Sale Agreed. A delightfully mature and shabby, but sound and characterful, six cylinder vintage tourer. All original in specification, full of charm and running very nicely, with a sweet engine, and some lovely ‘vintage noises’ coming from the gearbox! (see the video). The car comes with considerable history, particularly from the 1960s to the 1990s, including invoices for very useful work done and some interesting correspondence from earlier owners. There are also have MoT certificates going back to 1988 and a correct, original handbook. Use it just as it is – not quite ‘oily rag’, but heading in that direction! Offered newly Mot tested.

• Chassis No. 5668HG

• Reg No. OX 2509

• Price £ 29,500

Snippets:

Sale Agreed.  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.

SOLD.

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.

Sale Agreed. 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.

SALE AGREED. 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 £65,000.

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”.

Price reduced. 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.

Price reduced from £110,000 to £95,000.

Snippets: Location, Location, Location

Exclusive Locations of a Rolls-Royce

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

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

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

A lovely, correct and original drophead, finished in a tasteful shade of soft, muted pale green with nicely contrasting red leather interior – a very attractive combination and all in excellent condition. In the early 1980s, a major restoration took place, mechanically, structurally and cosmetically, all documented, with invoices, correspondence, etc, and since then the car has been well attended to, with more work carried out, including a new cylinder head being fitted in 2009. There is a detailed log of maintenance and repairs carried out by the last owner over the last twenty years or so, and all-in-all, the history file contains a great deal of letters, invoices, MoT certificates, etc, as well as an old green logbook, which added together form a picture of a car that has been loved and cherished. All of this attention has resulted in the car you see today, which has stood the test of time extremely well. A delightful car, sensibly priced, offered serviced, with five new Waymaster tyres, which suit it particularly well, with new heavy duty inner tubes, and MoT tested until October 2024.

Price £ 110,000

Snippets: A British & Greek Military Cross

Col. James Nockells Horlick (1886/1972) owned B117AE for just a year before he sold it to Richard Maurice of Little Grove Priory in Chesham. During WWI Col Horlick served with the Coldstream Guards and was awarded both the British & Greek Military Cross for his actions in Greece, he also received the Order of the White Eagle (4th Class) & the Chevalier Legion d’Honneur. In 1944 he purchased the estate of Achamore on the Isle of Gigha, Argyll where he restored the gardens to their former glory and include plants such as Southern Rātā (New Zealand), Puya Alpestris (Andes) and Wollemia Nobilis (Australia) plus many Rhododendrons which Col Horlick cultivated. When R. Maurice owned B117AE it appeared at the JCC Rally at Brooklands in March where the car was driven by Mr. J. Martin and came 3rd overall in the over 16hp event. We think this person could be James Martin of Kirriemuir – a well known sportsman and participant of various Rallies, he also owned a SS100 & in 1939 was fined £4 for driving his car at excessive speeds in Dundee! After WWII Richard Pilkington a scion of the Pilkington Glass family registered B117AE at the family London home of 3 Palmer Street, Westminster. During WWII Richard Pilkington was awarded the Military Cross for his work during ensuring safe passage for the Dunkirk passengers.

A very fine example of the desirable and sought-after ‘M series’ cars, which has been prepared and maintained at great expense over the period 2016 to 2022. In total, £117,000 has been spent over that time, and as a result the car is running and driving extremely well. It has been used for long distance touring, performing very well indeed and is in ideal condition to continue use of this kind, being mechanically excellent, very sound structurally, and cosmetically at just the right level to use and enjoy, being smart but not so pristine that you are afraid to drive it! The paintwork is generally good, but in places is losing adhesion and cracking. The leather is in good condition, the seats are nice and plump, but the pale colour is fading and looks grubby. Perhaps a gentle colour of an appropriate type would be a good idea. What’s ‘under the skin’ matters most in a car that is to be actively used, and this one really is in that category. The engine is smooth and quiet, with a willing, ‘pulling at the leash’ quality, being very lively. Couple this with the high ratio gearing, and you have a very usable car, ready to enjoy. All the aforementioned work is documented, with invoices and photos, in a file which also includes copies of the old logbook, various other papers and a VSCC eligibility certificate. The ‘time trial’ meters fitted to the dashboard are included with the car, but we would be happy to remove them if preferred without. Serviced & MoT tested. At the price now asked, the car represents very good value!

