Wentworth Lifestyle interviews Emma and Giles Crickmay, joint Managing Directors of Sandhurst-based Frank Dale to discover the world of ‘heritage and modern’ Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars.

First established in 1946, Frank Dale was a specialist Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealer which went on to offer servicing, maintenance and restoration of heritage models. The business moved premises in London as it grew until Giles and Emma relocated to new premises in Sandhurst in late 2019.

Giles explains, “Our last London location was an older property in Brentford, and we found London was generally becoming more arduous in terms of legislation and travel restrictions. We needed a newer, bigger and better operating platform which we found on the Surrey/Berkshire/Hampshire border. After making the move, we managed to retain 99 percent of our London-based clients and we also gained new customers from the local area.”

In the early days of the company, it was a car-sales-driven business and maintenance was more of side show. But when Giles and Emma took over the business from their father 10 years ago, they decided to totally change its focus so that the maintenance/restoration side could grow and prosper alongside the sales business. This double-pronged approach has provided a stable platform for what are essentially synergistic and mutually-dependent businesses.

Servicing, maintenance and restoration

The new Frank Dale headquarters, due to be fully operational in the Spring of 2026 has been

developed into a 42,000 square foot capacity building. It features 18,000 square feet of workshops on the ground floor, another 24,000 square feet of combined space on a mezzanine floor and a show room and office space on the top floor.

In the interim the company is located about 400 metres from the new building in a 14,000 square foot maintenance workshop. The 30 or so cars available for sale are stored nearby until the new building is ready to house them. Emma says, “We will be very happy when we move into the new facility because it has been like running two separate businesses at once; one more akin to a property development company and the other a fast developing car-sales, workshop and restoration company.”

At any one time there is likely to be between 50 and 60 cars under maintenance, many of which will be undergoing restoration, recommissioning or other significant work. They can range in age between four and 110 years old and therefore the workforce is divided into three different teams, pre-war (WWII), post-war and modern/modern classics, each with their own special skill sets and knowledge.

Frank Dale recognises the importance of nurturing the skills of its workforce so that experience and knowledge can be passed on from one generation to the next. Its oldest team member is 62 and its youngest is an apprentice of 19 and in between there are some former apprentices who have remained with the company. Giles understands the importance of this continuity, “It is an investment and you are only as good as your people. We try to make sure our staff are happy at work and well looked after,” he states.

Approximately 50 per cent of the maintenance and workshop business comes from the UK with the remainder coming from overseas. Giles says “We have cars sent to us for works from nearly every continent now. As a British specialist we feel that we are best placed to maintain these wonderful British cars, so if you have a Rolls-Royce or Bentley then send it to us

Generally speaking, there is a migration from main dealerships as modern Rolls-Royce and Bentley models slip out of new manufacturers’ warranty and servicing contracts. It is not only a matter of Frank Dale offering competitive pricing for these cars but also the skill sets that are available to maintain, rather than replace, expensive mechanical components as well as repair interior trim work or coachwork etc.

Sales

From the sales perspective, the values of each car can vary significantly, depending upon their rarity, condition and provenance with some selling for seven figure sums.

“We think you are getting a lot of car for your money” says Emma. “There is a huge amount of comfort for four people, not to mention boot space for luggage in every car we supply.” “It is much to do with lifestyle, and where customers may have owned sports cars they reach a point where they start to seek a little more comfort. There is a lot of power under the bonnet and ladies often prefer our cars or, more and more, to drive them for themselves.” Ultimately, car selection will be a joint decision between partners.

Interestingly, mileage and service history are very important in younger vehicles (less than 30 years old, say), but as cars become older these factors become less significant in terms of value. Instead, the major refurbishments of car body, the overhaul of engine and date of the last repainting start to become more important.

Past celebrity ownership can also significantly affect the value of a vehicle. If a car was previously owned by Princess Diana, Steve McQueen or a famous rock star, for example, then prices can multiply several times. Emma mentions a Bentley formerly owned by one of the Rolling Stones, “It was in a very prominent auction in the UK about 10 years ago and was known as ‘Blue Lena’. It sold for over £700,000 when the model itself without the celebrity ownership probably had a ceiling price of £200,000.” In such circumstances, it seems that individual buyers place more sentimental value of past ownership than actual value.

