1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon. GTL68

A handsome car, which has benefitted from a good deal of attention, including an engine refurbishment, with a new block & pistons, and a while before that a new cylinder head. The car is good and sound, and has correct P100 headlights, long-trumpet horns, and twin side-mounted spare wheels, as well as attractive ‘trouser crease’ wings. In the boot is a fitted tray with a good selection of correct, original tools, and the car is accompanied by a sizable file of paperwork, which include invoices for work carried out over the years amounting to nearly £50,000, photos of the car being repainted, old MoT certificates, an original handbook & various other documentation. An overall very good example, running nicely, waiting for its next life chapter.


Chassis No.   GTL68                 Reg No. CYX 434
 
Snippets – Oil Wells & a Ship Yard Actress.
Thomas Lavington-Jacks (1884/1966), Resident-Director of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later known as BP) was stationed in Tehran from 1926/35.  Whilst there Thomas Lavington-Jacks amassed an important collection of Iranian antiquities which included a 4th Century Achaemenid silver bowl (the time of Darius III who was defeated by Alexander the Great).  In 1935 the bowl was displayed in Russia at The Hermitage & in 1998 was acquired by the British Museum.  

The Rolls-Royce remained with Thomas Lavington-Jacks until 1944 when she was sold to J. Lloyd Shakespeare, trumpet virtuoso & dance time band conductor whose 1920s recordings included: “Roll Away Clouds”, Baby Blues”, “Laughing Marionette” & “Whistle Away Your Blues”.  In 1942 Lloyd Shakespeare & his partner (later wife) stage & screen actress Miss Betty Warren purchased Stebbings Shipyard on the River Thames.  During this time the firm produced lifeboats, whales & dinghies for the Admiralty & MoWT.  Co-incidentally Thomas’ wife Elsie Sheridan-Stevens was also involved in the theatre – she was a direct descendant of Richard Brinsley Sheridan – MP, Playwright & a notorious rake!.  

Later owners of GTL68 included Colonel A S Lowe of Baker Street & Captain Neville John Buss who served with the Zambian Army, he registered GTL68 in Ndola, Zambia.  Whilst in Africa it is understood that GTL69 was with Capt C. Tilney, a commercial pilot with British Airline Emerald Airways, whose fleet included De Havilland Herons!  

GTL68 remained in Africa and during the 1980s the owner was Wilse Mare, an architect in Pretoria, a keen car enthusiast & a leading member of the Pretoria Old Motor Club.