New Price £65,000

Snippets: OCS, RAF & JDL

Alan Dudley Goodliffe took delivery of B67MX just months before the outbreak of WWII with the address given as C/o Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China – this bank was founded in 1853 & had been granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria. By 1940 Alan Goodliffe had joined the RAF and by 1942 he had been posted to No. 34 OTU in Pennfield Ridge, Canada to be in charge of the Accounts Section. He ended the war having attained the rank of Squadron Leader – No. 34 OTU was actually a unit of 2 Group of the RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force. Complete crews were trained at Pennfield on the Lockheed, or Vega Ventura, which was then in use by the RAF in England as a daylight tactical bomber by medium bomber squadrons of 2 Group. Little is known as to what Alan did after WWII but he certainly travelled with records of him visiting Manila, Canada, USA & Hong Kong. Alan was a direct descendant of F. W. Goodliffe (1875/1947) who started the family cleaning firm in 1900 and in 1930 his 3 sons formed the sub-division of OCS Ltd which is still a family concern albeit an international one with some 89,000 employees in 50 countries! The chassis cards of B67MX show that from 1952 / 1970 the car was with the engineering firm of John Dale Ltd which was initially established as Carr & Son in 1837 by John Smith Carr as a manufacturer of blacking. By 1890 his grandsons, John Dale Carr & Ralph Charles Carr had, set up John Dale Ltd to make tin containers & this developed into a separate business supplying tins, collapsible tubes and later aluminium castings. In 1972 Robert Carr was Home Secretary under the Conservative Government of Edward Heath. From 1973 until 2016 B67MX had 3 Italian owners of Italian – Pasquale Bertinetti (1973/88) who lived in Dorset but was from Turin then Roberto Rosso Snr (1988/2006) and upon his death the car was inherited by his son also Roberto Rosso.

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

£195,000.

Snippets:

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

New price. A chance to own a unique Bentley with great history and provenance which we believe holds a very significant place in the history of Bentley and Rolls-Royce Motors. Used as a test bed during WWII on official business, with every journey logged, it enabled the all new MKVI to be launched in 1946 when most manufacturers were re-hashing pre-war designs. The MKVI was closely followed by the Silver Wraith in 1947 and the Silver Dawn in 1949. We had previously thought that the B60 engine was a post war development but 3B50 was fitted with B60 engine No.4 originally, later replaced with No.11 as per logbook entry which is still in place to this day. We have copies of the three very comprehensive logbooks which not only record every journey but also who was driving and every modification carried out. These logbooks run from 1939 to 1950 during which time the car covered almost 200,000 miles before escaping the fate of most experimental cars by being ‘passed to Rm’ – the Chief Engineer who took the car for his personal transport. The car’s life is well-documented, and included with it are copies of Ian Rimmer’s seminal work on the Experimental cars and ‘Silver Ghosts and Silver Dawn’ the fascinating autobiography of W. A. Robotham. Also various other interesting related articles, magazines and books. During our ownership 3B50 has had a brake overhaul, re-cored radiator and numerous other jobs. Now very sound, a bit scruffy, running well, very much on the road and MoT tested.. Can be used as an ‘oily rag’ as is or improved cosmetically to the new owner’s taste. A very important part of Bentley history, now even more attractive at the new price!

New Price £65,000

Snippets:

Rm was the code name for William Arthur Robotham (1899/1980) – after serving as an artillery officer during WWI he decided that he wouldn’t join his father’s legal firm but to apply for an apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce (family connections played a part) and he duly started with the company as a “Premium Apprentice”. In 1923 he became a junior technician under Ernest Hives (code name Hs) in the Experimental section where Rm worked on not just cars but also the aero section when needed. He was heavily involved in the road testing of the cars which meant that he travelled throughout Europe and whilst he was staying at the Hotel de France in Chateauroux he assisted Madame Olga Cousino Lyon whose Silver Ghost had “failed to proceed”, her family’s wealth came from silver mining & wine in Chile and home was a palace in Santiago! More local testing runs were held at Shotton Steel works in North Wales and he along with Geoffrey & Dick Summers would race their cars over a ½ mile standing start sprint with a ¼ of a mile pull up section – the cars varied from an Aston Martin, Lancia, Hispano Suiza, Bentley, Vauxhall, Chrysler, Rolls-Royce – all in the name of performance evaluation. Such fun. Rm married twice – firstly to Winifred Thompson whose father Henry was a pioneer farmer with estates in Lincolnshire, Norfolk & Scotland & the owner of a Rolls-Royce Phantom I (78DC). One of Henry’s Scottish crops was the Golden Wonder potato & as they were not available in the Midlands Rm’s father-in-law sent him some 6 tons which Rm managed to sell to the Rolls-Royce staff! His second wife was Jeanne Ekins who used to accompany the famous Italian Tenor Beniamino Gigli on piano! After Rm’s retirement he & Jeanne bought a farm in Kent and produced hops, potatoes, corn, plums, apples and pears.

