1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Freestone & Webb GRO55

A fabulously original. genuine 66. 00 miles from new car. 6. 00 of which was a recent adventure to the Middle East! Masses of history. ncluding 1930s logbook. invoices. letters. etc. and the mileage is confirmed. Incredibly appealing due to the correct. undisturbed nature of the car. as well as being very stylish and lovely! The car is very handsome in design. absolutely sound. with excellent door fits. etc. cosmetically very smart & sharp. yet at the same time with an appealing maturity and correctness. (including recent re-upholstery of the rear seat in very appropriate cloth. following an earlier. incorrect re-trim). lovely woodwork. excellent chromework. etc. The engine was thoroughly overhauled very recently. just prior to the trip mentioned above. during which it performed faultlessly. and now nicely run in. This work included re-metalling of the mains and big ends. new pistons. etc. and much more besides. To cap it off. the car retains a lovely kit of tools. highlighting the correct. undisturbed nature of the car. This really is a very rare opportunity!

Chassis No. GRO55 Reg No. DXV 992 Price £62. 00

Snippets: Theatre. Landed Gentry. Shipping. Estate Agents & International Rugby.

According to the chassis cards GRO55 had 3 owners within its first 18 months of existence! Victor Sheridan – theatre owner (Garrick/Kilburn) who in 1928 purchased the lease of the 35 acre British Empire Exhibition site at Wembley which he sold a few months later to British Talking Pictures part of Isidore Schlesinger's portfolio. Victor's address was 15 Stratton Street. Mayfair which was designed in 1895 by the Arts & Crafts architect C. J. H. Cooper for H. A. Johnstone; the 2nd owner was Mrs Swindley of “The Cedars” in Tettenhall - also known as “Clock House” – this was due to the fact that in 1911 the Swindleys commissioned a Clock Tower for the centre of Tettenhall to commemorate the coronation of George V. they were so proud of the clock that in 1920 they had a replica built in the garden of their house!! The 3rd owner was Frederick Herbert Marsden Kaye son-in-law of Sir August B. T. Cayzer 1st Baronet – both families were in the shipping business and in 1926 Kaye & Co had acquired the trading rights of R P Houston from Cayzers. The London premises of Kaye & Co (Plantation House) was built in 1935 over the remains of the old Roman colony of Londinium which had been burnt down by Boudicca in AD60. In August 1939 GRO55 had been purchased by Sir Arthur Craig (kt1938). Land Agent. Surveyor. Mayor of Peterborough (1928) and GRO55 remained with him until February 1944 when it was acquired by the firm of J. W. E. Banks (Koni Shock Absorbers). it was re-registered in June 1944 to Bertram Holmes a family member. Bertram's son Barry Holmes. to this day. holds the unique record of being the only international Rugby Union player to represent England & Argentina in the same year! 1949 was a year of both celebration & tragedy for the Holmes family – the death of Bertram. Barry was capped for England & Argentina Rugby Teams and in the autumn Barry's marriage & his death of typhoid within a few weeks of his marriage.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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