Lot Ended
Description
In good running order with a vast history file; recently completed a
1,000-mile tour of France; ex-Glasgow Motor Show car
This
delightful Rolls-Royce 20hp comes with a vast history file extending back
many decades which would take hours to digest so we can only cover the
briefest details here. Copies of the factory build sheets show that the chassis
(GTM2) was completed in August 1928 and was then sent to Hoopers to be fitted
with Saloon Limousine coachwork (no. 7094), the car subsequently being displayed
at the Glasgow Motor Show.
The V5C and various
old logbooks show that it was first registered in London in June 1929, passing
through the hands of five owners until 1939 when the Hooper body was removed and
it was rebodied as an ambulance, seeing service in London throughout the Second
World War. In 1946 it was fitted with its present Windovers Sedanca de Ville
coachwork taken from Rolls-Royce 20/25hp chassis no. GXO81.
It then had a succession of 12 owners from 1946 – 1967 when it was
acquired by an RREC member, Mr CE Smith of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who was to keep
it for the next 43 years. Just prior to Mr Smith’s ownership the engine was
completely rebuilt by Adams & Oliver of Huntingdon in October 1965 when the
odometer was showing 61,630 miles and it has only covered 24,500 miles since.
Mr Smith looked after the car assiduously during his long ownership, as
evidenced by many dozens of invoices on file, 40 old MOTs showing that it was
always in light regular use. He also kept a detailed log of all the servicing
carried out to the car and had the bodywork restored, as shown in photos on
file.
Mr Smith eventually sold the car via
Bonhams in 2010 when it was showing just over 79,000 miles and it has covered a
further 7,000 miles in the hands of two owners since. The first of these was a
Mr G Morgan of Llanidloes who kept the car for six years, sending it to Norman
Woolfenden Motor Engineers of Skelmersdale in 2011 for a comprehensive overhaul
to attend to any issues, as detailed by invoices on file. It went back to the
same company for a further bout of fettling in 2014.
Our vendor acquired the car from The Real Car Company of Bangor in
2016 (for significantly more than the guide price suggested here) and has
continued to look after it well, including a thorough service and chassis
lubrication by Rolls-Royce specialist AJ Glew of Moreton-in-Marsh in December
2019. In the summer of that year the car also successfully completed a 1,000
mile tour of France, including a trip to visit friends in Nantes and joining an
RREC tour of Brittany on the way home, the car behaving impeccably throughout
despite the very hot weather. It has been reliably used on other RREC events
since.
As you can see in the photos, GTM2
has a nicely mellowed patina throughout and is equipped with a near-side-mounted
spare wheel, fold-away cover to the front compartment, glass division and dummy
pram hood irons at the rear. Delightful features abound, including nicely
engraved door handles, a period spotlamp mounted below the driver’s door mirror
and wheel discs all round. All the important tools are present and the car also
comes with an original handbook, much useful technical literature and a few
historic photos.
Starting promptly and running
almost silently as we have moved it around on site, this wonderful Rolls 20 has
bags of character and now only needs a caring new custodian who can add their
own chapter to its long and well-historied life to date.
For more information contact James on
07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com