In memory of Phillip Mann

Published: 01/07/2020

It is with considerable regret that we convey to you the news of the sad demise of another former FIVA President, Phillip Mann, who died in Switzerland aged over 100 years. Not only was he the president of the Vintage Sports Car Club from 1969 to 1971, he was one of FIVA’s pioneers, already serving the FIVA Committee in the early years. Between 1972 and 1977 he was FIVA’s second President.

The third of four brothers, Philip was born into the post-WWI period of Spanish flu and died just as Covid-19 is creating a similar crisis - neither of which affected him though. Educated at Harrow, Philip Mann had an early fascination with technical matters, nautical, aeronautical and mechanical. After school he had an MG M-Type, though by the early 1950s, he had a Bentley, a Red Label Vanden Plas-bodied 3-litre, which was to be his main family car for the next ten years. This always perfectly turned out car (a winner at Kensington Gardens Concours) was to be the catalyst for Philip's vintage car interests and involvement.

With a rather eclectic taste in cars, the Bentley was soon joined by a 1908 Sizaire-Naudin, a 1908 Hillman Coatalen, a 1922 Grand Prix Sunbeam, a 1926 137 Bugatti, a 1924 Alfa Romeo RL TF, and the Brooklands 1919 Straker-Squire. But most important of all was the 1914 Grand Prix Mercedes that had been left behind in the UK after WWI, and that he restored to former glory.

Living between Florida and Switzerland, he found time to publish a book on porcelain military figurines (which he also collected). He maintained his interest in cars, and was driving up to the age of 95, before passing away at his home in Montreux with his daughter and a son present, lucid to the last.