Rolls-Royce 20/25 1934 - Park Ward Brougham de Ville GMD36

An appealingly unusual car, its design harking back to an earlier era, with faux canework, opera lamps, etc. It is, however, correct and as built, but benefitting from much attention, including restoration work in the USA many years ago, and continued attention in the UK since its return here in the 1970s. This work included an engine overhaul by Brunts of Silverdale, including new cylinder head and block, steering box rebuild, and more besides. Comes with a large, informative history file. The paintwork is in very good order, sharp and smart, as is the interior - brown leather to the front and cream to the rear, in both cases with matching carpets. Even the headlining is leather! The car features louvred bonnet and scuttle, Carl Zeiss headlights, Lucas 'owl eye' tail lights, twin tubular blade bumpers front and rear and a rear-mounted spare wheel. Running well, lovely all round and offered newly MoT tested. Chassis No. GMD36 Reg No. BGW 227 Snippets: Art & JewelsThe 1st owner was the socialite, heiress & scandalous Florence Evelyn St George (1870/1936), (known as Evelyn) whose father was George Fisher Baker (1840/1931) the co-founder of Citibank. During his lifetime he was on the board of 40 companies & held the majority of the Central Railroad stock. When the first Forbes Rich List was published in 1918 it listed George Baker as being in joint 4th place with William Rockefeller with an estimated fortune of $150million, in first place was John D. Rockefeller with a staggering $1.2billion. When George Baker died in 1931 the bulk of his estate was inherited by his son George Jr with his two daughters each being gifted $5m. In 1891 she met and married the Irish land agent Howard St. George but by 1906 she had met the artist William Orpen (1878/1931) with whom she had a long-term liaison, and a daughter. Evelyn & her brother visited Paris each year to ensure they were dressed a la mode, this included jewellery with Evelyn commissioning Rene Lalique to produce a choker with a lattice design of green glass cabochons on an enamel backing with diamonds set in each corner, this piece was later recut into a suite of bracelet, brooch and earrings with them being auctioned in 2020. There is a portrait of Evelyn by Orpen showing her reclining on her bed at Clonsilla in 1908 wearing that very choker. When she died in 1936 the auction house Sothebys were tasked with selling the contents of Cam House and this including artworks by El Greco, Goya, Cranach and of course works by Orpen. From 1958 / 62 GMD36 was with the noted architect & interior designer Sir Hugh Casson whose clients included Air Ministry (Camouflage Service) Royalty (Royal Yacht Britannia, Buckingham Palace, Windsor & Sandringham), WH Smith, NatWest Bank & Glyndebourne. During the time GMD36 was with Sir Casson it was used as his everyday car and the mascot had to be replaced several times after it had been taken as a trophy.