Description
A very handsome, substantially built car, wonderfully proportioned, with some lovely features, including sunroof, stainless steel lights & fittings, trouser crease wings, draught deflectors on the door windows and a fabulous tool kit fitted to the boot lid, below which are two fitted suitcases. The car is typical of Rippon, being very high quality, strong in construction, with wonderful door fits, closing with satisfying ‘clunk’. Full of charm, character and desirability, and the car is featured on the front cover, as well as in “Rolls-Royce 20hp, 20/ 25, 25/ 30 & Wraith in Detail” by Nick Walker, a copy of which is with the car. The comprehensive history file includes correspondence between owners, photographic records of work done, including a full engine overhaul, invoices, note books & the original stamped handbook. All-in-all, a charming car, nicely original, mature in an appealing way, driving well, serviced & with a fresh MoT.
Chassis No. GSY73 Reg No. YG 4580 £34, 500
Snippets: Textiles, Gas Works & the Gilded Age
Sir James Hill (1849/ 1936) was 84 when he took delivery of GSY73 in 1933, he died in 1936 leaving his estate to his widow Dame Alice Hill who died just 5 months later. Their eldest son Arthur, died in 1935 without an heir so the title was inherited by their 2nd son Albert & via his heirs to the current generation. Sir James started his working life in a mill as a wool sorter when he was just 12, by 1936 he had become Mayor of Bradford, acquired a title, been the proprietor of newspapers, a director of several banks, sat as a Liberal MP & become a major figure in the international Wool market. He specialised in cross-bred New Zealand wool rather than merino wool & established his own purchasing operations “down under”. His sons Albert & Arthur became junior partners in the family firm of Sir James Hill & Sons (Wool) Ltd & in the late 1890s the company were importing in excess of 2, 500 tons per year. Although he enjoyed a millionaire lifestyle he donated funds for Bradford’s infirmary, bought land to be used as parks & helped his customer’s by either investing in them or providing them with loans or credit terms during the times of hardship. Another major project of his was the electrification of Bradford’s tram system, he always credited much of his success to his wife Alice who he married in 1875.
The 2nd owner was Dennis Hartley of Harrogate, in 1911 he was offered the position of manager of Buenos Aires Gas Co in South America, prior to this he had, for 5 years, been assistant to Mr. Wellens of Hebden Bridge & Mytholmroyd Gas Board & for the two years immediately prior to going to Buenos Aires had studied engineering with Messrs Drake & Co Ltd. In Sept 1912 his fiancée, Miss Thomas & her parents, sailed on the “Highland Scot” to Buenos Aires where she& Dennis were married.
From 1956/ 60 the car was with Michael Aykroyd – his grandfather Sir William Aykroyd was the first chairman of the family firm T F Firths & Son, woollen mills, with Michael’s uncles Sir Alfred & Col Harold both taking up the role prior to Michael.
In 1960 GSY73 was discovered in an unloved state by Rev Jesse P Cooper, a retired RAF Chaplain who enjoyed classic cars. So good was the restoration of GSY73 that the car was awarded 2nd place in the 1962 Blenheim Concours event.
From 1962/ 96 the car was in America with several interesting families including Mr Hamilton Perkin Greenough, his father Charles P Greenough was associated with Henry Lehr who in turn was a favourite of Mamie Fish & Mrs Nancy Astor (The Gilded Age)!! In 1901 Henry Lehr married the wealthy widow Elizabeth Drexel Dahlgren but the marriage was never consummated due to Henry’s predilection….. Hamilton’s son was the influential surfer and filmmaker George Greenough – a man of many talents.
