Page 37 - 2021-Fall-Winter Magazine_LOWRES-spreads_Whitebackground

Spanning nearly a century, the Fanjul-Gomez- The voice on the other end of the line insisted that
Mena family can be found sprinkled throughout the car would not be leaving their hands.
Rolls-Royce’s historical order books. His mother
learned to drive in one while growing up in Cuba For months afterward, Pepe employed every
during the 1920s. She loyally drove models from the negotiating tactic his decades of business had gifted
British marque her entire life—her final spec being him to no avail—until finally striking a lopsided deal.
a 1970s-vintage Shadow. However, her 1958 Silver In exchange for his pristine, ultra-rare, fully restored
Wraith Limousine—inherited from her aunt, the 1953 Rolls-Royce Shooting Brake, plus an additional
Countess de Revilla de Camargo Maria Luisa Gomez- sum, he’d receive the downtrodden Silver Wraith. It
Mena—left a lasting impression on Pepe. The car was was a no-brainer for Pepe; the sentimental value was
sold at one point to a US Army General stationed in priceless. He’d finally achieved his dream.
Europe, and while many double-R badged vehicles
came and went in Pepe’s life, it was his mother’s All was not well, however. The car was far removed
heirloom that he vowed to one day rediscover. from its former glory, only having been driven on
rare weekends to local golf courses, and boasting
It became a life’s mission; unfortunately, fate would years of deferred maintenance. There was only one
be hard to fulfill. The General brought the car back solution—so off the ’58 went to Mallorca to undergo
stateside after his tour of duty, and was eventually the same process its new sibling had completed years
left to his daughter somewhere in California. prior. This presented its own set of problems though,
However, the trail ran cold beyond that, with nary as the ’57 had used up nearly all of the available parts
a service record throughout the country to act as for these particular models. The expense doubled
a clue. Deterred but not defeated, Pepe settled on this time around, but none of it was spared for this
building a tribute as consolation. He procured a labor of love.
nearly-identical 1957 variant, though upon purchase
it was nowhere near the pristine original that All the decades, dreams, and deals had paid off. Pepe
haunted his memories. He commissioned Nofre Alba now had two matching Silver Wraiths that are likely
Mateu, a world-class mechanic/artisan in Mallorca, the only two of their condition in the world. Both will
Spain, to conduct a complete restoration of the ’57— be left to his two children, conceivably never to leave
down to the hand carved wooden interior panels. the family again.
The process would ultimately take two years.
Pepe’s is a tale of both trouble and triumph, and is
Pepe had mostly resigned to settling for his silver ultimately one to which we can all relate. It’s the
medal when suddenly the ’58 resurfaced; registered story of a son’s journey to honor his mother and
with Rolls-Royce by the daughter and her husband reclaim the best days of his adolescence in any
in California. Anxious for the reunion he’d dreamed way possible. May we all be lucky enough to have a
of, Pepe immediately got in touch with the current similar opportunity.
owner by way of a broker. He was met only by
disappointment.

THE PURSUIT OF A PRICELESS LEGACY

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND TRANSPORT YOURSELF back in time As the years have passed, it’s not uncommon to entertain the idea
to adolescence. Back when you would accompany your parents of tracking that car down—or perhaps even buying it, should it
to the store or work. Of all the family vehicles before or since, have escaped a junkyard crusher. Is it a sense of closure we’re
there’s likely one in particular that lingers in memory. Even seeking? Or is it just the eternal pursuit of our lost youth? Even if
today, you can distinctly recall how it smelled; how the blend the journey were undertaken, would we like what we found?
of materials felt on your fingertips; the intricacies of the worn
patina both inside and out. Though there were thousands like it, Jose “Pepe” Fanjul doesn’t have to settle for supposition. It wasn’t
if presented, you’d still know YOUR car in an instant. easy, and it wasn’t quick, but the result was even more gratifying
than he’d ever imagined.
Club Braman Member Jose “Pepe” Fanjul
36 clubbraman.com 37