Footnotes

• Introduced in 1936, the Lanchester Eighteen was one of the first all-new designs to appear following the firm’s merger with Daimler in 1930. Since that date Lanchesters had become both smaller and cheaper than the preceding luxury models, and the new 18hp followed Daimler’s practice closely.
  King George VI succeeded to the throne in 1936 following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. The new King was a Lanchester devotee, even going so far as to insist that the four Daimler straight-eights delivered for Royal use between 1936 and 1939 should have Lanchester radiators! In 1932, while still Duke of York, he had taken delivery of a Lanchester 15/18hp (chassis number ‘10571’) which was registered ‘GX 6’, this number being transferred to the car offered here (chassis number ‘12753’) in 1936. This car is mentioned in Brian E Smith’s book, The Royal Daimlers (page 243) in which it is described as ‘a fairly standard Lanchester Eighteen with non-specialist coachwork, the body colour scheme of which was black and blue.’ Never intended as a formal carriage, the Eighteen was used as the King’s personal, informal car until his death in 1952. At some time the car was returned to Stratstone’s, the Daimler agents, and reregistered ‘NLA 13’ to disguise its history, in accordance with normal practice.
  Following its royal service, ‘12753’ enjoyed only two further owners - John Hare Smith and Harold Lamb - prior to its purchase by the late vendor on 31st August 1983. Last licensed for the road in 1967, it had been rediscovered in an Essex garden and sold at auction in April 1979. The car was partially stripped in preparation for eventual complete restoration shortly before its owner’s death a few years ago, and is sold strictly as viewed. An historic Lanchester with impeccable connections to the British royal family, ‘12753’ is offered with old-style logbook and Department of Transport letter dated 3rd May 1984 confirming that registration mark ‘GX 6’ may be reassigned to it after the restoration’s completion.