Ready to acquire some old-style understated opulence on four wheels? A rare Rolls-Royce limousine, produced in 1912, exactly 100 years ago, is being sold at an auction in England for an estimated price of £2 million.
The opulent 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Double Pullman Limousine was named after the luxurious “Pullman” railway carriages pioneered by American George Pullman. Described as “a masterpiece of elephantine Edwardian elegance”, the car is considered by motoring enthusiasts as most iconic Rolls-Royce cars ever built.
The car was first bought by John M. Stephens in South Croydon on the outskirts of London, who was a known connoisseur of the Roll-Royce brand and had purchased the first-ever Silver Ghost. In mid-1960s, the car was chosen by Corgi Toys to be a model in their ‘Corgi Classics’ series, and started to be known as “The Corgi”.
The car will be auctioned by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at Chichester on June 29, where a Bentley owned by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar from the collection of motor cars owned by famous watchmaker George Daniels will also be offered on sale.
The 1929 4½-litre Bentley Tourer by Vanden Plas, which used to be originally owned by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, is part of seven motor cars and two motorcycles owned by Daniels which are expected to be auctioned for more than £8 million. Daniels had described the Bentley as “the best in motoring.”
Another highlight at the auction is the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C, constructed to the last design created by Jean Bugatti, expected to sell for over £1 million.
“This sale is gathering tremendous momentum and promises to be one of the most memorable sales in decades,” James Knight, group head of Bonhams motoring department, said.