Meticulously hand-built, the Rolls-Royces of the early part of the Twentieth Century – this one sporting a limousine body by Hooper – are the grandest old ladies of the classic car world. Pre-war motoring is a joy many enthusiasts come to late and wish that they’d discovered it sooner; the sheer engagement with the machine is a huge aspect in itself, allied to feeling that you are somehow in a space that sits outside of normal time.

This car has other charms to offer. In the Thirties it was owned by Lady Hood (widow of Admiral Sir Horace Hood who was killed at Jutland in 1916). She reputedly lent the car to the then Prince of Wales and Wallace Simpson who used the car in London.

The new owner is offered a wealth of information that goes with the car, including plenty of material dating from its time with Lady Hood in the Thirties. As well as this, enthusiasts will be pleased to find the records of its restorations; firstly in the early Eighties, and, more latterly, some ten years ago. 

For the second renovation, there is a comprehensive photographic record, documenting the car’s repainting, interior trimming and mechanical refettling.

During its time with the present owner, the Rolls has been looked after by vintage car specialists Horsfield’s of Halifax.

Restored within the last ten years, the Rolls-Royce maintains a nice balance of crispness and a few rounded edges. A lot of care has obviously been taken and the two-tone colour scheme; Mason’s Black over Old English White, it suits the car well. The finish is consistent across all panels and retains a deep shine over the whole car. There are one or two small chips, but are simply part of the car’s gentle patina. 

The bodywork is free of ripples, and the gaps between doors, panels and the folding engine covers are narrow and even along both sides. The vinyl roof is in sound condition, with the material smooth and even across the top of the car and showing no signs of fading.

The extensive chrome is a very attractive feature of the car. The big grill, bumpers and huge headlights maintain a deep shine. There are no signs of pitting or discolouration here nor in the smaller fixtures such as the door handles or windscreen surrounds. The metal here is straight with clean joins in the metal.

Altogether, a very grand old lady.

The Rolls-Royce is a true limousine, the leather upholstered front separated from the rear by a glass screen, which can be lowered. While the cloth trimmed rear seats were reupholstered (using an original Thirties pattern fabric), much of the leather in the front is original. Both areas are smartly trimmed and clean. The rear seats boast plump cushions, their shapes well defined by the stitching. Those in the front retain a deep colour and show only a gentle patina and creasing to the leather. Here too, booth in the seats and the door panels, we find well-defined, piped edges and crisply outlined details.

In both areas, the woodwork is a feature to savour. It boasts a warm colour, a well-defined grain and careful setting and book-matching. Like the exterior chrome, the internal fixtures show a deep lustre. By way of a suitable contrast, the car’s controls; steering wheel and levers have been allowed to retain a gentle patina commensurate with years of handling by chauffeurs’ gloved hands. 

Either up front or in the rear, travelling in the Rolls will be an evocative experience.

The Rolls’ fully rebuilt motor looks (and sounds) to be in fine fettle. There are no signs of leaks, nor areas of accumulated dirt. Fittingly, the engine and its ancillaries have been allowed to retain a suitably muted lustre, looking business-like rather than showy. Wiring, hoses and ducting appear supple and healthy and quite new. Bakelite/plastic assemblies appear very robust, while screws and nuts don’t look like they would take issue with a spanner.

The underside of the car looks to be very sound – and clean, save for the dust of a few summer drives. Oversized suspension, steering and brake assemblies (and those new-looking Firestone tyres) look to be strong and in excellent shape as does the drive shaft and smaller linkages and levers. The whole ‘undercarriage’ should inspire tremendous confidence.

The car also has an independent valuation certificate for insurance significantly in excess of the reserve and comes with a changeable spare and complete set of Black wheel covers and a Black spare wheel cover.

If you are going to buy a pre-war car, Rolls-Royce or otherwise, you need one that has been well and truly fettled by people who know what they are doing. This one has been. What’s more, it’s been in the care of true Rolls-Royce enthusiasts for probably all of its life – not all that many of these can say that. If that wasn’t enough, don’t forget this car’s singular history, as well as – if you haven’t experienced it before – that immense satisfaction you get from mastering a Thirties machine on the road.

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