Lot details Registration No: KRX599H Chassis No: PRH4567
- Running and driving
- Gold leaf coach lines
- Electric Division with occasional seats
Coach built by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd on a rolling chassis, with acres of space containing opulent leather and wood interiors, nothing says 'prestige' like a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI. Just 374 were built between 1968 and 1991 with limousine and landaulet bodies, each to their first owner's requirements. As a result, each one is different.
Entered from the Ian Grange Collection, this very early example has both Royal Family and film history. Its new car order form, dated 16th January 1968, shows it was prepared for a M. Saady Esq. of London whose specification was exacting. The coachwork is finished in Masons Black over Garnet with a black Everflex roof and has 23-carat gold leaf hand-painted coach lines. Stainless steel sills and wheel arches, supplied from new, add an extra something. Automatic transmission and power steering help to manage the power of the 6230cc V8 engine. The car is described as running and driving and shows 78,769 miles. Inside, the right-hand drive car is trimmed as one might expect for a car of this quality: Savoy velvet upholstery in an attractive blue-grey tone in the passenger compartment, and Oatmeal leather to the front. Full-width foldaway leather occasional seats are fitted. Electric windows and factory air conditioning are included, and for those moments requiring absolute discretion, an electric division separates the two compartments. The car, bearing registration 'KRX 599H' has a fascinating history and was used to transport members of the Royal Family as part of Princess Diana's funeral cortège and took princes William and Harry from the Royal Train to Althorp for their mother's burial. It was also used in the film 'The Queen' starring Dame Helen Mirren and 'The Queen and I' with David Walliams. Offered with no reserve, this is a fantastic opportunity to secure a rare and opulent car with wonderful history.
A little bit about the late Ian Grange :
Not the tallest man in the world, Ian Grange was nonetheless a very much larger than life character. Born in Stockport, severe dyslexia saw him leave school at fifteen with no qualifications. After doing his National Service, Ian went into the Manchester motor trade. A school of hard knocks that could literally have the shirt off your back (as he found out when purchasing a Jaguar E-Type from Harold O'Connor), the budding entrepreneur learnt to wheel and deal with the best of them setting-up Red Lion Autos in Cheadle before specialising in classic cars and relocating to Chorlton.
A serial nightclub owner as well as a car dealer whose clientele included 'everyone from dustbinmen to lords', Ian traded on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Resident in Florida for several years, he could turn a profit on machinery that made more conservative rivals blanch! Never afraid to sit on his stock 'while it increased in value', he professed there was 'a bum for every seat' and sold a fabulous array of classics including a Mercedes-Benz SSK, Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari 275 GTB, AC 428 Convertible, countless coachbuilt Rolls-Royces and Bentleys not to mention numerous outlandish American cars.
A classic car dealer for almost sixty years, Ian was a familiar face at auctions up and down the country. Happy to be bound by one of his irrevocable handshakes and a stickler for punctuality, he remained active up until his death last year. Thankfully, his daughter Samantha Grange-Bailey is picking up where her father left off and will reinvest the proceeds of the collection in further stock
All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.
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