Price Reduced! A very striking car which incorporates various unusual and very appealing design features. Sporty in appearance, sharp and lovely in condition and running very well. One of the very first Derby Bentleys built, originally bodied by Park Ward, the current Barker body was built for a slightly later 3½ Litre in 1935, but transferred to this car in the 1950s. The car features very sleek wing design, shallow windscreen, some very attractive body mouldings and swage lines to the scuttle and bonnet (which are also louvred), the rear quarters and the doors, too have sweeping, curved lines, enhanced by colour division. Early photos of the body when mounted on B178DG, although black & white, suggest a very similar colour scheme to that still on the car. These photos, together with shots of various documentation, an old logbook, etc, can be seen below. The paintwork, chrome plating, upholstery, woodwork and cosmetics generally are all excellent, and the fitment of a full set of ‘Ace’ wheel discs and a ‘clam shell’ spare wheel cover, correct P100 headlights,the facility for mounting luggage on the lid of the already quite spacious boot, all add to the car’s practicality. Excellent, probably unique and a very rare opportunity to acquire such a special specimen. The car has a recent aluminium cylinder head and we have just fitted five new tyres and heavy duty tubes. Unusually, the car is still fitted with its exhaust ‘cut out’ device, operated from a lever inside, offering the opportunity for sporting sounds, and added performance. In most cases, this is long gone, so it’s good to see one in working order! Serviced, prepared and offered MoT tested. As well as the video below, you can see a walk round here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyf4PrPVLlY

New Price £110,000

Snippets: The Embiricos & Lady Dorothy Roll

The first owner of B17AE was A H Embiricos a scion of the Greek shipping & finance family whose brother Andre M. Embiricos commissioned & raced the Paulin designed & Pourtout built Bentley.  The love of cars ran in the Embiricos family as their cousin Nicholas raced an ERA alongside a Bugatti Type 57S!  From 1934 / 1936 B17AE was owned by Lyonel Francis Stone, he was a Captain in the Coldstream Guards and as such registered the car at his club at 41 Brook Street.  His mother was a direct descendant from the Plantagenets and she was christened with the following names: Lyona Decima Veronica Esyth Undine Cyssa Hylda Rowena Viola Adele Thyra Ursula Ysabel Blanche Lelias Dysart Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache.

During WWII B17AE was converted to a Utility Van for use by Messrs Mash & Austin Ltd of Covent Garden – the earliest reference found to them is from the early 1800s when an Admiral in Lord Nelson’s fleet owed the sum of £3/7/6d to Mr. Joseph Mash!  The firm’s name was changed in August 1873 when Henry John Mash of Beaulieu married the wealthy Miss Lucy Austin of Beaconsfield, thus enabling them to acquire two farms where they grew their own produce enabling them to widen their customer base to include hotels & restaurants. 

In 1947 Hugh Curtis, a vet from Hungerford acquired B17AE and in 1958 the car (with the Utility body) was used by Hugh at the Police Motor Driving School in Hendon – this was an annual event comprising of concours events and driving ability tests in which B17AE took place as participant Nr. 20!  The current bodywork on B17AE was originally on B178DG which Mr. Curtis also owned – B178DG had been built to the exacting specifications of Lady Dorothy Roll.  Lady Dorothy was the widow of Howell Thomas Ball – he was killed in 1915 during WWI & in 1927 Dorothy married Sir Cecil Roll.  By June 1932 Sir Cecil had placed a notice in The Times that he would not be responsible for any contracts & expenditure entered to his accounts by her – this did not appear to stop her buying B178DG in 1935 and a photo of the car is shown in the Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News.  When Sir Cecil died in 1938 his estate was circa £460,000 and the majority of it was divided between his 3 sons and not his extravagant widow……  prior to Sir Cecil’s death she had ordered a Rolls-Royce 25/30 – GAR22 & shortly after his death a Wraith – WLB2!