Repeat business is earned through reputation and Giles explains that it is not unusual to have dealt with a father and then deal with a son or daughter, in view of the longevity of Frank Dale’s market presence. This is assisted by the post-sales experience and ongoing customer service but also the equitable manner in which it treats its customers. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a royal or you are a local builder who has done well for himself, all customers are important to us,” says Giles.

Of course, Brexit has complicated matters for business in the EU, and recently imposed U.S tariffs haven’t helped matters in the sales dept.

Many high-worth individuals will have several houses in different countries, each with their own cars so for the very wealthy it is not really an issue but for those less well-off it can become prohibitive.

Motor shows

Occasionally, if you are lucky, you will come across a vintage or classic car as you drive through England’s leafy lanes. But if you have your heart set on seeing a swathe of such vehicles you will have to attend a specialist event such as the Lancaster Insurance Classic motor show (Birmingham), the Goodwood Revival, the Silverstone Classic or the Masters of Motoring Classic and Sports Car Show (Wiltshire). Each show has its own particular charisma and some feature racing events. If you see a classic Roll-Royce or Bentley specimen at such an event, it is quite possible that at some time Frank Dale will have been involved in its procurement, maintenance or restoration.

The exhibits at these shows are classified in accordance with strict designations but the broadest of these are pre-war exotic, the coach-built cars from the post-war era and modern classics. Pre-war exotic cars describes cars built before 1939-1945. Typically, all components were hand-built, including chassis, coachwork, interiors and engines. They followed the design era of art-deco with long bonnets, sweeping coachwork, exposed wheels and external exhaust pipes. They were made in limited numbers and surviving examples are often highly valued and very collectible because of their rarity. They are driven infrequently but win most of the top prizes at such shows.

The coach-built cars of the 1950s and 1960s provided more comfort and utility, but some still had very exotic bodies. They could be totally bespoke or ‘off-the-peg’ but were typically manufactured for performance, style and elegance. They could have more advanced features such as air conditioning, improved heating, power steering, automatic gearboxes and so on.

Modern classic cars were typically made between the late-1970s and the early 2000s. They are considered collectible because their iconic design, performance, rarity or their cultural impact. They are neither modern nor vintage but have nostalgic appeal to enthusiasts who grew up with them and usually appeal to a younger audience.

Elsewhere in the world, and in the USA in particular, there are many more motor shows. However, there is one event held in Pebble Beach, California annually which is acknowledged to be ‘The Oscars’ of such meetings. It is by far the largest of such events and has been taking place for almost 75 years. Giles is very proud to mention that in 2025 Frank Dale exhibited a 1934 Phantom II Continental which it had restored and the car was awarded second in class in its particular category. It was a real accolade which overshadowed any other achievements at other prestigious shows.

Collectors and investment

The ownership of these cars is not limited to a select group but the highest value models are often acquired by collectors. Giles advises, “We have some clients who have one Rolls-Royce or Bentley and others who have dozens. I would estimate that 25 per cent of our clients have more than one Rolls-Royce or Bentley and that ten per cent have five models or more. We therefore deal with all sorts of clients ranging from major collectors to someone who has strived to own a particular car and is happy in the knowledge that their goal has been achieved.”

Like making investments in any other commodity, it is very difficult to know what will be successful tomorrow, let alone the near future. Pundits will offer their advice and opinions but ultimately it is up to the individual to make their own choices. Giles says “We always tell our clients to buy the cars they love, the ones that make them very happy, and if they appreciate in value that is a bonus. But the basic rules to follow are: buy cars with two doors rather than four; buy open-top cars rather then closed-top cars; buy cars with original bodies and components of unquestionable history; buy cars which have been beautifully restored or are perfectly preserved; and buy cars with low production runs which have beautiful lines. There are exceptions to every rule but generally these tend to work, if followed closely.”

For more information Frank Dale