TRAVELS IN STYLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1305, 18 December 1930, Page 19

TRAVELS IN STYLE

Abyssinian Monarch's English Rolls

QNE of .the latest cars delivered overseas by Rolls-Royce, Ltd., is a Phantom 11 for the King of Abyssinia. It was shipped to Djibouti on the coast, and thence travelled 480 miles up country to Adis-Ababa by a train which, owing to "local conditions," can only be run m daylight. The body is an enclosed-drive landaulette by Hooper. It is soberly finished m royal blue and black, relieved by hairlines of gold. The color scheme was left to RollsRoyce, Ltd. All that the king did insist upon was that the bonnet and dash should be plated. There is, however, one feature which would nttract attention m western surroundings. Built into the back of this otherwise orthodox English body is a special double dickey to accommodate two stalwart members of the king's personal bodyguard — at a considerable height from the ground. I But even this martial touch is relieved by utilising the space underneath it to carry special trunks. A Rolls-Royce mechanic accompanied the car on its rail journey up country and will stay till the royal chauffeurs are au fait with their new charge. This is a rather remarkable instance of the world-wide service available to Rolls-Royce owners. The mechanic was. summoned from Bombay and arrived at Djibouti the day before the