Vice-regal Rollses For Auction
The Age
Friday July 9, 1993
Rolls-Royce, which is a subsidiary of the British heavy industry company Vickers, has long boasted that more than half the passenger vehicles it has made are still on the road.
It is enough to make the matched pair of 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith vice-regal ceremonial open tourers seem a bargain for whatever price they bring at a Sotheby's auction on Sunday week.
The cars were used by the Commonwealth Government to transport Queen Elizabeth II, her mother, her son, daughter-in-law and sister, and Princess Alexandra, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Pope Paul VI.
The pair, far from the prettiest or most ceremonial looking Rolls- Royces, are expected to bring $850,000 to $900,000.
For those who find the prospect of a pair of matching drop-head coupes rather more of a garaging problem than they can bear, there is another special Rolls-Royce listed for the auction, a 1965 Phantom V vice- regal limousine.
This is expected to bring about $150,000 to $160,000. Bearing in mind the prospect of these cars being long-lived and all three have exceptionally low distances recorded on their odometers, there is the chance for keen motorists to find a hedge against inflation if not a personal means of transport that is unlikely to depreciate much.
The auction, which includes another 82 cars, will be held on 18 July at 2pm at the National Exhibition Centre in Canberra.
Laser Collection NOW that Ford has abandoned the sharp-pencilled fleet sales policy and faces stiff competition from the Corolla, the company has chosen to add lifestyle to the Laser's attributes.
Ford is advertising heavily the new Laser Collection goods that include a leather-gloved steering wheel, designer colors and what it calls ``heel-friendly" floor mats.
``The Collection Series of goods are based on the Laser GL Hatch and the Laser GLi to appeal directly to women but without upsetting the prospective male buyer," said a Ford spokesman.
Included in the Laser Collection series is a CD player, a high-level sound system, unique cloth trim, an FCS (for Ford Collection Series) logo on the car and a special key ring.
The Collection series comes in Stark White, Monza Red, Marine Blue and Milford Green. Only 350 will be available in Milford Green.
Ford says the Collection Series has $1000 added value and the price has not changed.
© 1993 The Age