the vintage appeal of a 20hp and the performance of a 20/25. A delightful little car, full of charm and character, and offered, serviced, prepared and can be sold with a new MoT.

Price £ 67,500

Snippets: The Hemery, Strode & Boardman families

John Vincent Hemery (1857/1944) was a scion of an established Jersey family which can be traced back to the 1600s, members included Clement Hemery I (1747/1809) he fought in the Battle of Jersey in 1781; Clement Hemery III (1811/77) diarist and later ADC to HM Queen Victoria; Capt John Hemery (1813/81) commander of the vessel Bengal Merchant which in 1840 took the 1st Scottish colonists to New Zealand. Having attained a B.A. at Trinity College John V. Hemery followed in the family trade as a merchant and in the early 1900s moved to Arnoldfield in Grantham where his pastimes included hunting with the Belvoir alongside the Pagets, the Capels & the Molyneux families. In 1925 Prince Henry the Duke of Gloucester visited the Lincoln Agricultural Show and prior to “entraining for London” he took tea with John Hemery. As John Hemery never married & his estate was left to his niece Anne, Viscountess Plumer. The 2nd owner of GGP35 was Mrs. Ailsie Maud Strode, she had been widowed in 1922 but her personal wealth had been inherited from her mother’s family the Morrisons. The Morrison family had amassed considerable wealth starting with a drapery business founded by James Morrison in the 1800s, (he married the boss’s daughter) rapid expansion took place and before long his empire included warehouses, finance, railways & international trade. In James Morrison’s lifetime he was known as being the richest commoner in England and his biography “A Genius For Money” by Caroline Dakers is astounding, a copy will be with the car. When James died (1857) his estate was distributed amongst his 5 sons & 2 daughters – Lucy Morrison was the maternal grandmother of Mrs Ailsie Strode. In May 1909 Charles (James’s eldest son) died leaving an estate of £10million – a third was inherited by his sister Ellen & when she died just 7 months later her estate of £4million was shared between her nieces & great-nieces including Ailsie Strode. It is not known how long Ailsa kept GGP35 but it may well be (as shown on the chassis cards) until her death in 1961 as the chassis give The Bruce Hotel, Carnoustie as the 3rd keeper. By 1965 GGP35 had found its way to America with Reggie Boardman of Palm Beach, as he was a keen amateur golfer it may be that he visited Carnoustie and saw the car. The extended Boardman family are described as “American Royalty” – their family connections by blood & blood include: Drexel – Banking, Armour – Meat Packing, Spreckles – Sugar, Paul – Law, Astor – Politics and Pulitzer – Publishing. In April 1965 GGP35 was sold to a wealthy neighbour of his who in 1970 sold the car for $1 to her son! The lady owner was none other than a Mrs Jane Will Teagle Boggs Smith, she married 3 times and outlived all of her husbands! Jane was born in 1918 at the time of the Spanish Influenza and in 2021 at the age of 103 was given the Covid 19 innoculation.

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.

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”…….

A very fine example of a highly specified car, with some lovely features including magnificent ‘sideboard-like’ cabinetry in the rear, which incorporates fold-out tables, slide-away carpeted footrests, a single occasional seat and two cocktail cabinets with a decanter and two types of glasses. All nicely veneered and satin finished. Exhibited at the 1937 Earls Court Motor Show, it was apparently the most expensive car there, at just over £3,000. Excellent condition throughout, very nicely finished in tasteful black and beige, with excellent chrome plating, including a superb set of correct R100 headlights, centre spot light and twin Lucas long trumpet horns. With the car is a fabulous history file, including a great deal of maintenance invoices, correspondence between earlier owners, a complete ownership record, and sufficient for us to be totally comfortable that the mileage showing of 65,000 is genuine. There is also an old buff logbook. Another very impressive aspect of the car is the wonderful fitted toolkit in the boot, which attests to the care received during the life so far of this gorgeous car. Running nicely, serviced, and offered newly MoT tested.

