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December 3rd 2007, Olympia

Bonhams’ annual motoring auction at Olympia is a must-attend event for any petrol head, and for Rolls-Royce and Bentley collectors in particular it is a very important occasion.

On auction is Rolls-Royce Car no. 20154, a diminutive 10hp two seater is expected to sell for more than 2 million pounds. It is the oldest surviving Rolls-Royce on the planet, made in 1904 and as first exhibited at The Paris Salon in the late Autumn of 1904. Rolls-Royce records confirm delivery from the Manchester Works in November that year. The car was displayed at the Olympia Show in London in February 1905. During the same year it is recorded that a Dr Briggs briefly owned the car – perhaps on trial – and it then passed to Kenneth Gillies of Tain in Scotland. Car no. 20154 was later acquired by Percy Binns of Harrogate, Yorkshire, and in 1950 was discovered in Yorkshire in a forlorn state with modified coachwork. Enthusiast Oliver Langton – a speedway rider of some repute - restored the car meticulously to running condition.

Stewart Skilbeck, Bonhams’ Motoring Specialist says: “This is the first time this car has ever been offered on the open market since 1904 and we expect strong interest from major collectors worldwide.” Car no. 20154 has been in the same UK private ownership for the past 30 years.

Sir Alan Sugar is also putting his 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Sports up for sale. Once owned by another Sir, Sir Elton John who bought the car in 1976, and described it as “the most beautiful-looking car that’s ever been designed”.

Learn more about Bonhams’ Olympia Motoring Sale.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at 11:08 am and is filed under Events, Motor Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.