#23UB was bought on May 21st 1914 by 1st Baron George Riddel (1865-1934) of Walton Heath. He was a newspaper proprietor & President of the Royal Free Hospital.

The original body which was fitted to this chassis was a cabriolet de ville by Barker and it was registered LN4474.
Some work was done on the chassis and engine in 1924 but nethertheless, the coachwork deteriorated and it soon found itself in chassis-only form.
It was in this this guise that Fred Buess found it and acquired it in 1997.
Fred decided that an ecceptional body should be made for this chassis and the skiff design, which made Labourdette world famous, was selected. The only documentation was that provided by Labourdette himself in his book. I translated it for Fred and he embarked on the job in 1999. In 2001 the car was exhibited at Pebble Beach where it won its category.

SPECIAL REQUEST : If you'd like to see your RR coachbuilt car posted on this web site next year, please send me a profile jpg (min. width 600 px) and two other shots - preferably 3/4 front and rear views (min. width 290 px). Pictures of the interior are also welcome. You do not need be a Ghost Club member to participate.

Owners' history :

• 1st Baron George Riddell (UK), 1914-1915.
• Secretary to War Office (UK), 1915
• General Sir William Robertson (UK), 1915-1919.
• Fred Buess (Cal), 1997-current.
• James Staley (Cal), 1997-current.