Rolls Royce cachet

Adlai Pennington got a real bargain when he purchased this classic • By Richard Greene

If you pulled into almost any parking lot of almost any Readers may recall that I’ve featured a couple of other size 50 years ago with a Rolls-Royce like this 1978 Silver Adlai’s cars that he keeps in his garage/warehouse/mancave Shadow II, it is entirely likely that you would have the car on his property tucked away in a wooded area along a nearby with the greatest prestige and the most expensive of them all. stream.

What if you encountered a Cadillac owner, you may ask? Recalling how his collection is arranged bumper to bumper The GM fagship in the 1970s could be had for about $10,000. and door handle to door handle, I asked him if there was According to the big insurer of classic cars, the Hagerty space for this new addition. “Oh yes,” he assured, “there’s Insurance Company, a Rolls would cost you more than six room for this one, too.” times that amount. Or, somewhere north of $280,000 in He went on to say through his afable smile, “I’m thinking today’s dollars. about holding a one-man car show someday. It will require

So, when classic car collector Adlai Pennington made this some doing since most of my cars haven’t been started in a vehicle number 25 in his very eclectic collection of cars that very long time and some of them will require towing, but I’ve he keeps in just the condition he fnds them, he was able to got what is needed to do that, too.” say that he had an exceptional example of a classic from fve I hope he is serious because such an event would reveal a decades ago. car collection like no other – all of his cars are one-of-kind, and

Adlai Pennington stands with his 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, which was acquired at an auction during the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event.

SO, HOW much did Adlai Pennington pay for this classic Rolls at auction? A nifty $11,000.

he should expect ofers from other enthusiasts who would like to take some of them of his hands.

His response to such a suggestion will leave any would-be buyers disappointed: “I’m a buyer, not a seller.” Even though he doesn’t drive many of them very much, he gets a lot of enjoyment from having them, all while learning their histories and imagining what their original owners were like and what were their plans for how they would use them. It wouldn’t take too much guess work for this Rolls- Royce, as whoever frst purchased it did so for its stunning luxury for the era, as well as cachet that would certainly turn heads. Adlai’s acquisition of the car occurred unexpectedly at an auction that took place during the world-renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event. “I was there to watch with no intention of buying anything,” he

This 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II is vehicle number 25 in Adlai Pennington’s eclectic collection of cars that he keeps in just the condition he finds them.

says. “When this Rolls took the stage, the auctioneer declared that its owner had spent $60,000 restoring it to top condition inside and out

and under the hood. So, he announced, ‘We’ll start the bidding there.’

“No hands went up, so ‘What about $50,000,’ and still, no hands, and that went on until the asking price for the no-reserve auction entry reached $10,000. Then there were two bidders at that price, and they raised the price another $500, and when the guy with the gavel asked for $11,000 both of them dropped out. So, I raised my hand, the hammer fell, and I had bought it!”

Hagerty puts the value on the mid-1970s Rolls-Royce vehicles today (depending on their condition) around the mid$20,000 range, so Adlai did really well in his spontaneous purchase. Really nice ones that have been restored and mechanical issues solved like this one are worth even more.

After the auction was over, the owner, apparently depressed it didn’t sell for a lot more, approached him and ofered to buy it back for $25,000. Not being sure of why he would want to do that, it really didn’t matter.

Adlai, as we learned earlier, isn’t a seller.

We’ll let you know if and when that one-man car show ever gets scheduled. You won’t want to miss it.

HOME SWEET! HOME

This elegant abode was built to last, built to impress and built to be enjoyed

This month’s featured house, located in Arlington’s Forest Hills neighborhood, is an elegant retreat that is on the market and listed by The Brandee Kelley Group. As it was the builder’s personal home, no expense was spared in the quality of construction – but you probably guessed that already, given the 12,000-word testament found on this and the ensuing page.

The 6,530-square-foot dwelling anchors .33 acres and features four bedrooms; six and a half baths; marble fooring with brass inlays in the foyer and master bath; wood in the formal areas, family room, kitchen and master bedroom; tile in most wet areas; and carpet in the secondary bedrooms. The staircase pictured on the opposite page in the upper right-hand corner has hand-forged brass and iron railings and is illuminated by a 14-carat gold chandelier from Paris. Indeed, the stunning architecture, elegant fnishes and breathtaking views will captivate you at every turn of this spectacular estate. Designed for an executive’s lifestyle with entertaining in mind, the home showcases dramatic ceiling treatments, European light fxtures, intricate moldings, striking cast stone balconies and freplaces. The aforementioned grand staircase in the foyer opens to elegant formal areas and the family room, which overlooks the private backyard, covered veranda and pool.