Price £ 78,500

Snippets:

The first owner of 3CP186 was Fred Smith who was the MD of British Ropes Ltd – his 3 brothers were also keen motorists and each had a PIII – Harry with 3BU156, Herbert had 3CM131 & the youngest brother Enos owned 3CP150. The company of British Ropes was formed in 1924 with the merger of 6 wire and 1 fibre rope companies including Bullivant, Craddock, Craven, Haggie, Newall, Tyne & Smith, the oldest of which dates back to the early 1800s. Fred’s family home was Pollard Hall, Gomersal in Yorkshire which was built circa 1659 by Tempest Pollard for his wife Mary. In May 1940 Fred died unexpectedly whilst staying at the Clifton Arms Hotel in Lytham & it is thought that the PIII was laid up during WWII until it was bought by Major Frederick Leslie Laurence of St. Ives – he had recently sold Round Island in Poole Harbour which was owned by his wife Kathleen Iliffe as scion of the newspaper Iliffe family – she had commissioned Sir Edward Maufe to design the modern art deco home on the island. After a short ownership 3CP186 it was next with Captain Arthur Thomas Filmer Wilson-Filmer (a scion of the Ellman-Wilson shipping family), he acquired the 2nd Filmer when his maternal uncle Sir R.M. Filmer died in 1916 and Captain Arthur changed his name by deed-poll in order to inherit the estate of East Sutton Park. In 1927 Captain Filmer and his wife Olivia Paget (sister of Dorothy Paget) purchased Leeds Castle which remained with Olivia when they divorced in 1931. Captain Filmer remarried in 1934 to Lettice Ward, a grand-daughter of the 1st Earl of Dudley, there was a considerable age gap between the pair and the marriage ran its course in 1947 when Captain Filmer applied for a divorce on the grounds of Lettice’s adultery with their race-horse trainer – Captain Alvery Hall-Watt. During WWII the army took over East Sutton Park for war use, it was sold in 1948 and Captain Filmer purchased Rowley Manor in Little Weighton where he remained until his death in 1968. During the 1960s the PIII was owned (privately) by 3 future Lord Mayors of London! Sir Jonathan Denny MC 1965/6, Sir Robert Bellinger 1966/7 and Sir Gilbert Inglefield 1967/8. Sir Denny was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in 1918 during the “Third Battle of Albert” on the Somme during which he captured two machine guns and 10 prisoners as well as obtaining useful information.

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 MoT tested until June 2025.

Price £ 55,000

Snippets: Art & Jewels

The 1st owner of GMD36 was the socialite, heiress and scandalous Florence Evelyn St George, 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 & G. F. Baker was 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 by Orpen showing her reclining on her bed at Clonsilla in 1908 wearing the 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.

Originally an experimental ‘test car’, numbered 27-G-VI, this car was prepared by the factory in 1939 and became one of the very first production models (re-numbered WXA6) when the Wraith was introduced to the public. The car is handsome, sound, in fine condition, with an imposing and attractive frontal aspect, featuring an impressive array of correct lamps and horns. The car has been well cared for by one family since 1997, and we have a complete ownership record prior to that. Also in the file is a buff logbook from 1949, various documentation, old MoT certificates, and invoices confirming £32,000 of expenditure during the last ownership. Nicely correct, with a particularly appealing brown leather interior, excellent headlining, carpets and wood veneers and a sliding sunroof. Some of the beige paintwork is losing adhesion, on one side of the car, and ideally will need attention in the near future, but the panels are totally sound, and this does not prevent the car from being used and enjoyed. Running and driving well, offered serviced, prepared and MoT tested.

