By 1964 James Young of Bromley, Kent, England, was the final traditional independent custom coachbuilder working on Rolls-Royce chassis, Mulliner and Park Ward both having been absorbed into the factory’s auspices. James Young continued to specialize in the same superb work it always had, building bodies that were traditionally crafted using the finest materials and always of very subtly sporting design. Few so reflected the coachbuilder’s ethos as style number SCV100, a four-door light alloy Saloon that was their own version of the famous close-coupled “Flying Spur” from those no-longer-independent competitors. It was certainly more rakish, with typical James Young features such as graceful feather-like door handles, and the subtle fenderline shared with other styles created by the coachbuilder in this period.

Only 20 examples of style number SCV100 were produced, among them the right-hand drive car offered here. Chassis number SHS313C was built for Sir Jules Thorn of Thorn Electrical Industries on Upper St. Martin’s Lane of London. Delivered slightly late on 1 January 1965, it was equipped with engine number SS156A, still present today. Specifications included Midnight Blue finish with interior in Grey hides, a radio with Hirschmann electric aerial, rear picnic tables, and power windows to front and rear doors, as well as, of course, an automatic gearbox. One assumes that Sir Jules, owner of one of the UK’s largest electrical engineering firms, was a valued and avid Jack Barclay customer; the final invoice for the car includes a 10% Fleet Owner discount!

Subsequent owners included the longtime American enthusiast Thomas Solley of Indiana. Later the Rolls-Royce returned to the country of its birth and was purchased in 1989 by John Edward Illsley of Brockenhurst, who owned it until at least 2004. Refinished in the original livery inside and out, it has been part of the current collection since 2009, and has been well-kept in typical fashion, with only minor panel fit issues noted upon inspection. It is offered with a FIVA Identity Card, and a history file including copies of build and delivery documents. Significantly, this is the example used to illustrate the model in Lawrence Dalton’s landmark work, Rolls-Royce: The Classic Elegance.

Chassis number SHS313C still looks the part of elegant executive transportation... just as it did in 1964.