The Governor's Rolls-Royce | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

The Governor's Rolls-Royce

The Governor's Rolls-Royce
Submitted by JSDesignHK

I remember seeing this splendid cars for many years.  It was a Rolls-Royce Phantom V with landaulette coachwork by Park Ward, chassis number 5BV7.  Originally ordered as a Park Ward design 980 7-passenger limousine for the use of the British Ambassador to Japan, early on in the build process it was changed to design 1000, a landaulette.  One other car to this design was built, chassis number 5LCG51 for the President of Tunisia.  This landaulette is very similar to design 1104 seen on chassis number 5CG37, for HM The Queen Mother. 

Attached is just one of many shots I have of 5BV7, taken in 1975 when HM The Queen made a visit to Hong Kong.  I took the photographs on colour slide film, and they were all shot along Garden Road.  In the procession were a number of Daimler DS420 limousines as well as a period Ford Zephry and a Holden estate.

John

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Monday, May 5, 1975
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Comments

Submitted by David on Wed, 2011-04-06 11:02.

Lovely shot, thanks. Is this car still in Hong Kong, or was it retired long ago?

Regards, David

Submitted by John (not verified) on Wed, 2011-04-06 22:44.

Hi David

Thank you for your kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed the photograph.  Believe me, I have many more!

As to the whereabouts of 5BV7, that now seems to be a mystery.  In another post on this site, it was mentioned that the car was collected by the Royal Navy immediately after the handover.  I actually have no idea, but have been keeping my eye out for it, and expect that it will surface at some time.  The Rolls-Royce world is quite a small one, and I've experienced many cases before where a long-forgotten car suddenly resurfaces.  This happened a couple of years ago, when I visited an interesting fellow in Sai Kung, who is also passionate about these cars.  In his warehouse were all manner of Rolls-Royce parts, and sitting in a back corner was a lone Silver Cloud chassis, bearing the number plate 3355.  Imagine my surprise, and the fellow's delight when I said I knew that car:  1958 Silver Cloud, chassis SGE230, originally delievered to a Dr Chiu and finished in Shell Grey over Black Pearl with Grey hide.  I have many photographs of that car, and it is presently being restored to its former glory.

I have a complete listing of all Silver Clouds and Bentley S1 originally delivered to Hong Kong, as well as Phantoms V and VI.  If you are interested, I do have copies of the original factory build sheets and coachbuilder's drawings for 5BV7.

Kind regards

John

Submitted by Compradore on Thu, 2011-04-07 08:38.

John, great information.  Do you have any idea what happened to HSBC's Rolls-Royce?   I don't remember what model it was specifically, but it was used by the bank during the Lord Sandberg era.  Sandberg's successor, the more austere William Purves, did not use the Rolls-Royce when he became taipan.

Submitted by annelisec on Thu, 2011-04-07 09:16.


Please do post the list.

Submitted by JSDesignHK on Mon, 2011-04-11 01:09.

I remember the HSBC Rolls-Royce as well.  It was a Phantom V, chassis number 5VC41, with design PV22 touring limousine coachwork by James Young and delivered in September 1964.  It was finished, as I recall, in a special James Young blue.  I am not certain of the whereabouts of the car now, but will check my sources and advise if and when I can come up with the information.

Kind regards

John

Submitted by Compradore on Wed, 2011-04-13 03:17.

Thanks for the information about the '64 Phantom V; I was not aware of that vehicle.  I was initially referring to a later model Rolls-Royce, perhaps a '76 or '77 that Lord Sandberg used when he became chairman.  Actually, I am not even sure that the later vehicle was even a Phantom, though I believe it most likely was. 

Submitted by Lawrence Tsui on Wed, 2012-02-29 23:25.

In the late 60s, HSBC Chairmen Mr. Saunders & Mr. Sayer were driven around in a greyish green giagantic Rolls, believe to be a Phantom V - rear doors opening from the middle, but the boot was shorter than the Governor's car. 

Once, the Chairman Rolls got stucked at the 90 degree bend at the end of Severn Road, The Peak, below the Kirkendoa.  The door on the right was severely damaged when the chauffeur opened it to try to see how he could break free. No one was hurt. We don't know what happened to the chauffeur & the Rolls afterwards!

When the Governor Sir David Trench visited the neighbourhood, he used the Crown Humber (not the big old humber limo of his fleet, but the normal size one). 

  

Submitted by corniche on Wed, 2012-08-01 04:28.

Dear David,

I am very interested in this car, pics, drawings etc. As I am working on all complete register on the series V and VI.

Please sent me ur mail and i will contact You

regards  Hans  (cipresfelix@hotmail.com)

 

 

Submitted by QF787 on Mon, 2013-12-16 12:12.

Thanks I have this photo.

If anyone has others they would be greatly appreciated.

Bob

Submitted by moddsey on Mon, 2013-12-16 18:49.

Some more photos here and here

Submitted by harryhktc on Fri, 2013-12-20 05:44.

Since the 1970's The Peninsula has had a fleet of dark green RR Phantoms. I often wonder what happens to them when they are 'retired'.

Submitted by morganwwf on Tue, 2015-11-03 09:03.

hi John and David, 

Since I am working on a research project on the where about of this last RR of the governor, I found your post. And seems like almost all, which is not much, info online that I can find regarding this RR is generated from thie post.

Since I am really eager to know more about this RR, personally I have contacted  The Royal Yacht Britannia, and Sandringham Museum both in the UK and both musum have on board with a phantom V. Sadly none of them are the 5B7V.

I would really love to get in touch with John and David, especially to have the copies of the original factory build sheets and coachbuilder's drawings for 5BV7 and also if any further info that you know about the RR.

It will be great if anyone have a followup further info for that RR, I would love to be in touch.

I can be reached by here, morgan.wwf@gmail.com

Thanks so much.

all the best, Morgan

Submitted by JSDesignHK on Tue, 2015-11-03 14:31.

Hi Morgan

I have emailed you directly, and look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

 

John

 

Submitted by David on Wed, 2015-11-04 17:06.

Hi Morgan,

John's the Rolls Royce expert here, so there isn't anything useful I can add. But if you find out what happened to the Governor's old RR, please let us know.

Regards, David

Submitted by morganwwf on Mon, 2015-11-09 00:18.

Thanks, I am so happy to get connected with John from here, and I will surely update you when we found anything new and hopefully soon!

all the best, Morgan

Submitted by David on Mon, 2018-04-09 17:12.

For a new Rolls Royce challenge, we have a c.1930s photo of one, believed to have been taken in Hong Kong, that the owner is trying to identify: https://gwulo.com/atom/30064