1923 Rolls-Royce 20hp Six Light Saloon by Litchfield 62H2 (1923) For sale from The Real Car Co., in Gwynedd, United Kingdom

Chassis No. 62H2
A delightful car, which we know to have been re-bodied many decades ago, by little known coachbuilders, Litchfield of London. The design is of about 1930, and we feel that it is likely that this is when the body replacement took place. The car at one time formed part of the Sword Collection, carrying the Litchfield body, and was sold by them at auction in 1962. In 2006, the car went through our hands, and in more recent years has benefited from a great deal of attention, evidenced by invoices totalling about £53,000 during the period 2006 to 2020. This included an engine refurbishment, with new pistons, re-bore, etc, and much more besides. The coachwork is lovely and sound, with excellent door fits, good paintwork and nickel plating to the correct, low-mounted headlights, sidelights, etc. The interior is nicely matured brown leather, with braided ornamentation and a 'smoking hatch' in the roof, fresh looking, good quality headlining, and a correct set of instruments in lovely condition. Recently successfully driven about 300 miles or so on a journey from Kent to Northern Ireland, and last year completed the Gordon Bennett Rally in Ireland. Running very sweetly, sound, correct and very appealing. Offered serviced, prepared and newly MoT tested.
Chassis No. 62H2                          Reg No. VS 852    
Snippets:  Shipping & Sugar
Alexander Smith Kerr was a scion of the Kerr sugar & shipping family of Greenock, John Kerr II & Abraham Lyle II (sugar) started trading in the early 1800s in an informal partnership.  The Kerr fleet of Diamond K vessels had names such as Borealis, Bucephalus, Cuban, Jamaica, Pirimore, Sinde & Zanzibar to mention a few.  The partnership between families continued until the late 1800s when after the death of John Kerr III (aged just 49) the partnership was gradually bought out by the Kerr’s from John’s young heirs.  When John Kerr III died he left a considerable sum to his 4 sons and with Abram Lyle was one of the  trustees of the estate.  Alexander Kerr carried on within the sugar refinery trade & he also formed the Scottish Battery Co Ltd., in 1943 the factory suffered a catastrophic fire which caused some £100,000 worth of damage.  Alexander’s son, David Alexander Kerr served with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders during WWII & in 1945 he was awarded the Military Cross.  According to the chassis cards just before WWII in 1939 62H2 was acquired by John Cuthill Sword a Scottish entrepreneur who from starting his career as a van boy in his father’s bakery had built up an extensive empire consisting of buses, aeroplanes, stud farms & crisp factories - he was also the founder of the air ambulance service covering the Western Isles.  When Renfrew Airport was closed due to fog John Sword’s airline “Midland & Scottish Air Ferries” would use “The Meadow” at Monkton (Prestwick Airport) - when this re-routing occurred he made sure that transport, in the form of several Rolls-Royce 20hp cars was available to collect the passengers! Was 62H2 one of these cars? After John Sword’s death in 1960 his eclectic collection of vehicles was divided up and sold off in two separate auctions 1962 & 1965 with 62H2 being sold in the 1st auction. The first auction was attended by several collectors and museums – including Aalholm, Harrah & Measham.  Count Johan Otto Raben-Levetzau of Denmark acquired 62H2 as part of his museum which was established at the family residence of Aalholm Castle and remained as part of the display until 1994 when the collection was sold off after the death of the Count in 1992.