A Century of Classic Cars

Our lives can be cataloged in many different ways. Loves found and lost. Places lived. Memorable travels. The arc of a career.

For Madeleine Pennoyer of Flat Rock, nearly a century of living lends itself to stories almost too numerous to recount. But one constant throughout her life has been a love of exceptional cars. Madeleine was born in England and acquired her love and appreciation of fine cars from her father, Bernard Bradford. She recalls traveling the roads of southern England as a young girl in the family’s pale blue Rolls Royce.

Ninety years later, Madeleine has her own Rolls Royce - completing automotive bookends to an extraordinary life. Here are a few of the classics that filled the time between.

Mercedes 1914

Madeleine’s grandmother Bradford with her chauffeur ca 1914.

Mercedes 1924

Family picnic in the English countryside. Baby Madeleine is not in this photo.

Alfa Romeo, 1928

Madeleine, age 5, with her father Bernard Bradford at the shore.

Rolls Royce 1928

Madeleine, age 5, under the umbrella. The Rolls Royce was a pale blue with dark blue hubcaps. The first, but not the last, Rolls to enter her life.

Rolls Royce 1929

Madeleine shown standing with her mother and two brothers in front of the family Rolls.

Alfa Romeo, 1929

Madeleine with her brother Roy.

Unidentified Roadster ca 1930s

Madeleine’s father in his Stutz

Standing with him is the car’s mechanic, Bartoby.

Bentley

Bernard Bradford behind the wheel.

Rolls Bentley

Mr. Bradford outside the family home, “Belmont”, Eastbourne, Sussex, England.

Railton

Manufactured in Cobham, Surrey between 1933 - 1940

Austin Healy Sprite, 1959

Madeleine owned this car while living in Paris.

MGA, ca 1955-58

After moving to Flat Rock, Madeleine became a member of the British Car Club of Western North Carolina.

Sunbeam Tiger ca 1965

Seen for one season in the opening credits as his “secret agent” car in the Get Smart TV show.

MG - TF ca 1953-55

Production ended in 1955 after 9,602 TFs had been manufactured

Morgan, ca 1967

Hand-built car. Still in production.

MGB, ca 1964-71

Jacquar XKE V12

MGC ca 1969

Commercially unsuccessful and now quite rare.

Rolls Royce is a 1987 Corniche II