Monday’s auction of the famous Rolls Royce that the late Jesús Gil once turned into a symbol of his unusual ostentatious form of local government was not without its own curious twist. The luxurious vehicle the former mayor used from 1992 for everything from his own transport to taking a couple of newlyweds for a ride around Marbella, has finally changed hands: from Gil to Franco.
This is the name of the firm from Castellón that won the vehicle in the auction on Monday with a bid of 39,205 euros, above the starting price of 34,650: Grupo Franco Obras y Proyectos owes its name to the director, Alejandro Franco, although in reality there is no connection with the late dictator nor with Gil himself. “I am not aware that he knew him; I can safely say that he didn’t”, said Víctor Escuder, the lawyer who acted on behalf of the buyers, a construction firm from La Salzadella.
The lawyer was quick to deny theories that the firm had bought the car out of a possible admiration for the late Marbella mayor. “We wanted to make an investment and the price seemed reasonable, what’s more cars are one of the boss’s passions”, explained Escuder. In fact he added that they learned of this “bargain” souvenir of Gil’s time in Marbella on the internet.
He also played down the significance of what the Rolls Royce has stood for over the years. “It will always be impregnated with this political symbolism, even if we painted it pink”, joked the lawyer after the auction, in which his firm outbid two private individuals, one from Badajoz and the other from Almeria. The lawyer added that once the paperwork had been dealt with and the car touched up, it would be used for business - “for presentations” - and even for pleasure.
Social projects
Meanwhile the current Mayor, ángeles Muñoz, has announced that the nearly 40,000 euros made in the transaction would be spent on social projects. She expressed her satisfaction that the car had finally been sold, especially after no suitable bidders came forward in the first auction attempt.
Just like most things connected with Marbella Town Hall’s ‘GIL era’ the Rolls Royce has had its dark period. For several months, while Marisol Yagüe was mayor, the vehicle “disappeared”. It was later discovered that during this period it had been “parked” on the estate belonging to a businessman involved in the Malaya corruption case.
