Rolls Royce owner for 78 years makes sure his car lives forever

There are a very few individuals in the world who take care of their vehicles and maintain them in pristine condition no matter the lengths they have to go to achieve it. Such is the story of Allen Swift who died in 2005 at the age of 102.

Mr. Allen Swift was the proud owner of a 1928 Rolls Royce Picadilly P1 Roadster that was presented to him as a graduation gift by his father, in 1928. Living in Springfield, where Rolls Royce had its manufacturing plant situated helped with Allen’s ambition to take of his vehicle. The green soft top convertible was meticulously maintained and it received a full body restoration in 1988.

Rolls Royce too played their part, they recognized Mr. Allen Swift as being the longest owner of a Rolls Royce vehicle and presented him with a crystal Spirit of Ecstasy award in 1994. After his death, the car which had logged 170,000 miles (273,588 kms), was left to the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. Mr. Swift also left a $1 million gift to ensure that a new exhibition centre be created to take care of his prized possession and bring forth to the world Rolls Royce’s manufacturing history in that region.

Source: AutomotiveRestoration