Price £ 39,500

Snippets:

After being used as an experimental car (original chassis Nr 27-G-VI) WXA6 was sold to its first private owner, Lt. Col. Reginald George Stanham just prior to the outbreak of WWII. His wife was an Australian – Helen MacArthur – whose family imported the first merino sheep to Australia in 1796. When her father James Macarthur-Onslow died in 1945 she and her husband sold up and moved back to the family home Camden Park – a property with some 80 rooms and still owned by members of the MacArthur family. The 2nd owner was Captain Roger Cookson, the 4th son of George Cookson of Treslissick, Cornwall. Two of Roger’s older brothers died when they were just 25, in 1907 Geoffrey succumbed to the plague whilst serving with the King’s Royal Rifles in Jubbulpore, India & in 1909 Christopher drowned whilst stationed with the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade at Holywood. Roger’s other sibling – George – joined the Royal Flying Corps and in 1918 he was mentioned in despatches. Media reports of the time refer to Roger Cookson as being a racing driver for the Bentley Team but we’ve yet to find evidence of this. In 1913 he married Sybil Taylor (an author & journalist) they had two daughters – Georgina, who became an actress & Patricia who became a princess with her 2nd marriage to Henry Aymon Marle Rodolphe (Prince de Faucigny-Lucinge et Coligny). In 1944 WXA6 was bought by George Bankoff, who have been informed was a British surgeon of Russian origin & author of some 120 books under various pseudonyms (George Sava, George Borodin, Peter Conway and others). His books covered topics varying from politics, history, medical, fiction & a biography of his father Ivan entitled “One Russian’s Story”. After just 12 months it was then bought by Edward W Collinson who in 1949 sold WXA6 to his own company (Beech’s Chocolates) in order to buy WCB45! Sadly in 1949 whilst on holiday in Scarborough, he fell down a 200ft cliff and didn’t survive, WXA6 remained with the family firm until 1955 until it was bought by Herbert Kaiser of de Oude Plaats, Corbridge. Herbert worked in Singapore where he was GM of Straits Steamship (Engineering Division) and later Chairman of Watt & Akkermans one of their subsidiaries. The 1990s saw WXA6 with Rami Elle, whose tailoring business “Elle 1981” included African Chiefs, Oil Sheikhs, royalty & government officials amongst their client list.

As instructed by the owner, we have very significantly reduced the price of this car. His loss could be your gain! A very early 20/25, one of the first series, and consequently very vintage in character, but at the same time with the extra performance over and above the 20hp, which is enhanced further by the fitting of an overdrive in recent years, creating a nicely relaxed cruising experience on longer runs. Delightful two door, four light body with sunroof and appealing touches such as side window vents, twin-blade quarter bumpers at the rear, quite sporting in appearance, and yet capable of carrying four people in comfort, on the lovely brown leather seating. And it has a boot! Comes with old tax discs, a bundle of MoT certificates and a handbook. The car is sound, running very nicely, and has been enthusiastically maintained and driven by the last owner. Offered serviced, prepared, MoT tested until Sep 2024 and in ideal condition to use and enjoy.

Price £ 49,500

Snippets:

The 1st owner was Edward Jefferson, a member of the Midlands based printing firm of Kenrick-Jefferson who produced office stationary & equipment. Edward & his family lived at The Manor House, Knowle – the history of which has been researched back to 1200 when William de Arden granted the villa to his wife Amice de Traci. In 1284 the Arden family sold the estate to King Edward I & Queen Eleanor, upon her death in 1290 The Manor House was gifted to Westminster Abbey & in 1559 it returned into the hands of the Crown enabling Elizabeth I to gift the property to Robert, Earl of Leicester. The Arden family are one of three families whose lineage can be traced back to 1083 via the male line (the other families being the Berkeleys & the Swintons). From the chassis cards it would seem GXO80 was sold in 1935 to Norman Willis-Dixon, the Dixon family tree can be traced back to the 1700s & having made their mark with their various businesses which included manufacturing Steel, Cutlery, Silverware, Whistles, Gunpowder Flasks, Game Bags, Mills & various engineering firms. Their wealth & standing in their respective communities saw the family own the following: More Hall, Page Hall, Oakfield House, Ashton Hall, Bramley Hall, Birley Hall, Highfield, Stumperlowe Hall & Hillsborough Hall. It is not known how long Norman Willis Dixon kept GXO80 but the log books shows that in 1967 the 20/25 was with Barrie Foster in Bradmore. During the 1970s the car passed through the hands of two respected car dealers – George Rhodes of Biddulph who in 1956 made the shortlist as middle-distance runner for the Melbourne Olympic Games but had to withdraw due to injury; the other being David “Bunty” Scott Moncrieff a “purveyor of horseless-carriages to the nobility and gentry since 1927″. Another interesting location that GXO80 was registered at was “La Mancha” in Halsall which dates from the early 18th century having been built by a Spanish nobleman – he created a formal garden, Japanese garden, sun house, pond and a terrace.

