Description
Who fancies a challenge? Many cars take on the infamous Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, but not many can claim to do it with such class and style.
This 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I – Chassis S285FP – has been the subject of a remarkable engineering effort over the last 15 years to create a truly unique historic endurance rally machine.
Chassis S285FP is a LHD ‘Springfield’ built example, delivered new to its first owner – a an early cardboard & packaging tycoon, J. F. Cleary – in the winter of 1929 as 1 of only 6 examples to ever feature this ‘Stratford Coupe’ coachwork by Brewster.
The car was imported into the UK in 2008, whereupon marque specialists Wildae Restorations were entrusted to carry out a 2-year restoration costing in excess of £185, 000! (almost £300k in today’s money if adjusted for inflation!).
The car was taken apart, restored, re-engineered and improved in every possible way in preparation for its first long-distance endurance rally – the 2010 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.
Between 2010-2013, a further £73, 000 was spent with specialists, Alpine Eagle, in order to keep the car in fighting shape for multiple appearances at the Flying Scotsman, as well as the 2013 Paris-Madrid.
Since being acquired by the current owner, the car has been looked after almost exclusively by Carl Ford, and has been further prepared to take on the world’s toughest motoring adventures.
In preparation for the 2019 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, an additional £55, 000 worth of maintenance and improvements were spent with Carl Ford.
The result? Not only did the car complete the rally, the only trouble it encountered along the way was a few burst tyres… Not many other cars can claim such a record of reliability!
Since returning from P2P, the owner has spent a further £77, 000 on fully recommissioning the car, with less than 2, 000 miles being covered since.
WHAT WE THINK
There are over 100 pages of invoices accompanying this car since it came to the UK in 2008, all of which are available on request.
We’ve added up the numbers, and in the last 16 years this car has had just under £400, 000 worth of restoration work carried out, resulting in quite a formidable machine.
This really is quite an incredible opportunity for someone. Not only will the new owner have a guaranteed entry place into any long-distance HERO-ERA event of their choosing, they will also receive £10, 000 worth of credit towards the entry fee!
We urge anyone interested to give us a call and book in a viewing.
