A lovely, correct, sound and appealing example of the most sought-after large engine model, finished in a very attractive shade of Suede green, with interior in the same colour, as per original specification. The car is very smart and correct cosmetically, with excellent paintwork and chrome, and the upholstery, woodwork, headlining and carpets all being in very good condition too, as well as having a sliding sunroof. We have just completed some recommissioning work, which included attention to steering, suspension, wheel bearings, water pump, etc, and a new set of five tyres and and heavy duty tubes, and we should mention that the car has been upgaded by the installation of a five speed gearbox, easier to use, and giving more flexibility than the original unit. The history file with the car includes correspondence, many invoices for work carried out over the last 25 years or so (including an engine overhaul), lots of MoTs, a buff logbook from 1963 and a correct handbook. There is a very impressive toolkit fitted into the boot lid, smartly and correctly presented. The car is offered serviced, prepared and newly MoT tested.

Price. £29,500.

Snippets: Proud Custodians

After spending 9 years with its 1st owner S. E. Skinner the Jaguar MK IV was bought by Edna & John Browne in 1957 for the princely sum of £275!  After many years of faithful motoring the car reached 180,000miles and he decided in 1987 to restore the car – after he built a workshop to carry out the work in!!  In 1987 he displayed the Jaguar at Stow Hall in Stow Bardolph, home to Lord & Lady Hare – the estate was bought by the Hare family in 1553, the original Hall was built in 1589 later demolished, the 2nd Hall was built in 1796 and the 3rd one in 1874 & was demolished in 1994 – the extensive gardens including a walled garden are still in existence & are open to the public.

From 1988 to 1997 the Jaguar was with Peter J. Biggs who had previously owned & restored a 1935 Lagonda Rapide Tourer which in 1971 was awarded 1st place at a concours event.  Shortly after selling the Jaguar in 1997 the Biggs family bought Histon Manor which they kept until 2018, by then there were 3 generations of the family living there!  The history of the house can be traced back to the 1800s with the Sumpter family when it was known as Histon St. Etheldred – an old oil painting of the Hall shows a pair of yew trees flanking the building – they are still in existence today.  Later owners included William Peed (Solicitor), Ambrose Harding who had a private zoo in the grounds of the Hall & was a specialist on leeches!!  From 1927/50 the Hall was occupied by Dr. W. Rouse who in the 1930s translated the Odyssey & the Illiad in plain English – these are still used in schools today.  The 1950s say the house with the St Josephs with JK St. Joseph being an analyst of aerial photography – in 1965 Selwyn College purchased a Cessna which allowed JK to continue his research into the images which number some 500,000!

A very handsome, substantially built car, wonderfully proportioned, with some lovely features, including sunroof, stainless steel lights and fittings, ‘trouser crease’ wings, draught deflectors on the door windows, and a fabulous tool kit fitted to the boot lid, below which are two fitted suitcases. The car is typical of Rippon, being very high quality, strong in construction, with wonderful  door fits, closing with satisfying ‘clunk’. Full of charm, character and desirability, and the car is featured on the front cover, as well as on several pages of  “Rolls-Royce 20hp, 20/25, 25/30 & Wraith in Detail” by Nick Walker, and a copy of this book is included. The comprehensive history file includes correspondence between owners, photographic records of work done, including a full engine overhaul, invoices, note books, and the original handbook, stamped with the car’s chassis number. All-in-all, a charming car, nicely original, mature in an appealing way, driving well, serviced, and newly MoT tested. 

Price. £34,500.

Snippets:  Textiles, Gas Works & the Gilded Age.

Sir James Hill (1849/1936) was 84 when he took delivery of GSY73 in 1933. When he died in 1936 his estate was left to his widow Dame Alice Hill who died just 5 months later.  Their eldest son Arthur had died in 1935 without an heir so the title was inherited by their 2nd born son, Albert and via his heirs to the current generation.  Sir James started his working life in a mill as a wool sorter when he was just 12, and by 1936 he had become Mayor of Bradford, acquired a title, been the proprietor of several newspapers, sat as a Liberal MP & become a major figure in the international Wool market.  He specialised in cross-bred New Zealand wool rather than merino and established his own purchasing operations “down under”.  His sons Albert & Arthur became junior partners in the family firm of Sir James Hill & Sons (Wool) Ltd, and in the late 1890s the company were importing in excess of 2,500 tons per year.  Although he enjoyed a millionaire lifestyle he donated funds for Bradford’s infirmary, bought land to be used as parks and also helped his customer’s by either investing in them or providing them with loans or credit terms during the times of hardship.  He assisted in the electrification of Bradford’s tram system, was a director of several banks and owned several newspapers – much of his success was credited to his wife Alice who he married in 1875.

The 2nd owner was Dennis Hartley of Harrogate, in 1911 he was offered the position of manager of Buenos Aires Gas Co in South America – prior to this appointment he had, for 5 years, been the assistant to Mr. Wellens of the Hebden Bridge & Mytholmroyd Gas Board & for the two years prior to going to Buenos Aires had studied engineering with Messrs Drake & Co Ltd.  In September 1912 his fiancée, Miss Thomas & her parents, sailed on the “Highland Scot” to Buenos Aires where she and Dennis were married.

From 1956 until 1960 the car was back with the theme of wool as it was with Michael Aykroyd – his grandfather Sir William Aykroyd was the first chairman of the family firm T F Firths & Son with Michael’s uncles Sir Alfred & Col Harold both taking up the role prior to Michael.

In 1960 the Rolls-Royce was discovered in an unloved state by Rev Jesse P Cooper, he was a retired RAF Chaplain who enjoyed classic cars.  So good was his restoration of GSY73 that it was awarded 2nd place in the 1962 Blenheim Concours event.

From 1962 until 1996 the car was in America with several interesting families including one Mr Hamilton Perkin Greenough, his father Charles P Greenough was associated with Henry Lehr who in turn was a favourite of Mamie Fish & Mrs Nancy Astor!!  In 1901 Henry Lehr married the wealthy widow Elizabeth Drexel Dahlgren but the marriage was never consummated due to Henry’s predilection…..  Hamilton’s son was the influential surfer and filmmaker George Greenough – a man of many talents.

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 late ‘SC’ specification, 2.7 litre version, which incorporates various improvements over earlier models, the main one being a larger, 2762cc engine, replacing the 2511cc used previously, as well as many changes to steering and suspension, and the adoption of 19″ wheels. This example is in need of significant restoration work and is being sold as a project, but having said that, a great deal has been done already, including absolutely excellent ash frame and panel work, documented with photos, preparation for engine overhaul, with work such as re-metalled big ends and great deal more excellent-looking work.  There are new pistons, a new clutch, new camshaft, engine gasket set, etc, and many other new parts with the car. Invoices from the 2000s, for work done and parts supplied amount to about £27,000. As mentioned above, in the file are photos of work progressing, along with tax discs and insurance documents from 1953, instruction manuals and parts books, and a buff log book from 1950. We have succesfully reinstated the original registration number, BYF 325, always a pleasing thing to acheive.  Lots to do, but a rare and potentially very rewarding opportunity, which has been started in a very positive way.

Price. £19,500.

Snippets:  Swedish Heiress & Secondhand Dealer

The first owner of the Alvis was the Danish Countess Hella Frijs (1886/1974), her family connections include Karen Blixen (cousin) of Out of Africa fame.  Hella was the daughter of Count Mogens Frijs whose family owned one of the largest estates in Denmark as well as land in Kenya. 1908 Hella married her cousin Frederick Krag-Juel-vind-Frijs who died in 1926 aged just 43 leaving Hella with their 3 children Allette, Niels & Erhard.  During WWII Erhard became a volunteer pilot & lost his life in 1940, age just 27) when his aircraft was shot down in aerial combat over the Karelian Isthmus.  The countess herself was a keen sportsman – she owned & flew her own plane – it was rumoured that she was to take part in the 1934 Australian Centenary race – a distance of some 11,300 miles – she didn’t!  She also trained & rode her own racehorses – primarily in the steeplechase.  We have managed to find a photo of the Countess in the Alvis which was taken in 1938, the car was just 3 years old and she was 52.  It would appear that the Countess kept the car until after WWII – she served as an ambulance driver during this period and in 1946 the car was sold.

The 2^nd owner was Albert Sidney Painter who live in a railway carriage house in Bognor Regis!!  He was the owner of a successfully furniture polish & silicone car polish factory who in 1951 sailed to America on the Queen Elizabeth to take part in a “Dollar Export Market Mission”.  His fleet included a 1908 Humberette & he later bought the motor yacht “Jennifer Anne” which he registered at his American address of Casey Key, Florida.

 From 1950/1995 the Alvis was with the Pudding King – Mr. Ernest Onians – he made his name by taking waste food from restaurants and processing it at his mill in Suffolk to turn it into pig swill – a very successful enterprise.  Whilst travelling around Suffolk selling his produce he found many of his customers had paintings & furniture which they needed to sell to pay their bills.  Ernest ended up with a substantially collection which he literally stuffed in to his house & sheds at the mill.  After one of the sheds burnt down, he decided that maybe a valuation was in order but that was as far as he got.  When he died in 1994 the artworks had not been researched & as a result of a quick sale the estate only attained £2million.  Within this collection was a small painting The Sack of Carthage which was “attributed to Pietro Testa” & was bought by a London gallery – it was cleaned, restored and its true identity revealed as the Destruction & Sack of the Temple of Jerusalem by Nicholas Poussin – it was sold to the Rothschild foundation for £4.5m.  The original auctioneers where sued by Ernest’s family in 1999 and settled out of court in 2002……  The moral of the story is “catalogue your artwork”.

As far as we can tell, this car is one of just three built to this elegant and attractive design on the R Type chassis, and one of those was left hand drive, so it really is a desirable rarity. Sharing certain similarities, including the whole frontal aspect, tail design, divided windscreen and general profile, the car could be considered to be a convertible version of the well-known ‘Lightweight Saloon’ created by H.J.Mulliner. In fine, nicely sound and smart condition, appealingly finished in Burgundy with red leather interior, cosmetically mature in a very charming way. The hydraulically operated hood is working well, We have a history file which includes various invoices for work carried out and parts supplied, an ownership record, MoT certificates and more. The car runs and drives nicely, is fitted with a new set of very suitable radial tyres, and is offered serviced, prepared and MoT tested. Admired by many!

Price. £65,000.

Snippets: Tractors, Allard & Experimental Aircraft

In 1931 Edward Boydell (1896/1962) took over the firm of Muir-Hill Ltd of Manchester, their products included sprung road wheels & bucket loaders for Fordson tractors, Boydell’s also made dumper trucks, high horse power tractors and other mechanical items.  Their railway engines were used in the quarries of Meeth China Clay, Blaenau Ffestiniog Slate, Ravenglass & as far away as New Zealand.  In 1959 the company was sold to Winget Ltd of Rochester who moved the factory to Gloucester.

In 1961 Guy Warburton (1902/91), a chemical engineer with the family concern of Harrison Blair & Co took over the ownership of B73RS – Guy was a keen motorist (he raced motor-cycles on Southport Sands) & he was the owner of the first Allard!! In 1952 the team of Sydney Allard, Guy Warburton & Tom Lush won the Monte Carlo Rally in their Allard – the first time a car driven by its namesake had won!  After being widowed Guy remarried in 1952 & he and his wife Helen (she was 23 years younger than Guy) later emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand.  His descendants are still involved in rallying but this time in Range Rovers!

In the early 1970s B73RS spent some time in the Province of Quebec with D. P. Reid prior to being sold to John Henry Shell of North Carolina – in 2017 whilst piloting his experimental Super Six, N426KS had an engine failure and crash landed the aircraft just outside of Morganton.  Fortunately there was no loss of life but a total loss of aircraft.

B73RS was reimported back to the UK in 1989 and was sold to Eddy Shah of the Messenger Newspaper Group with later owners including S. Norbury of Mobberly and noted car collector J. Boland of Eire.

An exciting and characterful special, utilising a B81 straight eight 6½ litre engine and a five speed Tremec gearbox, making the performance both exciting and fun. Extensively used and enjoyed over the last 20 years or so. The body, designed by the last owner, and built for him by Chic Doig, is very well-proportioned in appearance, with appropriately re-located radiator position, a wonderful boat tail rear, very appropriate wings, bonnet and radiator shell, with aero screens as well as a fold-flat one piece alternative. The dashboard incorporates fabulous aircraft instrumentation, including a starter button which we understand to be from a WWII Spitfire, which somehow feels really fitting! It is quite difficult to sum the car up in mere words, but suffice to say that it is a true ‘one off’, and a machine that satisfies the senses in a stimulating and rewarding way. The car overall is nicely matured, with an appealing dose of slight shabbiness, and even has a two letter, four number registration number, giving a pre-war look, and adding to the charm of the appearance. Running and driving very nicely, MoT tested, ready to go, fitted with seat belts and flashing indicators to suit modern-day use, the car is ready to move on to a new life-chapter, for the next owner to enjoy in whatever way they may wish! Certainly the car is ready to use, having been driven about 150 miles to us.

Price. £.

Snippets: The Northerners

The chassis cards and old V5 for B319EW are somewhat vague – however…… The order for B319EW was placed by John Fenwick of West Hartlepool – the family firm of Fenwick & Co banked at Midland Bank in West Hartlepool & there are a couple of options for the company – either timber merchants or ship owners! Newspaper cuttings show that in 1941 John was president of the Hartlepool Beekeeper’s association and the local West Hartlepool Show had a Fenwick Trophy for the Chrysanthemum section of the flower display!  In 1951 John had parked a car (perhaps the Bentley) in Scarborough Street and upon his return at 5.30 it was no longer there – the car was found and the thief was duly prosecuted.  In 1953 his son Michael (19) was charged with driving a car between 40 / 45mph in a 30mph zone, resulting in a fine and points. 

The next name in the file is a Dr. John Abels (1913/2002) of Haverton Hill in Co Durham.  Research has provided us with the following fascinating story:  John and his wife, Claire, escaped from Czechoslavakia just after the outbreak of the second world war. He saw active service first with the free Czech forces and later in the war with the British Army in Normandy and northern Europe. After a brief interlude in Prague after the war, he returned to England where he spent the rest of his working life as a GP & was also a police surgeon for many years.  John’s greatest interest was swimming, he was selected to swim for his country in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the 200 metres breaststroke, but withdrew on the advice of the World Jewish Federation in protest against Nazism.

The third name in the file is that of Robert Charles Cleminson of Barnard’s Castle – little has been found but there is a James Lyons Cleminson (1840/96) of Leeds who invented Cleminson’s Patent Axle System for railway rolling stock.  James was the son of John Cleminson, who was a railway engineer of original Nitrate railway & who had fought in the Baltic region under Garibaldi.

A clean and tidy example, in a cheerful colour scheme of Ruby red and silver/grey, with a very impressive red leather interior, nice carpets, headlining, etc, and unusually (and sensibly) fitted with inertia reel seat belts to the front. Also sensible, is the conversion to flashing indicators, which work in conjunction with the original trafficator arms, giving security in modern traffic, but retaining originality at the same time. Running well, fitted with well-suited Avon tyres, radial in construction but of cross ply size and appearance, so the best of both worlds. A fun fact is that the car was used in the 1984 TV production of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder in the Library’ https://www.imcdb.org/v275401.html All in all, a car well equipped for modern times, both in terms of performance, keeping up with modern traffic, and with the modifications mentioned, adding to practicality. Serviced and MoT tested.

Price. £29,500.

Snippets:  Three Captains

B252WH was ordered by Sir Geoffrey D. Burton (he served with the Royal Engineers during WWI with the rank of Captain) but he died prior to taking delivery of the car – his career including being the MD of Birmingham Small Arms & Lodge Plugs.

The order was transferred to & taken up by Captain Robin Adshead (1934/2005), that same year he was commissioned into the 6^th Gurkha Rifles & served during the Malayan emergency.  In 1963 he qualified as a Light Aircraft Pilot and had the distinction of being the only Gurkhali-speaking fixed-wing Army pilot!  He later co-wrote a book with Noel Ayliffe-Jones titled – “Gurkha, the Legendary Soldier”, he later wrote Mahathir of Malaysia & several books on backpacking!

From 1957 to 1963 the R-Type was owned by Captain Sir Thomas St. Vincent Wallace Troubridge – he was from a naval family (Sir Thomas Troubridge 1758/1807 trained with & later served as Admiral under Lord Nelson); our Captain Troubridge served with the King’s Royal Rifles during WWI & during WWII was mentioned in dispatches.  From 1952 until his death in 1963 Sir Troubridge held the unusual role of “Examiner of Plays” – this entailed reading all plays that were to be performed in public, produce a synopsis & recommend them for licence or censor them!!  In 1926 his wife Lady Pamela Troubridge wrote “The Book of Etiquette”.

Later owners included R. G. A. Wells (horologist) whose daughter Amanda was engagement to James Borthwick, son of Sir John Borthwick was announced Country Life magazine in Feb 1969.

Whilst with C. W. Couch (1973/2001) the Bentley was used in the 1984 Agatha Christe film “The body in the Library” – we have found a DVD of the film which will be with the car.

A fabulous example of one of just 116 3½ Litre versions built, and with a remarkable ownership record of 70 years with one person! In fact, the car was bought in 1955 by well-known motoring and aviation artist, Michael Turner, and was kept by him for the rest of his life until he passed away in December 2025 and was cherished by him for all those years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Turner_(illustrator) The car was raced in the early post-war days, 1948 to 1952, at which time it had cycle wings fitted. Then, and since, the car has been well cared-for and was returned to original specification, with correct wings, etc, and has undergone various restoration work over the years, mechanical and cosmetic, including a major body renovation in the 1990s. An excellent car in all respects, cosmetically, structurally and mechanically, accompanied by a history file with some lovely invoices going back to the 1940s, a buff logbook from the 1950s, a correct handbook, photo documentation of excellent quality work in progress, various MoT certificates, and a couple of magazines which include articles on the car and its history. Running/driving very nicely and offered serviced, newly MoT tested.

Price. £295,000.

Snippets:  Racing Auctioneer

In January 1939 the SS100 was bought by its first owner – whose name we don’t know and was laid up for the duration of the war in a showroom in Preston.  The 2nd owner was Henry Talbot Wilson (1912/1970), a keen motorist & fly-fisherman who purchased the car after the war with only 5,000 miles on the clock! From the notes we have it would seem that H.T. Wilson was a man of speed & during the period 1948/52 entered many motoring events – in 1950 he had a ½ mile standing start recorded at 27.4 seconds!  He took place in events at Goodwood (1st), Queensferry, Silverstone, Rhydymwyn, Croft & Prescot Hill Climb (53.24sec) to mention a few.  Outside of the race track H T Wilson was an auctioneer based in West Kirby & in 1968 he was fined the sum of £5 for speeding in a 30mph zone!  His love of fly fishing was ultimately the cause of his death as he slipped whilst landing a 12lb salmon and drowned in the river Wyre.

In the 1950s the car was with Gilbert Edwin Davies who in 1954 took over the position of Managing Director of Nortons Ltd, Newport from his father Samuel G Davies – he had become MD of Nortons in 1922 when the founder of the firm Tom Norton retired.  Gilbert was also the MD of Exclusive Cars Ltd who were distributors of Jaguar & Lagonda Cars in Cardiff.  His father joined the Austin Motor Company in 1917 in the costing department and in 1935/6 & 1940/41 was President of the Motor Agents Association.

In 1955 the car appeared to pass through the hands of Maurice Lewis Green of Cardiff – he sold the car that same year to a 21 year old Michael Turner who kept the car until his death in 2025.

An original-bodied, Barker tourer, not to be mistaken for one of many ‘replicas’ that are out there. You may think that the car looks like a Horsfield reproduction, partly due to the colour scheme, but in fact it’s the very car that was used by that company as the basis for the design of their bodies. The car was delivered to us 100 years to the day from its first registration date in 1926! Correct, complete, smart, in  lovely condition all-round, and includes a full set of six 21” wheels, divided windscreen, Barker dipping headlights, ‘diver’s helmet’ rear lights, and various other appealing features. Sensibly, the car has been updated with flashing indicators – important in modern traffic conditions. The history file includes some lovely family photos from the 1950s and 1960s, as well as a ‘story of the car’s life’. Complete with side screens and a tonneau cover, stainless steel exhaust system, the car is running and driving nicely, greatly enhanced by the fitting of overdrive, relaxing cruising speeds nicely. Offered serviced, prepared and newly MoT tested.

Price. £.

Snippets: The Millers & the Majors

Miss Irene Sarah Sutcliffe (born 1896) was a scion of the Sutcliffe family of Todmorden – the family wealth was earnt in the corn milling industry.  Irene had two sisters – her eldest Kathleen died of peritonitis in 1910 aged just 16, in 1923 her youngest sister Winifred married Derrick Warden Milligan in what was described as “the most fashionable wedding”. Derrick’s father was Sir William Milligan (1864/1929) a pioneer of Laryngologist & Aurist research – today known as Ear Nose & Throat, he developed the treatment of hearing issues into the branch of otology.  Their father Arthur died in 1912 aged just 50 after a long illness & his widow and children moved from The Royd into Scaitcliffe Hall near Todmorden.  The hall was sold in 1954 to the local council for use as an old age home.  It is not known if Irene ever drove the 20hp or if she preferred to be chauffeured – there is a report that in 1922 when Irene was living at Lower Laith in Todmorden that a member of the public was knocked down – the car being driven by her chauffeur! 

In 1946, after WWII, the car was with Major J A Jackson of Gosforth – in 1939 his family had sent a cheque for the sum of £5 to the war fund to be used for the purchase of 4,000 cigarettes for the soldiers!

A few years later saw the 20hp with another Major – this time Major P. Andrews who in 1940 aged just 24 was the recipient of the George medal.  That year when he was a 2^nd Lieutenant an unexploded bomb fell near the village of Wing in Buckinghamshire, he was not trained in bomb disposal but he simply de-fused the bomb using a screwdriver from his bicycle tool kit which allowed the local residents to go home!

From 1983 to 2011 GZK10 was with Eric Jackson who during the 1960s was a Ford Works Rally Driver who had, driven from London to Cape Town in 13 days – not we hasten to add in the Rolls-Royce!!  His rallying exploits are described in his book “Petrol in my blood”, a copy of which will accompany the car.

Price £42,500.

