Beschreibung
A very clean & tidy example, nicely painted about fifteen years ago, and very competently re-upholstered in leather, deep red to the front and beige to the rear, complemented by nicely re-finished wood trim, new headlining and carpets, all in excellent condition. The car benefitted a few years back from an engine refurbishment, new cylinder head, new pistons, etc as well as a radiator re-core, and more recently a new clutch. Well maintained, running nicely, performing reliably and ready to use and enjoy. Complete with an appropriate set of lamps, horns and badges, giving an impressive frontal appearance, enhanced by a full set of 'Ace' wheel covers, louvred bonnet and faux pram irons. Currently, a Pegasus mascot, which it has worn from new, earning the car the nickname 'Peggy', but this can be replaced with the more usual Spirit of Ecstasy if you prefer. Comes with a large folder of history, containing invoices, correspondence, etc, some of it going back to the 1950s, and a great deal from the 1990s and 2000s, showing a substantial amount of quality maintenance and repair work, which is in addition to the more recent work mentioned above. Offered serviced, prepared & MoT’d.
See video on our website
Chassis No. GLG68 Reg. No. BXW 315
Snippets: The Flying Horse & Ivor Novello
The 1st owner of GLG68 was Major-General Henry Edward Lyons (1st Baron Ennisdale 1877/ 1963) who acquired his wealth whilst working with Lloyds Insurance where he targeted the American market. One of Henry’s earliest jobs at Lloyds was to ring the Lutine Bell to announce both good & bad news. Harry Lyons fought in the 2nd Boer War & during WWI he was a DAQMG (Deputy Assistant Quarter Master General), in 1919 in he was awarded an OBE, knighted 1933, created a baronet in 1937 & a Baron in 1939 all in recognition of his services to both industry & politics. In 1952 the Lyons family purchased the 2, 000 acre estate of Baynard’s Park as their country residence, they also had an apartment in London – 19 St James’ Place – with neighbours from the families of Rothschild, Cazalet, Jardine & Wolverton. During the 1940s Harry & Helen Lyons often travelled to & from America aboard vessels such as the RMS Queen Elizabeth, the SS Rex & the SS Manhattan, which in 1941 was requisitioned by the US Navy. Whilst in America they often stayed at the New York Waldorf-Astoria & their American circle of friends included Isabel Van Wie Willys (ex-wife of John Willys of Jeep fame), Italian royalty - the Prince & Princess Odescalchi & in 1946 on a trip from USA to UK on the Queen Elizabeth fellow passengers included Winston & Clementine Churchill. Both Harry & Helan had a lifelong passion for horses and were members of the Hurlingham & the Ranelagh Polo Club, Harry often lent his ponies to the Duke of Windsor (later Edward VIII). In 1935 when Harry purchased GLG68 he insisted that his personal mascot of Pegasus be used instead of the Flying Lady- the mascot is still with the car after all these years. After retiring from active Polo Harry turned to breeding & racing racehorses with entries in the 1929 Grand National (Rathory), 1947 Royal Ascot (Foxy), 1960 Ormonde Stakes (Light Horseman), 1961 Ascot (Kathyanga) and in 1963 Irish 2000 Guineas, the Prix de la Porte Maillot & Phoenix Park won by Linacre. Sadly, Henry Lyons died a few days before his colt Christmas Island won the 1963 Irish St Ledger. Another interesting owner of GLG68 was the Scottish Architect Gilbert “Laurie” Cadell (1909/ 93) who served during WWII with the Royal Engineers and was posted to India in 1942 only returning to his wife (Helen) after the end of the war. His designs included flats, offices, sports pavilions and assembly halls but his personal interest was in historic buildings and he later became the Honorary Architect to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. Outside of his “day job” Laurie was a skilled artist and had many successful showings of his watercolours. His wife Helen was born in South Africa and just before the onset of WWII travelled throughout Europe with her aunt Mrs. M. Patching - after meeting Ivor Novello Helen became a ghost-writer for his mother’s autobiography! Helen managed to escape Europe just before the declaration of war and whilst Laurie was away she took up volunteer work for the South African Red Cross.