Multiple entertainment spaces include the media room, game room with built-ins, and a spacious, second-foor landing with a seating area. There’s a cofered ceiling in the study (also pictured on the next page), and there’s a craft room or artist studio with a sink. All bedrooms boast en-suite full baths and walk-in closets.

For information about this magnifcent dwelling, contact The Brandee Kelley Group’s Listing Coordinator Debi Campbell at 817-233-5731 or email homes@brandeekelley.com.

Photos courtesy of The Brandee Kelley Group

Here are highlights of the interior and exterior of a Forest Hills neighborhood dwelling that was originally owned by its builder. It’s little wonder, then, that every inch of the home boasts of style and craftsmanship.

A LOT TO LOVE, INDEED

Mansfeld’s The LOT Downtown introduces new ways to engage the community

After COVID put the kibosh on the spring and summer We, like so many businesses and people throughout our nation have entertainment season, members of the board of been fnancially impacted from the COVID pandemic. As a non-proft Mansfeld’s The LOT Downtown have been working organization, we run a very streamlined operation with so much of our diligently with local performers to return musical artistry – and operational budget funded through grants, sponsorships and tips from revive enthusiasm among local residents – through the “A LOT people gathering at our venue ... With so many small businesses impacted to Love” Streaming Series available on the venue’s website, by the pandemic shut down, as well as the City hotel occupancy tax thelotdowntown.com. funds being cut, we simply do not have the budget to provide any live

“The name, of course, is a play on our name but also an entertainment events in 2020 ... ode to Mansfeld because we feel like there is a lot to love As the economy begins to open back up and we look forward to 2021, in our community and we want people to show it with we hope that we can deliver on our mission and the community will #ALOTtoLoveMansfeld,” says an ofcial statement from The join us in supporting to continue to provide arts and entertainment to LOT’s board prepared especially for Arlington Today. Here are Mansfeld at The LOT. Our goal has always been to provide free events other highlights from the statement: for the whole community – with no tickets or assigned seating in place

As schools and businesses and restaurants and bars start to open back – we accommodated everyone. With our current conditions of limited up, we still take our guidance from Tarrant County health ofcials in group events, we have devised a way to provide limited free ticketing with regards to attendance at these large events, protocol, etc. For this reason, sectioned lawn space to provide ample social distance as well as other the streaming events were the best way to follow the guidance and precautions such as sanitizing stations throughout the venue. With these fnally to provide music and entertainment for the community without new safety precautions in place and with several rental events already prolonging a hiatus. We were designed to be a Live Outdoor Theatre hosted at The LOT with other organizations, we’ve created a future model for the community, and we’re doing our best to continue our mission to for successful operations of the venue. not only give our community a quality show, but also to provide a safe “The LOT to Love Streaming Series” has been our immediate way environment for EVERYONE.” to pivot to supporting musical arts working with local artists to help As always our venue is available to be rented by other organizations promote their music and even our other local neighbors by featuring their and entities for their own private events, but during this unique time, businesses. Additionally through rentals, we’ve been able to support being a large, open, outdoor area equipped with a stage in the middle of musical acts of all types including recitals from local dance companies, the community is an asset. In addition to rentals, we are also co-hosting full-scale theatrical productions from local high schools like The Oakridge smaller events to provide an opportunity for our community to come School and other community partners like the Kiwanis Club. By together during these difcult times. Since September we’ve partnered with providing them a centralized location that’s outdoor with proper social the local YMCA branch at Cooper Street (who was sufering from a large distancing and safety measures in place, we’re still continuing to act on decrease in membership) to provide a free workout weekly called, “A Lot our mission to continue to provide arts in the community that The LOT to Love Wellness Series, presented by Baylor Scott and White Orthopedic was founded on. And of course, with hopes for 2021, we’re hoping to give – Arlington.” Participants sign up for a “spot” to get an outdoor workout promise to local performers, up and coming and established, a place to from a trained professional and a free membership to the YMCA ... play very soon.