Snippets:  Sailing Tragedy & Too Much Gin

B176HK was ordered by W. E. Corlett (1867/1960) his father was an established builder but William Corlett became a solicitor, initially with Bremner & Co (he married the boss’ daughter)! William was an astute businessman & became involved with the Higson Brewery concern to the degree that in 1920 he bought the company! The Corlett family, being based in the Wirral were keen sailors but tragedy struck in 1946 when his son Norman, alongside Laurence McAllester died when their yacht capsized – Joan Corlett (Norman’s wife) held on to her husband for several hours in an effort to save his life.  That year the Bentley was sold to another solicitor – George L. McAllester, Laurence’s brother. 

In the 1950s the car was with Dennis Brabner, who was, guess what – a solicitor!

The 60s & 70s saw the car with Norman Dyson Innes Rycroft, a stockbroker who gave the car to his son Robin for use whilst he was at University and later Richard, the younger son, took over the car of the car. 

During the 70s B176HK was with James Vernon who lived at the Hall in Lygan y Wern – parts of the house can be traced back to the 1600s when it was a Welsh Longhouse – later additions were made in the 1700s by Evan Lloyd – The Hall was leased for 99 years to George Wynne & in 1764 it was sold to the Grosvenor Estate.

In the history file of the car is an amusing note written by James when sold he the car “I regret to say I cannot remember the name of the man who bought the car from me, he was charming ……….  We all drank rather too much of my father’s gin & the new owner recklessly said would I like to drive the car one last time!  This ended up with my hitting a tree & damaging the near side front wing. The new owner’s bad luck continued as after having the car repaired he failed to make the turn into his drive hitting (so I recall) the offside front wing, to add insult to injury he had the up & over garage door fall on the roof of the car!  He gave up and sold the car “

A really lovely example of a desirable and stylish car, which has benefitted from a great deal of love and attention in recent times, and expenditure of £65,000 some years ago. This has included an extensive body rebuild to a high standard, repaint, lots of new chrome, a full engine overhaul, re-cored radiator, new road springs, and much more besides, all documented in the history file, which also includes an original sales brochure, a workshop manual, and a good deal more besides. This example will take some beating!

Price £27,500.

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Snippets: Sangster’s the Motoring Family.

 1950 to 1977 unknown

 In 1977 Grant Sangster paid Harry Sibley of Bude the princely sum of £2,100 for the RMC which was then shown as being painted in red – in 1954, according to Autocar which carried out a road test of this very car (we have the issue) the car was finished in light metallic green with Vynide hood & tonneau & a mileometer reading of 43,216 miles! 

The Sangster family have been connected with wheeled vehicles since the late 1800s with Charles Thomas Brooks Sangster (1872/1935) he was brother to David Orr Grant Sangster who was Grant’s grand-father!  Charles Sangster was a prolific inventor & between 1893/1908 he registered some 145 patents – including one for an “improved shirt & shirt front”!  One his most unusual designs was the Ariel Quintuplet which was built in 1899 & with 5 riders reached 60mph – terrifying.  Charles had 3 sons Frederick who was killed in 1916 during WWI, John (Jack) (1896/1977) who became the MD of Ariel Motors & in 1936 he bought out Triumph Motorcycles, he later sold both companies to BSA – in 1956 Jack Sangster became Chairman of BSA.  Charles’ 3^rd son was Harvey who raced Ariels & was the company’s Overseas Manager – one of Ariel’s great claims to fame was that in 1928 Jeff Monro completed a lap of Australia on an Ariel Sports Model ‘E which took 6 months with many mishaps & adventures along the way. 

 Thomas Alfred Sangster (1903/1988) son of David Sangster (brother of Charles) started his career with the Swift Company and in 1930 joined Riley initially as their test driver & was later the sales manager of both MG and Riley cars.  In 1934 he took part in the Monte Carlo Rally in a Riley with Eddie Mayer – designer & engineer of Cooper Engines – as his co-driver. During the event they became so embedded in a snowdrift that they were pulled out by a horse & hearse!!  By 1959 Tom Sangster had become the Deputy Director of Home Sales for the British Motor Corporation, he was also involved in the Wolseley & Morris companies.

An early, vintage example, stylish and in fine condition. The car was originally exhibited at the London Olympia Motor Show, finished in “Ulster blue”, with blue grey cloth to the rear, silver plated fittings and blue leather to the front. Some of this, including silver plated door furniture, remains to this day, and blue is still the theme. Appealing features include ‘Barker Dipping’ headlights, still working nicely, a large Brooks trunk mounted on the rear, double ‘Diver’s helmet’ rear lights, a triangular stop light and a silver plated speedometer in the rear of the car, for the benefit of the passengers! We have a copy of ‘Country Life’ magazine, dated October 1930, which is the ‘Motor Exhibition Number’, showing a photo of what is almost certainly GSR40 on the Barker stand at the show. All in all, a handsome car, sound and smart, solidly built, running nicely, and something to be proud to own. Offered serviced and prepared, driving well.

Price £.

Snippets: Rubber Plantation, Theatrics & Greek Shipping

GSR40 was initially ordered by Mrs Cheshire, the wealthy widow of the brewer Edward Cheshire of Edgbaston – when he died in 1919 he left a sum of £378,000 equivalent to £2.5million today!  It’s not known why Mrs Cheshire didn’t take delivery of GSR40 but it may have been due to ill health as she died in 1932 whilst staying in Llandudno.  Upon her death she only left a tenth of what she had inherited from her husband & made several monetary gifts to her chauffeur, gardener and under-gardener with the gift of an opal & diamond brooch to her lady companion, Annie Linton.

Alderson B Horne (1863/1953) took delivery of GSR40 soon after it had been displayed on the Barker stand at the 1930 Motor Show – his brother was Sir W. Horne Chairman of Prudential Assurance company & Alderson was Chairman of Morib Plantations Ltd who dealt with coconut & rubber production in Malaya.  In the early 1900s Horne became a financial backer of theatres and by WWI was involved in providing entertainment for the troops.  He even took leading roles in several productions under the names of Waldo Wright & Anmer Hall (he claimed this to be his ancestral home but no evidence has been found!).  When Alderson died in 1953 the Rolls-Royce was inherited by his son David E. A. Horne (1898/1970) who was a star of both stage & screen – he excelled at portraying gentlemen of a pompous nature!! These films included Lord of the Manor, The Cardinal, Night Train to Munich, Martin Luther and his final role was in Diamonds for Breakfast cast as the Duke of Windemere.

During the 1980s the car was owned by Alexander Andreadis a scion of the Andreadis Greek shipping family – he married three times & his first wife was none other than the exceptionally well-connected and fabulously wealthy Christina Onassis!  Their union was short lived 1975/1977 and his second, younger wife was a descendant of Comte d’Estainville & Lt. Col Oppenheim (banking).  This 2^nd marriage to Marella Oppenheim lasted a bit longer (1981/1985) and his last marriage in 1988 was to Debra Grace (a model & daughter of a mini-cab driver)!  Alexander was a keen classic car enthusiast and over time his collection included several Rolls-Royce PIIs, a PI Springfield, a PIII, a 20hp & a Silver Wraith.

A substantially built car in wonderfully solid condition, constructed in typical Rippon fashion, and with some lovely touches. The doors close beautifully, as though created yesterday, not ninety-odd years ago! The car is particularly handsome, with various appealing features, such as glass draft deflectors to the top of the doors, beautiful wings, incorporating sculpting and ‘trouser creases’, various stainless steel fittings, including door handles and the lovely P100 headlights, a sliding sunroof, and more besides. Unusually for a pre-war car, it is fitted with inertia reel seat belts in the front, neatly installed. We should also mention the very impressive toolkit, mounted in the boot, below which are two fitted suitcases. The car really is something special and ‘out of the ordinary’, is all correct, matured cosmetically in an attractive way, and in good order mechanically (with recent full re-wire including sensible upgrades), running smoothly and driving nicely. Offered serviced and MoT tested.

