The Vivian Frederick Seal Rolls Mystery.(upd. circa1920 Daimler Type 45 with dummy radiator)

Hello James Cannons

I am interested in cars owned/run by Malcolm Campbell. Do you have a record of the cars driven by your grandfather for Malcolm Campbell? Any photos dates etc would be of extreme interest.

I´m Sorry Mr. Cannons but this car Isn´t a Hispano-Suiza. The bonnet and the steering wheel with five arms indicates a Daimler and never were used in any Hispano-Suiza of any production year

As other correspondents have said, a large Daimler, probably a 30hp, from 1919-20. The bonnet and wheels are clearly Daimler. I think the 'mascot' is in fact part of the background, not the car, as it seems to be behind the railings.

Hello,
I am James Vivian John Cannons and my mother was Winifred Annie Seal and we are both direct descendants of Vivian Frederick Seal who was a chauffeur before and between the two world wars. The picture of him at the wheel was during a time when we was employed by a Middle Eastern potentate and the car is a Hispano Suiza. The photo has been in the family all of my life (76 years) and whenever it was brought out (usually at family gatherings) it was always referred to as "Grandad driving the Hispano Suiza".

I have come to the view that it is a dual-cowl Daimler. Although the radiator looks highly suggestive of a post 1913 RR, the irons at the front have far too sharp a radius for a RR or an HS, but they are right for a Daimler, as is the fluting at the base of the bonnet cowl. The curved profile of the bonnet, seen at its junction with the scuttle, would be odd from an angular radiator such as an RR, but, again, fine for a Daimler. The radiator cap looks very unlike the flying stork of HS, but closer to the Spirit of Ecstasy. Even, so there are problems of positioning, etc. and the cap itself is darker. Is it a one-off? The major challenge for an ascription to Daimler is the badge in the centre of the radiator, which looks very RR-like. The characteristic fins of the Daimler radiator must have been lost in the bright light. The background suggests someone's South Coast: either the French Riviera or Bournemouth or Devon (those palms). It could, at a pinch, be somewhere in India, but the road looks too tidy.

C1920 Daimler Type 45. Appears to have a dummy radiator shroud (curved top), badge and mascot, which looks suspiciously like RR at first glance. Cheers

I can say for sure it isnt a Hispano-Suiza nor a Rolls-Royce. I would bet maybe in a frech car like Lorraine Dietrich or a Belgium car like Minerva, Daimler is also a good hint because of the radiator, type of body and fenders.

It is a Daimler. Distinguishing characteristics are while the radiator not that clear the bonnet shape is. Plus the type of wheel centres & the clincher the steering wheel.

Marcus Garvey = passenger?

I'm quite positive that it's a Daimler. The year could be 1919, but somewhat earlier is possible too. In my archive I have a 1914 ad with a similar front. Unfortunately the quality is poor, so maybe somebody can come up with a good image?

The family tradition is that it is a Hispano-Suiza

Seems like a great Daimler sleeve valve

Dear prewarcar: one thing is clear: it is clearly not a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sorry!

Hello

This isn't a RR.A Daimler perhaps, but certainly not a Silver Ghost.See the radiator(and chassis)!

Malcolm Campbell owned a 1913 Silver Ghost 8CA. It is shown on pages 688 and 689 of "The Edwardian Rolls-Royce". However, while very similar, it differs in several small details from the one you show. So either he also owned a postwar Silver Ghost or 8CA received some minor modifications.