Bonhams Sells Worlds Oldest Surviving Rolls-Royce for World Record £3.5-Million
Published December 5th, 2007
The world’s oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, which dates from 1904, was sold today (3 December 2007) by Bonhams for £3,521,500, breaking two world records. This is the highest price ever paid at auction for both a Rolls-Royce and a veteran car (pre-1905).
This historic motor car sold to a private UK collector, on the telephone, who successfully outbid two people in the room and two other telephone bidders. It is the only Rolls-Royce old enough to take part in the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, and will stay in the UK.
The price achieved by Bonhams today more than doubled previous world records, which were £1.76-million for a veteran car (1884 De Dion Bouton) and £1.48-million for a Rolls-Royce (1912 Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine).
The 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater was first exhibited at The Paris Salon in the late Autumn of 1904. The car was displayed at the Olympia Show in London in February 1905, and, appropriately, returned to Olympia after some 102 years to be sold by Bonhams.
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