Candice
Gangster's Moll
This story tells the life of the 1935 Vauxhall BXL 7 passenger Limousine. An extremely rare vintage car, we are led to believe there are only 9 remaining world wide.
The car was originally supplied by Grahams of Manchester and first registered on 1st January 1935. The first owner was Miss Gwendolen Smith of Windermere, during Miss Smith's ownership the car was embossed with the family crest on both rear doors, Miss Smith was chauffeur driven and the car was well maintained.
In March 1939 the car was purchased by Mr. J. E. Hellen of Conniston, Cumbria for the sum of £100.
Mr Hellen ran the car for private hire until December 1939 when she was stored in a dry warm garage for the duration of the war. Mr hellen returned to the garage in December 1945 and received his first ration of petrol in February 1946; the car was back on the road continuing as a private hire vehicle until 1964, he then returned her to the same garage she had occupied during the war.
The car had remained in the ownership of Mr Hellen for 55 years until he sold her in November 1994 to WASS of Leeds, a Vauxhall dealer who, with the aid of information supplied by Mr Hellen, completely restored her. She stayed in the Vauxhall show room making many appearances at classic shows during the summer.
In May 2003 she was then sold to a vintage car collector in Ireland, before we repatriated her in August 2009. Having carried out extensive renovations, we are proud to say that she is now resplendent in her new livery of primrose and black. She works in tandem with Peggy our vintage Rolls Royce or as a main bridal car in her own right.