Price Sold.

Snippets: The Darwin Link

GWX10 was ordered by Bertram Parkinson of B Parkinson & Co (Wool Merchants & Top Makers) & delivered to his home Creskeld Hall, Arthington.  In 1800s Creskeld Hall was owned by the Rhode family, in 1849 Francis Rhode married Charlotte Marian Darwin Cooper, whose was a cousin of Charles Robert Darwin (their mutual great-grandfather being Robert Darwin).  In 1850 Francis Rhode inherited the estate of his brother-in-law (Robert Alvey Darwin) & as a consequence of the condition of inheritance Francis changed his name by deed-poll to Darwin – not an uncommon occurrence.  In 1920 Creskeld Hall was bought by Bertram Parkinson & it’s still home to the Parkinson family. In July 1940 Bertram Parkinson transferred ownership of GWX10 to his daughter Elsie Mary who had recently married Colonel Malcolm Stoddart-Scott, (Dr, MP & OBE) who by coincidence in 1932 had changed his name from that of Scott to Stoddart-Scott.  From our research it would appear the GWX10 stayed with the Stoddard-Scott until 1972, almost 40years with one family.

 During the 1970s the 20/25 was owned by A. J. Le Blond from Newcastle, an entrepreneur who as a hobby bred & raced several racehorses including Javorrian, Spoofer & Shady.  Then was also J. Oliff-Cooper, a keen angling journalist whose family played the roles of aristocratic owners of an Edwardian County House which was broadcast in 2002 by Channel 4. 

 In the late ‘80s the car was acquired by R. Skerman of C. Skerman & Sons – manufactures of what can only be described as “cement mixers for rolling sweets in”!! 

A particularly handsome car, very attractively finished in dark green with tan leather interior, and in lovely, smart and sharp condition. The paintwork is to a high standard, the leather is excellent, as is the headlining, and the interior wood veneers are particularly lovely, with a superb finish. Features include P100 ‘bullseye’ headlights (unusual for a Derby Bentley) and handsome ‘trouser crease’ wings. The car comes with a significant maintenance and repair history file, two large folders worth, going back to the 1980s, showing a great deal of expenditure, together with various literature, and an original handbook in lovely condition. There is also a selection of spare parts included. It is apparent just from looking at the car that it has been well cared-for. Running and driving very nicely, and fitted with overdrive, which really improves long-distance cruising, making the experience much more relaxing. Also fitted with three-point inertia reel seat belts, which is unusual for a coachbuilt car. MoT tested until January 2027, serviced, and ready to go!

Price £57,500.

Snippets: Curtain Pole & Cylinder Liners

Sidney Charles Harrison was the founder of the business Harrison Drapes – manufactures of curtain poles and furniture.  The company dates back to 1898 and by 1961 they had some 1,200 employees.  Their adverts contained statements such as “Usually no more than a screwdriver is needed to fix” and “British throughout”.  It was such a successful business that allowed Sidney to indulge in his hobbies of Motorcars & Motorcars!!  He was a serial Rolls-Royce & Bentley owner with his first Rolls-Royce being a 1925 Phantom I saloon (he owned a total of 15 Rolls-Royce cars) and his first Bentley being a 1935 3 ½ Saloon (he owned a total of 4 Bentleys).

In 1905 he was summoned for obstructing the highway at Henley-in-Arden by leaving a car there for 14 hours and in 1910 he was fined for speeding. He did have a calmer hobby of fishing but even that was not straightforward as in 1932 he alongside Col G. B Heywood of Caradoc Court, Ross were summoned for non-payment of their fishing fines!  Shortly before his death (1944) B68GA was acquired by Harold Andrews, an engineer who formed HAGCO renowned for their cylinder-lining progress (not to be confused with Westwood Cylinders which was created by another Andrews family)!

The companies that Harold & William Andrews were involved with included: British Petroleum Lt (William managed their road transport dept of 1,200 vehicles & when it joined ShellMex this became 2,200 vehicles).  William & Harold were jointly involved with Airwork Engine Service Ltd at Heston Airport which later became H & W G Andrews Ltd and also Airwork General Trading Co Ltd; then Harold Andrews Grinding Co Ltd (HAGCO).  Harold Andrews was also a keen fisherman with notes made in the Machinery & Production Engineer magazine of his fine catch of salmon on the river Test!  The adverts for Airwork Ltd in 1954 made mentioned of their fleets of Hermes, Vikings & Dakotas with cargo including 2 white rhinos to Antwerp, helping eliminate TseTse flies with aerial spraying and Safari Service offering the lowest fares between Africa and the UK.

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 very well-specified example, with a plethora of extra instrumentation and switches on the dashboard, twin fuel fillers, twin side-mounted spare wheels, and various other deviations from ‘standard’.Originally built for Geoffrey Smith, managing editor of ‘The Autocar’ magazine, and specified with many extras and deviations, well documented in various publications, including mentions in four different editions of ‘On The Road’, the contemporary magazine produced by Bentley in the thirties. The history file with the car has copies of some of these, together with other documentation, handbook, etc. The car is in good all-round condition, and has a very impressive frontal appearance, with its selection of lamps and horns. Driving well, sounding good, and looking very handsome in two shades of cream, with red double pinstripe and red leather interior. Offered MoT tested.

Price £47,500.

Snippets: Autocar & A Double Royal Connection

George Geoffrey Smith (1885/1951) was best known for his involvement with the Autocar & Motorcycle publications however it should also be noted that during WWI he was the Inspecting Officer of the Motor Machine Gun Service of the Royal Artillery.  During this period, he recruited over 10,000 despatch riders, mobile machine gunners & armoured car drivers – in 1919 in acknowledgment of this remarkable achievement he was awarded and MBE.  In 1917 Geoffrey Smith transferred from the army to serve with the Royal Flying Corp.  After war ended he returned to work for the Iliffe company and in 1923 he became a director of the firm.  In 1927 his wife Margaret died leaving Geoffrey with two sons to bring up and this he did with the help of a governess Joan Arnull who he married in 1935. G. Smith also wrote several books with subjects being: Frederick Royce, Aeronautical Theory & practice, Modern Diesel engines & also Gas Turbines.

By 1937 B100GA was with the Hon. John H. Hare the 1^st Viscount Blakenham, his wife was the Hon Nancy Pearson daughter of 2^nd Viscount Cowdray and grand-daughter of Lord Edward Spencer Churchill with infinite connections to the Spencer Churchill family tree and of course our current Royal heirs via the Spencer family.  During WWII John Hare served with in Italy with the Suffolk Yeomanry, as a result of his war actions he was awarded the Legion of Honour. 

Just after the end of WWII the Bentley was acquired by Major Hubert Melville Martineau of Philberds, Holyport. The Martineau family came to the UK in the 1700s, family members included master surgeons, politicians, bankers, sugar refiners, political reformists and shippers.  Francis Martineau Lupton was the great-great-grandfather of Catherine, the current Princess of Wales.  Hubert Martineau (1891/1976) was a keen sportsman and hosted matches against New Zealand, Australia, West Indies & India teams at his own private cricket field at Philberds, Holyport.  His other great love was that of the winter sports including sking, skating & bobsledding!  He was the president of the St Mortiz Bob Club.  His private life was also fascinating & complicated – his first wife was Maud Morris Schwab, daughter of Nelson Morris and the ex-wife of Henry Schwab, and when Maud died in 1966 he received the majority of her estate which was in the region of £6m!  In 1969 he remarried a “very pretty young widow” but she has yet to be identified! 

From 1949 to 1963 the car was with John Robert Ferguson (1914/1963) who was a pupil & later a governor of Rydal School which is in North Wales, after his death the car, via various dealers, found its way to Canada with Donald Spiers who owned it  from 1971 until 2001.

