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Diane Brandon still owns her first new car, a 1965 VW sunroof sedan. In February 1980, she drove her 1957 Bentley S 3,730 miles in just over three days from Toronto to Portland, and the car served for over 200,000 miles as her daily driver, never failing to proceed and racking up a few awards of its own at Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club judged events. She has owned several vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars and has driven every chassis type of both marques from earliest model years through the 1980s and road-tested and reviewed most of the new models as they have been introduced. For decades, she served as a member, publications editor, officer, judge, and chaired many tours and events in the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club and the Classic Car Club of America. From 1984 through 2006, she was on the R-R and Bentley judging team at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Last year she re-joined the team and this August will be on the 18th Fairway again, judging the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV and V class. Diane researches and writes Rolls Royce and Bentley descriptions for the RM and Gooding auction catalogs She writes and provides counsel on all things Rolls-Royce and Bentley for Sports Car Market, including their semi-annual Price Guide and is a consultant to prospective and current owners of the two marques. I fondly refer to Diane as my Spirit of Ecstacy.
SPONSORS
Want to sponsor the Cars Yeah podcast? Contact us today.
SUCCESS QUOTE
“Honor and appreciate the things in your life by taking great care of them.” – Diane’s Father
PERSONAL CHALLENGE THAT LEAD TO A NEW BUSINESS
In retirement Diane found a way to completely reinvent herself and discovered a way to create a new career and life around her love for Bentley and Rolls Royce.
ENTREPRENEURIAL AH-HA MOMENT
A hiring manager discovered Diane’s interest and love for cars and hired her at a time in her life that she was really struggling. Proof that our avocations can often help with our vocations.
FIRST CAR
1946 Willy’s Jeep that at twelve years old Diane painted it pink. Listen to her interview about another car that was very special and how she found it after someone stole it from her.
CURRENT BUSINESS
Diane writes for RM Auctions, Gooding Auctions, and Sports Car Market Magazine among others.
BEST AUTOMOTIVE ADVICE
Give yourself permission to do what you love and the money will follow.
FAVORITE BOOK
Diane really likes The Rolls Royce Motor Car – Anthony Bird and Ian Hallows
and Bentley, 50 Years of the Marque – Johnny Green
IF DIANE COULD HAVE ONLY ONE COLLECTOR CAR…
Diane wants her 1957 Bentley S back in her garage.
PARTING ADVICE
Don’t procrastinate and buy the very best you can find and afford… you’ll never regret it.
HOW TO FIND DIANE
You can find Diane at onlychildonlywoman@gmail.com
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Diane Brandon still owns her first new car, a 1965 VW sunroof sedan. In February 1980, she drove her 1957 Bentley S 3,730 miles in just over three days from Toronto to Portland, and the car served for over 200,000 miles as her daily driver, never failing to proceed and racking up a few awards of its own at Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club judged events. She has owned several vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars and has driven every chassis type of both marques from earliest model years through the 1980s and road-tested and reviewed most of the new models as they have been introduced. For decades, she served as a member, publications editor, officer, judge, and chaired many tours and events in the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club and the Classic Car Club of America. From 1984 through 2006, she was on the R-R and Bentley judging team at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Last year she re-joined the team and this August will be on the 18th Fairway again, judging the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV and V class. Diane researches and writes Rolls Royce and Bentley descriptions for the RM and Gooding auction catalogs She writes and provides counsel on all things Rolls-Royce and Bentley for Sports Car Market, including their semi-annual Price Guide and is a consultant to prospective and current owners of the two marques. I fondly refer to Diane as my Spirit of Ecstacy.
SPONSORS
Want to sponsor the Cars Yeah podcast? Contact us today.
SUCCESS QUOTE
“Honor and appreciate the things in your life by taking great care of them.” – Diane’s Father
PERSONAL CHALLENGE THAT LEAD TO A NEW BUSINESS
In retirement Diane found a way to completely reinvent herself and discovered a way to create a new career and life around her love for Bentley and Rolls Royce.
ENTREPRENEURIAL AH-HA MOMENT
A hiring manager discovered Diane’s interest and love for cars and hired her at a time in her life that she was really struggling. Proof that our avocations can often help with our vocations.
FIRST CAR
1946 Willy’s Jeep that at twelve years old Diane painted it pink. Listen to her interview about another car that was very special and how she found it after someone stole it from her.
CURRENT BUSINESS
Diane writes for RM Auctions, Gooding Auctions, and Sports Car Market Magazine among others.
BEST AUTOMOTIVE ADVICE
Give yourself permission to do what you love and the money will follow.
FAVORITE BOOK
Diane really likes The Rolls Royce Motor Car – Anthony Bird and Ian Hallows
and Bentley, 50 Years of the Marque – Johnny Green
IF DIANE COULD HAVE ONLY ONE COLLECTOR CAR…
Diane wants her 1957 Bentley S back in her garage.
PARTING ADVICE
Don’t procrastinate and buy the very best you can find and afford… you’ll never regret it.
HOW TO FIND DIANE
You can find Diane at onlychildonlywoman@gmail.com
I enjoyed Diane’s stories and love for Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. It was so interesting hearing an interview with a Pebble Beach judge, who is a woman who works on her own cars. She is really a unique lady. That 1957 Bentley S is a beautiful car, I see why she loved it so much. It is the sister car to the Rolls Silver Cloud which I think was one of the best cars RR ever made. They are beautiful and stately, and have a air of nobility about them. They are like driving an English County home down the highway! I enjoyed the interview.