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Our 1935 Rolls Royce 20/25 Thrupp and Maberly Limousine is a very special automobile with a stunning provenance.

The original owners were no less than Florence and George Arliss, stars of the silver screen during the ‘roaring twenties’ and thirties. George was the first British actor to win an Oscar, for Best Actor, at the 1930 Academy Awards for his outstanding portrayal of Disraeli in the film of the same title.

Born George Augustus Andrews, George Arliss began his stage career in 1886  aged 18, a British actor of the old school. He went to America in 1902 and stayed for two decades, appearing in many Broadway productions and, later, silent films. On stage, Arliss established himself in historical roles or as eminent statesmen, kings, rajahs, eccentric millionaires, etc.

He transferred these talents to film and unexpectedly became a major star.

At the age of 53, he debuted on film in The Devil (1921), in which he had appeared on stage in 1906. Married to actress Florence Montgomery, who appeared with him in several films, he retired from the screen (following Dr. Syn) when she lost her sight in 1937 

just two years after they commissioned the Rolls Royce.

Having passed through the hands of a small number of wealthy socialites following her sale in 1946 (after Georges death on 5th February at the age of 78), this beautiful Rolls Royce was known to be in attendance at the

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on June 2nd 1953

and following that she served as one of the wedding entourage vehicles at the celebrated royal marriage of the

Duke and Duchess of Kent at York Minster on June 8th 1961.

In the following years she saw duty on many fronts, including a period providing sterling service during the eighties to the

Mayor of York.

With such a celebrated provenance as this, a bride and her groom would be very hard pressed indeed to find a more impressive and salubrious wedding car.