A lovely example of a ‘special edition’ ‘R’ Mulliner version of the Brooklands, number 88 of just 100 built. Very attractively finished in ‘Black Emerald’, which is a delightful, metallic green, so dark that it almost looks black under certain lighting conditions, complemented by duo-tone tan interior, green top dash roll, dark green carpets, piped tan, with dark green lambswool over rugs. The woodwork is dark burr walnut. The car has significant service history in the stamped service book, as well as invoices and a long run of MoT certificates, which together confirm the mileage as 84,500 from new. Also with the car are the original correct handbook, a supplement specific to the individuaul car, numered 88/100, all tools, correctly housed, and various fitments in the boot storage compartments, all looking untouched and spotless. We also have 97 pages of factory order information, detailing the exact specification when built, and just as it remains today.  Much admired, excellent condition, in a fabulous colour scheme, and offering a rare opportunity. MoT tested. As well as the video below, you can see a walkround here: https://youtu.be/5W5qIRsdHEc?si=QeeSN31F9Q9Zg9du

Price £22,500.

A smart and sound car, looking particularly attractive in very dark green with lovely tan leather interior, a colour scheme which we feel suits the car really well. The leather, carpets, headlining and woodwork are all fresh, correct and gorgeous. There are even colour-coded, inertia reel seatbelts, front and rear. Various correct tools, large and small, are included. The history file with the car confirms expenditure of about £53,000 on repairs and maintenance over the last couple of decades, all documented, several Jack Barclay invoices from the 1950s, and there is also written history from an earlier owner, MoT certificates, a buff logbook from 1960, and various other documentation, even including instructions for the HMV radio! As well as the original trafficator arms, still working properly, the car has been upgraded to flashing indicators, neatly incorporated into the existing side and tail lights, all working from the same switch. Driving nicely, performing well, and offered with a new set of radial tyres (not shown in the photos), serviced and MoT tested.

Price £29,500.

Snippets: Kilted

Major Donald Callander (1918/92) served during WWII with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and was one of the last British Army Officers to go into battle wearing a kilt, he was awarded the Military Cross in 1940 this was in acknowledgement of the fact that his platoon of antitank guns put 21 enemy tanks out of action & in 1945 he received his second Military Cross (the Bar) for his actions in the Battle of the Reichswald.  The Major is mentioned in the book Monty’s Highlanders – the story is that whilst enroute to an officers’ party they were questioned by American sentries as to who won the World Series – surprisingly the correct answer of St Louis Cardinals was given!

Donald’s wife Margaret was the daughter of Andrew Geddie (1886/1976) who from 1931/39 was chairman of the Royal West India Turf Club and director of the Bank of India as well as the co-founder of Geoffrey Manners Ltd a leading pharmaceutical company. When Donald met up with Andrew and Margaret in 1943 at Poona Race Course he was, of course, kilted.  During his ownership of B356FV (1949/1955) he covered some 65,767 miles which is confirmed on the 1955 Jack Barclay’s invoice.

From 1961 / 2001 the Bentley was registered with the firm of Foster Yeoman of Dulcote Quarry in Somerset.  John Foster Yeoman inherited his first quarry in 1950 on the death of his father, John was just 21 at the time.  By the mid-1960s the company had grown to such a degree that he was able to get British Rail to re-open the branch line from Torr to Westbury in order for him to deliver his stone.  One of his most unusual land acquisitions was a granite mountain in Scotland – namely a 2,000ft mountain at Glensanda which provided crushed rock for the Channel Tunnel.  Robin Thornes wrote a biography of John Foster Yeoman which we have managed to obtain and which will be with the car.

Sale Agreed. A very stylish, low-slung and sporting design gives this car appeal over and above that of a typical sports saloon. in sound, sharp and smart condition. Low roof line, narrow windscreen & side windows, stylish wings, P100 headlights, PLG40 centre light, scuttle-mounted spot lamp, twin side-mounted spare wheels, polished aluminium Ace wheel discs, ‘trouser crease’ wings, three fitted suitcases (in pale blue leather, as original), and some lovely art deco styling touches, such as attractive, ebony inlays to the door cappings, period door handle design, and piping to seat backrest, all give the car an extra level of desirability. The interior is in very good order, including the relatively recent pale blue leather. The design is particularly sleek and low, as well as being very nicely proportioned, looking good from any angle. Some say that the car has the appearance of a smaller version of a typical Phantom II Continental. You will see in the photos that there is also some interesting, hallmarked silverware, custom fitted in the seat backs, alongside the picnic tables. Gorgeous design, in lovely condition, driving well, and much admired. Since 1995, the car has benefitted from huge expenditure, totalling over £140,000, all documented in the history file, which also includes various other paperwork, as well as an original handbook. The cherry on the cake is that the car is fitted with overdrive, nicely aiding relaxed cruising. We last sold this car four years ago, and it is now available at a figure even more appealing than it was then, and offering tremendous value for money.

Price £36,500.

Snippets: Welsh Steel King, African Sugar Baron & Indian Curries

GNC68 was bought by Sir William Firth as a gift for his wife Lady Helena Adelaide however the ownership was only to be short lived as in April 1935 whilst they were being chauffeured home to Hatchford Park they were involved in a head-on collision with a pair of motorcycles which resulted in the death of two of the riders and injuries to their pillions.   It was reported the Lady Firth suffered concussion and several cracked ribs but Sir William, who was dozing in the back at the time, was unharmed.  The Rolls-Royce (maybe GNC68 or 100Sk or GBJ55) suffered extensive damaged including a broken steering wheel, their chauffeur Francis Edward Jarvis (aged 54) had been employed by the Firths for some 22 years and was unhurt.  Sir William Firth was one of the leading figures in the steel industry & within the business was known as the Steel King.  In 1947 he & Lady Firth joined their sons Kenneth & John in South Africa, the Firth’s bought the home of the Hulett sugar barons renaming it Crowhurst after their old home in Surrey.

From 1935/36 the Rolls-Royce was registered at Bush House in Aldwych, this iconic building is named after the American businessman Irving T Bush whose vision was to create a significant new trade centre. The design of the building was created by American architect Harvey Wiley Corbett, (he also designed Bush Tower in Manhattan) with the opening taking place on the 4^th of July, 1925.  At the opening ceremony the pair of male statues was revealed with the inscription “To the friendship of English-speaking peoples”, today we perhaps best know Bush House has having been home to the BBC from the early 1940s to 2012.

In 1936 GNC68 was with Humphry Richard Pelly of Lyndsays Farm, Ingatestone whose wife Barbara (nee Scrutton) bred pedigree Dexter cattle with names such as Lyndsay’s Cherry Pie & Lyndsay’s Lavender.  When Barbara’s father Frederick Scrutton died in 1937 his estate was in excess of £1.8m, his business was that of stevedoring.  It would appear that one of Barbara’s brother’s, Philip Furse Scrutton was a professional golf player & the owner of B495CD, a MK VI of a somewhat unusual  design.

Just 12 months later and GNC68 was acquired by Messrs J. Halford & Son of London producers of curry powder & paste, their adverts stating that if you added a dash of powder or paste to your dish it would be “just as they are prepared in India”.

A smart and sound example, well cared-for, and complete with a printed record of expenditure on maintenance and repairs, covering the period 1989 to 2025. This amounts to just over £50,000, and includes some significant attention. The car is nicely finished in Shell grey and Tudor grey, with just a few blemishes, and has a delightful, original, mellowed, deep red leather interior. The car comes with an impressive set of original tools, large ones in the correct clips in the boot, and the small ones in the tray underneath the driver’s seat. We have carried out an engine refurbishment with new pistons, etc, along with much other attention, and the car is offered prepared, serviced and newly MoT tested.

