1933' Rolls-Royce 20/25

Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Sunday 10th September at The Chantilly Sale, Château de Chantilly, France, 34 collectors motor cars.

The 1933 Paris Salon de l'Automobile Barker stand exhibit
1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Three-position Drophead Coupé
Coachwork by Barker & Co
Chassis no. GTZ48

-Highly versatile and practical design of coachwork
-Ownership history largely known
-Outstandingly original
-Over €80,000 spent with P&A Wood 2007-2010
-EU registered

The introduction of a smaller Rolls-Royce, the 20hp, in 1922 enabled the company to cater for the increasingly important owner-driver market that appreciated the quality of Rolls-Royce engineering but did not need a car as large as a 40/50hp Silver Ghost or Phantom. The 'Twenty' proved eminently suited to town use yet could cope admirably with Continental touring when called upon. Its successor, the 20/25hp, introduced in 1929, up-dated the concept with significant improvements, featuring an enlarged (from 3.1 to 3.7 litres) and more-powerful version of the Twenty's six-cylinder overhead-valve engine. The revised motor's increased output allowed the bespoke coachbuilders greater freedom in their efforts to satisfy a discerning clientele that demanded ever larger and more opulent designs. Apart from the improved engine, early 20/25 chassis were identical to those of the last 20s, both models being produced during 1929. Thus the 20/25 inherited the right-hand gearchange lever and servo-assisted brakes introduced on its predecessor for 1926, as well as Phantom-style vertical radiator shutters. Produced contemporaneously with the Phantom II, the 20/25 benefited from many of the features, such as synchromesh gears and centralised chassis lubrication, developed for the larger model, and would become the best-selling Rolls-Royce of the inter-war period.

This 20/25 carries three-position drophead coupé coachwork by Barker & Co of London, one of the finest of all British coachbuilders and a firm associated with Rolls-Royce from the latter's earliest days. This is a supremely versatile and practical type of body, providing enclosed, semi-enclosed or open accommodation, and one that consequently is highly prized. Some designs, though, are let down by a hood that sits uncomfortably proud of the body when folded down. In this case, however, Barker's designers have provided sufficient room within the body so that the hood sits perfectly flush. Few would dispute that this is a spectacular work of coachbuilding, with its elegant flowing lines, sweeping wings, and subtle dip aft of the doors to accommodate the retracted hood.

Rightly proud of its achievement, Barker chose to display 'GTZ48' on the company's stand at the 1933 Paris Salon de l'Automobile. The accompanying copy build sheet is headed 'Barker – Paris Show', and states that the car was intended for use in 'UK and Continent'. Also on file are two original press photographs taken at the 1933 Paris Salon and stamped on the reverse by Barker. The Paris show took place shortly after the car's completion in October 1933, and on 1st November 'GTZ48' was sold to Captain Francis Purchas of Steyning, Sussex, its original registration being 'PO 8383'. Captain Purchas was formerly an officer of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers (the regiment was disbanded in 1921); his name is engraved on the base of the car's 'Spirit of Ecstasy' mascot.

Around 1975, 'GTZ48' was purchased by Jim Denne, proprietor of West Hoathly Garage in Sussex. At that time the Rolls-Royce belonged to a gentleman in Eastbourne, Sussex – possibly its first owner – and was still completely original, even down to the paintwork and interior. After several years of persistent persuasion, the next owner – a prominent private collector and connoisseur – was able to buy the car from Jim Denne. He then commissioned West Hoathly Garage – long-established Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists – to carry out a gentle and sympathetic restoration. The mechanicals were overhauled wherever necessary and the car repainted, while the beautiful original interior was left untouched. An overdrive unit was fitted at this time.

Forming part of sizeable collection, the Rolls-Royce saw limited but regular use, including occasional tours of the Continent, and was, of course, carefully maintained. Following the death of its owner, 'GTZ48' remained off the road for some ten years before being professionally re-commissioned and sold at auction in 2005, the rest of the collection having been dispersed. In more recent years the car has benefited from the expert attention of marque specialists P&A Wood, as evidenced by bills on file for the period 2007 to 2010 totalling nearly £70,000. Today the odometer reads a believed genuine mileage of only 87,000 miles from new. The history file also contains correspondence, a UK V5 registration document, and the aforementioned copy build sheet, etc. Housed in the boot lid, the almost complete set of original tools is particularly worthy of note. Supremely elegant and outstandingly original, this is one of the best pre-war Rolls-Royces we have seen in recent years.