A particularly fine example of the ‘Tickford’ cabriolet, a design which features a quick and easy, crank action roof mechanism, providing for one person operation. Even with the roof open, the design offers relatively draught-free, snug accommodation. Some years ago, the car belonged to Mike Berry, well known for his high quality pre-war cars, & is offered in excellent all round condition, with lovely paintwork, and very well-executed Connolly leather interior, and benefiting from an engine overhaul not so long ago. Well appointed with a superb set of lamps & horns, including P100 ‘bullseye’ headlights, PLG40 centre lamp, twin ‘Owleye’ and a lovely triangular rear lamp, etc. Twin side-mounted spare wheels, all with ‘Ace’ discs fitted, all correct under the bonnet, the list goes on! In addition to all of this, the car has recently been fitted with an overdrive unit, further enhancing what was already a lovely car. MoT tested.

Price £ 77,500

Snippets: The Man Who Financed The British Government

Harry Marland(1875/1959) was a man of such wealth that not only did he own three houses – Broomholm in Langholm; Hale Carr in Hale and Tusthall House, Tunbridge Wells but in WWII he lent the British Government part of his fortune (free) for the duration of the war! When he purchased GRW52 he initially registered the car at Hale Carr but in 1938 he amended the address to that of Rusthall House. Harry “Lucky” Marland started his working life at 12 earning 5 shillings a week by the age of 21 he had become an assistant advertising manger to a London company. By the early 1910s he had become a director of the Chemical firm E. Griffiths Hughes Ltd and in 1911 he introduced “Kruscehn Salts” to the UK & USA markets. The adverts for Kruschen Salts showed a mature gentleman sliding down a banister and it was always said this was Harry Marland! The company’s other products included Digestif Rennie & Radox Bath Salt, in 1934 the company was floated on the stock market & within 20 years the firm had over 30 subsidiaries and in 1960 they were acquired by Aspro-Nicholas Ltd. When Harry Marland died in 1959 his estate was quoted at in excess of £500,000 which today would be in the region of £10million. The 2nd owner of GRW52 was also a medicine man – Dr Guy Chandler Milner who was a 3rd generation doctor, his grandfather Ralph Milner (1818/82) was a surgeon practised on Oldfield Lane, Salford and was known as “2nd Oldfield Lane Doctor” – the 1st being Dr. E. Taylor after whom Ralph named his son Edmund T. Milner who also studied medicine and became the 3rd Oldfield Lane Doctor! During WWII Dr Guy Milner (1902/87) served on the destroyer HMS Venomous prior to becoming a specialist in Dental work and Hon. Surgeon at Addenbrooke Hospital. In 1956 Dr Milner published “Some of the answers” which consisted of his answers to patients who had consulted him. During the 1990s GRW52 was with Mike Berry & the car was used during the TV series “The Thief Taker”.

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

Mrs E H Campbell registered GAF81 at both her London homes – Down Street in Mayfair and Rutland Gate in Knightsbridge. A later resident of Down Street was Sir Robert Young (1871/1959) noted physician & tuberculosis specialist and during the mid 1800s Rutland Terrace was the home of Septimus Godson (1799/1877) barrister and brother of Richard Godson MP for St Albans. South Lodge at Rutland Gate was also 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 19th century (Thomas Cubitt) is connected to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall as she is a direct descendant of T. Cubitt. 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.

Price £225,000

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.