Top of the lots of H&H’s forthcoming sale at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in Cambridgeshire on 16 October is this Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, which was previously owned by Hubert Scott-Paine – co-founder of aircraft manufacturer, Supermarine.

Scott-Paine also established the British Power Boat Company, set a Water Speed Record for single-engined craft aboard Miss Britain III (at 110.1mph), and collaborated with Lawrence of Arabia. He was also described by one of President Roosevelt’s senior aides as, ‘the greatest Marine Engineer and Naval Constructor of the era since the steam boat superseded the sailing boat’.

So, this Continental has a wonderful ownership history. The car is interesting, too – it’s one of 281 made, and chassis 77RY was bodied by Hooper & Co as a Sports Saloon. It was fitted with a high compression cylinder head, high-lift camshaft and high ratio, so it could be used for ‘touring at comparatively high speed’. The car comes with an estimate of £160,000-200,000.

Another Continental but of the Bentley variety, is on offer (below). It is known to have passed through the hands of Dr JA Ogilvy and Gerald Poulson Esq before entering the current ownership in 1992. It’s looking good in metallic red with Beige leather upholstery and restored by the vendor as a present for his wife, it sports a guide price of £275,000-325,000.

There’s already a long list of cars confirmed for the sale, for more information, visit www.handh.co.uk