Mr. Allen Swift died in 2005 at the impressive age of 102, but his automotive story is even more remarkable. Not only is the gentleman credited with owning a Rolls-Royce automobile longer than anyone else in the world, but he had the forethought and funds to ensure its future preservation after his death.Here's the car in question:
In 1928, while living in Springfield, Massachusetts, Swift's father gave him a 1928 Rolls-Royce Piccadilly P1 Roadster as a graduation present (Springfield and Rolls-Royce have a history – from 1920 to 1931, the British automaker built 2,944 vehicles in the city as part of its attempt to establish a US plant). The young man was passionate about his green-over-green softtop convertible, not only driving it on a regular basis, but maintaining it meticulously over the decades (the two door-received a complete body-off restoration and engine rebuild in 1988).
(picture found on Flickr)
What an awesome story. What an awesome graduation present! That car would have cost somewhere north of $10K in 1928 - or the equivalent of ~ $150K today. That's one hell of a nice graduation present, much like me buying TheBoy a mid-level Ferarri. Granted, he held onto it literally his entire life, so I guess they got their money out of it...
That's a love story right there, folks. You don't hold onto something for nearly 80 years and then donate over a million bucks to insure that it is safe upon your demise if there's not a lot of love between the man and the machine. In a time where people are likely to get rid of their cars before they've had them 10 years - I'd wager 5 in most cases - holding onto a car for more than seven decades is mind-boggling.
Either that or he *REALLY* hates dealing with the MA RMV...
That is all.
Hat tip to instinct for the story!
1 comment:
A little slow on the comments, but here goes.
Pick-up truck number one was purchased new 10-years ago this year Made in Jan 2003 and bought in April of 2003. It is a Dodge Dakota. Next year it will be getting some need exterior work namely fixing the rock chipped hood and repainting.
Pick-up number two was bought new by the father-in-law in 2001. We received in as part of his estate when he passed on. It is a GMC Sierra 1500.
Guess that shoots the 10-year theory to death for us anyway.
Take care,
DO
Post a Comment