Rolls-Royce 20/25 1980 - Park Ward Brougham de Ville GMD36 4-Door

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 & 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 of GMD36 was the scandalous socialite & heiress Florence Evelyn St George (1870/1936), whose father George Fisher Baker (1840/1931) was the co-founder of what is today known as Citibank. During his lifetime George Fisher was on the board of 40 companies & he held the majority of the Central Railroad stock. The first Forbes Rich List, published in 1918, shows G. F. Baker in joint 4th place alongside William Rockefeller with an estimated fortune of $150m. The wealthiest being John D. Rockefeller with a reported wealth of a staggering $1.2billion. When George Baker died in 1931 the bulk of his estate was inherited by his son George with his two daughters being gifted $5m each. In 1891 Florence had 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. Florence & her brother George took annual trips to Paris together to ensure they were dressed in the latest fashion; for Evelyn this included commissioning Rene Lalique to produce a choker with a lattice design of green glass cabochons set on an enamel backing with diamonds in each corner. This piece was later recut into a suite of bracelet, brooch & earrings, these were auctioned by the family in 2020. In 1908 William Orpen painted a portrait of Evelyn showing her reclining on her bed at Clonsilla wearing the fabulous choker. After her death in 1936 the auction house Sotheby were tasked with selling the contents of Cam House & this included artworks by El Greco, Goya, Cranach and of course Orpen. From 1958/62 GMD36 was with the noted architect & interior designer Sir Hugh Casson whose clients ranged from the Air Ministry (Camouflage Service), Royalty (Royal Yacht Britannia, Buckingham Palace, Windsor, Sandringham), WH Smith, NatWest Bank & Glyndebourne. Whilst with Sir Casson GMD36 was used as an everyday car - the mascot was replaced several times after being taken as a trophy! During the 1970s GMD36 passed through the hands of Alan Clarke, author, diarist, MP & car enthusiast.