1935 Armstrong Siddeley 12hp Plus Saloon

Lot details
Registration No: CLH 230
Chassis No: 100263
Mot Expiry: Exempt

The vendor, who informs he is 'Chloe's' third keeper, advises she is the earliest surviving Armstrong Siddeley 12 Plus Deluxe Saloon and was originally purchased at the 1935 Earls Court Motor Show by a Mr Saunders of Mill Hill, who kept her until the age of 82. Apparently he only decided they had to part after reversing into the same tree stump twice!
Passing to John Symondson of Barrington, Cambridge, she was put to work in the film industry appearing in at least fifteen films and advertisements and also 'Play for Today'. Her film credits include 'Country', 'Private Schultz', 'Yanks', 'Hanover Street', a trip to Spain for 'Empire of the Sun' and early Miss Marples. One commercial concerned what to do in the event of a foreign breakdown with Tim Woodward using the immortal words "if only all cars were as reliable as the Armstrong Siddeley."!
Fitted with a Wilson Epicyclic Preselector providing a rapid gear change, the vendor comments on the unit's characteristic "smooth, quiet, speedy and positive" changes "without the teeth grinding so common amongst lesser cars of the 1930s".
In 1988, John Symondson suffered a fire where his cars were stored and only Chloe was able to be saved. She then sat in a barn for 3 years being subsequently advertised for spares. Rescued again, she was rebuilt before being driven all over Europe. Her more recent exploits include over sixty UK rallies, eleven Welsh, two French and two in Luxembourg, even getting as far as the Swiss border. Sad to see her go, the vendor shares her birth year and now feels the time is right to find her a new home. MoT exempt with Swansea V5 and "fair " engine which "runs well", "fair" paintwork and "useable" interior, we are advised the gearbox is noisy in reverse and there is a small water jacket leak.