Price £32,500.

Snippets: Secrets of Knockholt & Bury

There is little information to be found about the owners of B31Ul so instead here are a few fascinating details about the villages of Knockholt & Bury were the car resided.

 B31UL was resident in Knockholt during the 1970s / 1990s where in 1841 the artist Henry John Boddington had painted “A Lane at Knockholt” and the village was home to the famous watercolourist William Frederick Wells 1732-1836 whose friend J. Turner was a frequent visitor.  In 1876 the railway station arrived at Knockholt and in 1906 was the setting for E. S. Nesbitt’s The Railway Children, during WWII Major Alexander Malins Lafone was awarded the Victoria Cross and Major Norman Smithers the Military Cross.  

 From 1989 until now B31UL was based in Bury which is named after Adam de Bury who held the manor from 1193 to 1219 as “one knight’s fee of ancient tenure”. In the 14th century, Alice De Bury married Roger Pilkington, and the manor remained with the Pilkington’s until 1485 when the lands of Sir Thomas Pilkington were forfeited because of his allegiance to King Richard III. The new King, Henry, granted them to his step-father Thomas, Lord Stanley, the Stanley family have been Lords of the Manor ever since.

 At the start of 18th century, John Kay, born at Walmersley, Bury, invented his famous “picking peg” in 1733, which made the shuttle in his hand loom move more quickly. It became known as the “Flying Shuttle” and revolutionised cotton weaving making Bury a centre for fabric production.

An essentially correct, undisturbed and sound example, needing attention, particularly cosmetically. The paint is old and shows its age, and there is a repair to the offside front wing (nicely executed), which is still in bare aluminium. However, the underlying structure is very sound, and the car is an ideal candidate for a gentle refurbishment, having already been partly recommissioned mechanically. Running well, but needing attention to electrics, steering and a few other bits & pieces, as well as a new set of tyres. The car has been with one owner for the last thirty years, a good deal of it in storage, hence the need for some attention. Handled suitably, this could be a very worthwhile project, both financially and from a personal satisfaction point of view.

Price £140,000.

Snippets:

A very fine example of a late Silver Shadow, in lovely condition throughout, very attractive in Willow gold and Dark Olive, contrasting nicely with the brightwork, and beige leather in excellent condition, as are the carpets, headlining (also leather) and woodwork. The car is nicely sound and sharp, is all correct, as specified when new. This really is a well cared-for example, which still smells as it should inside, and even the boot is spotlessly clean, and includes a full toolkit. There is also a set of lambswool over rugs. Just 76,000 genuine miles from new, confirmed by stamped service book, MoTs, etc, and various invoices in the file. Also comes with handbook, and various booklets, all in the original wallet as delivered. The car was driven a couple of hundred miles to us, and is MoT’d, ready to be driven away again! 

Sold.

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

Price £32,500.

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

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

Sale Agreed. A smart example, in Shell grey and Tudor grey, with excellent re-upholstered interior in blue/grey with blue piping. The car spent the first twenty plus years in the dry climate of Kenya. There has been a great deal of good quality expenditure on the car in recent times, including stainless steel exhaust, new fuel tank, brake drums, radiator, tyres, etc, etc, as well as the previously mentioned upholstery, all documented, and amounts to £48,000 spent over the last five years. Also in the history file are a green logbook from the seventies, a great deal of correspondence over several decades, photos of restoration work, a handbook, manuals, etc, etc. The car featured in “Original Rolls-Royce & Bentley” by James Taylor, as shown in the photos below. Driving very well, and offered newly serviced, prepared and freshly MoT tested.

Price £35,000.

Snippets: The Almost Royal Car.

During the Silver Dawn’s time in Kenya it was an almost Royal car, it was available for use by Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip whilst they were on tour in Kenya but the Royal couple had to cut short their visit due to the death of her father.  The other members of the royal family that almost sat in the car included Princess Margaret & the Queen Mother but we do have a video in which SDB134 can be seen in the background when Prince Philip visited on his own, on this occasion he used a Phantom II (82OR) as the royal car!  Other dignitaries who, we are told, used the car include Jomo Kenyatta & Haile Selassie!

The first owner of SDB134 was Francis D H Welldon who was born in Sri Lanka and was first noted as being in Kenya in 1925 where his profession was given as a coffee planter in the Thika area.  Later owners included W. H. Martin a successful business man and chairman of Raleigh Industries, he was well known in Nairobi and was regularly seen as at the New Stanley Hotel where he was known as “Martini”!  He also, according to his niece, owned a parrot who could imitate the sound of the soda syphon which Martini used to calm his sundowner!!

In 1970 SDB134 was bought by Dermot Kydd, who was awarded an OBE for his services to agriculture in Kenya, he used his knowledge of East Africa write The Konisgberg Assignment which is set in the Rufiji delta on the Tanzania coastline.  We have managed to find a copy of this rare book and it will be with the car.

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! With the significant price reduction, the car now represents particularly good value.

Price £25,000

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.

Sale Agreed. An early 20/25, with a slightly later body, handsome and well-balanced in design. Although running well, and benefitting from recent attention, the car will need re-commissioning and repair work before being used, including attention to the cylinder head, some electrical work, and various other items attending to. Work already carried out includes refurbished wheels, new tyres, stainless steel exhaust system, some new upholstery, etc, and we understand that the engine has received some attention. Work to do, but priced accordingly.

Price £15,500.

Snippets: F. J. Steel 

Frederick James Steel of the Kestrels in Stroud took delivery of GTR12 in April 1931 and in 1938 he traded it & his 20/25 Drophead Coupe GNC31 for a new Barker bodied 20/25, namely GZR18.  During WWI Frederick & Mary’s only son Norman served with the 1/5^th Gloucester Regt in the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant and was killed whilst leading his platoon into battle at Passchendaele. In honour of Norman his parents later erected a memorial window in the Lady Chapel at Rodborough Church.  In 1926 Frederick’s brother Harry (a garage proprietor) provided the limousine for Edward, the dashing young Prince of Wales (Duke of Windsor) on his visit to Cheltenham when he inspected a schools cadet camp!  Frederick Steel was noted as being the director of the firm Frederick Steel & Co with premises at Lightpill Mills of Stroud & also Ebley Mills.  The firm had a reputation for being fine colour & general printers and their products included accounting books and stationery.  Like his brother, Frederick was a keen motorist and there is a record from 1921 of him being fined for leaving a motor-car on the highway without any lights and again in 1924 for dangerous driving!  1938 saw GTR12 being acquired by Messrs Slaters (Wigan) Ltd who were specialists in supplying tailor made surgical belts & trusses.  The company was stated by Thomas Slater in the later 1800s & in 1908 he was joined by his son Frank soon after he passed his final pharmaceutical exam in Edinburgh.  Their adverts boasted that the company was “devoted exclusively to the Accurate Fitting of all kinds of Surgical Appliances, thus assuring the utmost privacy and efficiency”. 

Sale Agreed. A very smart limousine, ideally suited to wedding hire use, and at the same time better than many others on offer, but also a good, spacious clean and tidy car for family fun. The car is sound in wind and limb, and the doors fit well, with no sign of ‘drop’, or movement. Paintwork is very presentable, with a deep shine, accompanied by impressive chrome plating, including the correct and attractive array of Lucas lamps (including rare and desirable QK596 headlights) and long-trumpet horns. The interior is also lovely, particularly the rear compartment of soft, high quality beige leather, excellent carpets, etc, all being fresh, correct and smart. Light and spacious inside. Mechanically, the car is all good, the engine has correct, even compressions, driving nicely, and offered MoT tested.

