Sunday 20 March 2016

Lord Mountbatten’s long-lost Rolls-Royce being offered at Bonhams Goodwood sale today


A 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, with bespoke features designed for Lord Mountbatten – uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and second cousin once-removed of Her Majesty the Queen – is now offered at Bonhams Goodwood Members’ Meeting Sale, taking place today.

The vehicles modifications included a raised, streamlined bonnet, a novel mechanical headlight dipping mechanism, and, much to Rolls-Royce's chagrin, he also instructed that its trademark 'Spirit of Ecstasy' mascot be replaced with the figure of a naval signaller.

The alterations were designed by Lord Mountbatten himself, who, whilst enamoured of the marque, believed he could improve upon the Rolls-Royce design.

After Mountbatten’s ownership, the Ghost changed hands several times, disappearing from public record from 1939 to 1966. It reappeared after an Oxford dental surgeon, Captain Ralph Symmons, purchased the Silver Ghost in the South of France. He returned home with the motor car, removed the French number plates, and made an incredible discovery – a London registration that traced the Silver Ghost back to Lord Mountbatten’s ownership.

Lord Mountbatten (driving), with Capt. Ralph Symmons aboard the
 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
Captain Symmons restored the Rolls-Royce, which had survived in remarkably original condition, and after its completion drove the car to Lord Mountbatten's home at Broadlands in Hampshire, where its first owner was reintroduced to his old car.

Years later Captain Symmons decided to sell the Silver Ghost and offered it to Lord Mountbatten. It is documented that Lord Mountbatten arranged for the car to be purchased by a friend (the current vendor). Dated 9th November 1978, one of his letters states: 'Although he will be the legal owner of the car, it will, in fact, be on permanent loan to me until such time as my family and I are in a position to repurchase it from him at the price he is paying for the car.'

Sadly, Lord Mountbatten got few opportunities to enjoy his old Silver Ghost; on 27th August 1979 at Mullaghmore, County Sligo he was assassinated by the Provisional IRA, who had placed a bomb aboard his boat, the Shadow V. The explosion also killed his grandson, Nicholas, and two others.

Bonhams Members’ Meeting sale takes place today, Sunday 20 March 2016 at Goodwood Motor Circuit, Chichester.




Scroll down to read more articles like this which have been published recently

Why not Sign-up to Receive these Articles by Email each Day

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner


* Read more current and archived articles on our dedicated website *

Low Cost and Free Publicity - Your company can easily benefit from some publicity like this in return for a contribution towards our layout costs (typically £30 plusVAT), payable via PayPal or credit card  or receive the service absolutely free of charge if you advertise (see below).

We post articles up to twice a day and never delete them - we only archive them each year so that they continue to remain visible to search engines.

To have your story published - just send us your news item, logo and image(s) and we will review the material, make any necessary changes to the wording / wordcount and then advise you when it will be published.

If you take display advertising or product and literature features in our printed and online publications, you will qualify for regular free postings on this blog while you continue to advertise with us.

For details on features and advertising rates please contact us or visit our website.

Door Industry Journal is a trading style of Avalon Innovations LLP Company Registration No. 06807833

No comments: