Rolls-Royce Phantom

A handsome, sound & very appealing car, which has been with one family since the late 1960s. In the 1980s, the current body was built, to a high standard, taking styling cues from Packards of the late vintage era, which in our opinion suits the car particularly well, and leading to a pair of R-R.E.C. awards shortly after completion. Very well constructed, and in fine condition, just driven about 100 miles to us on a chilly November day, and running & driving very nicely. The history file included with the car includes evidence of a great deal of expenditure, going back to 1968. Amongst these are invoices for many thousands of pounds spent on the engine in 1998/99, including fitting a new cylinder head, and much more attention besides from 1980 up until a couple of years ago. Overall, a good, well sorted and eminently useable car, ready for its next custodian. MoT'd until December 2017.

Chassis No. 98GN Reg. No. SC 8968. £110,000

Snippets: The Widow Davidson
In December 1930 Mrs Mary Emilia Davidson (widow of Ernest Archibald Davidson (1854/1919) took delivery at her city address of Belgrave Crescent in Edinburgh – the acquisition of 98GN was taken care of by her brother Robert Octavius “Rosie” Pitman (rowed for Oxford in 1898 & 1899) as did Charles Murray “Cherry” Pitman (1892/3/4/5) and also Frederick Islay Pitman (rowed for Cambridge 1882). In 1903 Frederick Pitman umpired his 1st Boat Race & was using an old pistol to start the crews – however when he went to fire the pistol it stuck at half-cock & refused to fire!!.. There were a total of 8 brothera and I have identified all bar 1- if anyone knows the missing brother alongside Archibald Robert Craufurd, Arthur Frederic Edward (Seaforth Highlanders), Thomas Tait (Major-General) and John Sitwell (law) do let us know. In 1922 Mary & Ernest’s daughter Hilda married a divorced Quaker by the name of Helton Godwin Baynes (known as Peter) who was Jung’s assistant. The couple had met in Zurich where Hilda was being treated by Jung for depression & Peter was Jung’s apprentice. The Quaker’s held a meeting at Devonshire House, Bishopsgate in order to discuss the forthcoming marriage and a precedent was set allowing Hilda & Peter to be married at Jordans in Buckinghamshire which home to the Quaker’s. Mary Davidson’s brother-in-law Randall Thomas Davidson was the Archbishop of Canterbury (1903/1928), Randall’s father-in-law was A. C. Tait who had held the post of Archbishop of Canterbury from 1868/82. Ernest Archibald Davidson was a partner in the Scottish Oriental Steamship Co alongside his brother John Henry Davidson, in 1891 they dissolved the partnership with John Davidson carrying on the business. 98GN was also registered at Tillydrine in Kincardine O’Neil which Mary Emilia Davidson would appear to have owned from 1923 to 1939 when the house was advertised as being available to rent – unfurnished.