Price £29,500.

Snippets: Mysterious Mrs Clark

Mrs Clark registered GRM2 at Heath Bank on South Downs Road in Ashley Heath.  There has been a building on this site since the late 1900s which is when the building of grand detached villa houses started to take place primarily for the wealthy mill and mine owners of the area.  Very little has been found regarding Mrs Clark – but we do know that in 1958 the Clark family advertised for a gardener!  During the 1980s GRM2 was with James P. Moran (1934/2023) of Youngstown, New York who was a “Forms Control Manager” for Moore Business Forms & Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel. His wife Pat coached the youth ice hockey team for the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association.  In 1989 Pat & James retired and relocated to Carolina Beach which necessitated them selling GRM2 which was acquired by ourselves! After re-importation the 25/30 was acquired by E. H. Whitfield (minerals for pottery) of Crewe so the car ended up just 27 miles from its first British location – a small world indeed.

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.

Sale Agreed. An exceptionally sound example, just out of long-term storage of something like 30 years. Prior to that, in 1984, the car underwent a full engine overhaul and much more besides at the Aston Martin factory, all documented with invoices in the large file which accompanies the car. It would seem that only about 1,000 miles have been covered since!  The aforementioned file also includes a great deal of correspondence, invoices, a magazine feature on the car from the 1980s, a handbook and much more. The car is to factory specification, including ‘Coolaire’ air conditioning, power steering, chrome wire wheels and heated rear screen, all confirmed by the factory build sheet. Although paintwork and cosmetics generally could do with attention, the car is remarkably correct, very sound structurally both in terms of body and the underside, with none of the rust issues that can affect these cars. Having been asleep for a long period, a good deal of recommissioning work was required. This we have carried out, work which included a decoke, cleaning of the fuel tank, fuel lines and rebuilding of the carburettors, attention to the braking system, five new tyres and tubes, new battery, as well as a full service and more besides. The car is now running and driving very nicely, and is MoT tested until April 2026.

Price £155,000.

Snippets:

Gerry Marshall – Racing Driver.

The first owner of this DB6 was the mysterious Mrs Rose Hill who appeared to have kept the car until the 1980s when it is next registered with Gerry Marshall (1941/2005) of Tring – a British racing driver.  His first victory was in 1963 driving a Mini and his last (600^th race win) was in 2000 at Snetterton driving an Aston Martin DB4!  In 1978 Gerry published his first biography “Only here for the beer” – he used to write about club events for Autosport using his name and his wife’s maiden name of Maynard! 
He kept the original registration number of 666 DTV as he used to race for the Dealer Team Vauxhall driving the Firenzas known as “Old Nail”, “Baby Bertha” & the Ventora “Big Bertha”.  In 1982 the car was MoT’d at the Tourist Trophy Garage which was owned by the Mike Hawthorn family.  In 1983 whilst owned by John “Ian” MacLaren whose family originated from Auchterarder in Scotland the Aston was featured in the Automobile Quarterly prior to it being shipped to Japan with Dr. Katirai a Homeopathic doctor who was fluent in 5 languages.

Sale Agreed. A very well built special, with an all aluminium body, excellent panel work and high quality paintwork. Stylish  and sporty in design, with a purposeful look! Excitingly, the car is fitted with a 6250cc V8 engine from a Bentley S2 which – combined with the lightweight body, make for exhilarating performance. The automatic transmission makes the car easy to drive without taking away the performance and fun aspect. Nicely finished in British Racing Green with green leather, and equipped with a hood, tonneau cover, and aero screens. Wolfrace wheels and radial tyres make for better handling that cross plies as originally fitted to R Types, but then again, it is not like a standard car at all! Looks, fun and usability in a compact package.

If you watch the video below to the end, you will see links to two more: One ‘walkaround’, and one of the engine. Worth seeing!

Price £47,500.

Snippets:

Not much information on this one, can anyone help Sue to fill this space? 

SALE AGREED. An extremely stylish and smart car, well-proportioned and good-looking from any angle. Particularly attractively finished in two shades of green, one of them very dark, with harmonising pale green leather, which we think suits the car very nicely, and it seems that many share this view, based upon the number of admiring comments that we have heard. The car is excellent structurally and mechanically, and drives very well, having been well-cared for over the years, as evidenced by invoices on file for maintenance and repair totalling over £50,000 since 1999, which included an engine overhaul, new cylinder head, re-wiring in correct, cotton-covered cabling, stainless steel exhaust system, and a good deal more besides. Very recently, the clutch has been overhauled. The car is fitted with overdrive for relaxed cruising, which really does make a significant difference to the usability of the car. Well-presented, clean, eye-catching and adorned with features such as an impressive array of correct lamps and horns, including twin pillar-mounted spotlights, louvred bonnet and scuttle, an external sun visor, rear-mounted spare wheel with ‘clam shell’ cover, and other stylish touches. Serviced, MoT tested and ready to go. Lovely!

Price £68,500.

Snippets:

Property & Yachts

In the early 1920s Leo H. P. Meyer (1903/61) alongside Thomas Blackwell founded the building firm Blackwell & Meyer, in 1929 he set up his own company “New Ideal Homestead” & during the 1930s he was acknowledged as being the country’s largest private housebuilder.  In 1933 he & his partner P. Shephard built & sold in excess of 4,000 houses in & around London, this led to their company being floated on the stock exchange & to it being renamed as Ideal Building & Land Development.  Leo was an early car owner and in 1929 he was stopped whilst driving in Kelvedon & upon failing to produce his licence was fined 10/-!  It would appear that he only kept GLZ59 for a few years as by 1935 the car was registered with J. A. Ellert a stockbroker – by 1938 it had been sold to Mrs. Gladys Margaret “Mollie” Reynolds.  Mollie & her husband had several properties – Nr 27 Grosvenor Street in London where in 1925 Mollie was the victim of a daring robbery – she was fast asleep in the ground-floor flat wearing, as was her custom, a pearl & diamond necklace worth (in 1925) some £3,000 when a thief broke in and snatched the necklace from her neck!  The Reynolds’ other property was The Towers in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight which, being a keen sailor and lady commodore, she allowed the West Wight Saling Club to use with “no question of payment arising”.  According to local lore being a keen sailor she had the sides of her dragon painted in different colours so to confuse the opposition, her husband Herbert Reynolds is acknowledged as helping to save the Scows in the 1920s with the design of the West Wight Scow which still exist some 100 years later.  In the 1970s GLZ59 was with Wallace F Smith of Holbury Mill in Romsey which was a water-powered corn mill.

Sale Agreed. This car is a really lovely example, very handsome and well proportioned, being designed by H. R. Owen, through whom the car was sold when new. The same design was also used by Gurney Nutting at the time. Wonderfully sound and very smart cosmetically, with excellent paint, chrome work and appealing brown leather interior. The dashboard, instruments and switching are lovely, as well as the impressive set of lamps, including P100 Lucas headlights. Driving very nicely indeed, with a particularly smooth and quiet engine, following an overhaul in recent years. In addition, a few years ago, a new cylinder head was fitted and the car was re-wired. An overdrive unit is fitted, which is of great benefit for long distance touring, for which the sizeable fitted rear trunk and twin side-mounted spare wheels are also very useful! Complete with a buff logbook from the 1950s, a sales invoice from 1966 and various other documentation, including a sales invoice from 1966, when the car sold for £795! An excellent car, which has been through our hands before, now ready for its next adventure! As well as the main video below, you can see a walk round of the car here; https://youtu.be/AwXceMLB3uk?si=AVJqli5HuaRXzJMI

Price £49,500.

Snippets: Cecil Rhodes Dormer