Lot Ended
Description
Featured
in 1969 film 'Women in Love' ; originally a Flewitt bodied Coupe; now presented
as a Horsefield tourer
Built between 1922 and 1929, the Twenty was
Rolls-Royce's 'small car' for the 1920s and was produced alongside the 40/50
Silver Ghost and the Phantom. The Twenty's introduction 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 Ghost or
Phantom. The car proved eminently suited to town use yet could cope admirably
with Continental touring when called upon, with a top speed of 60mph.
An
all-new 3,127cc in-line six-cylinder overhead valve engine was designed for the
car, the cylinders being cast in one block with a detachable cylinder head. Both
coil and magneto ignition were fitted. The early cars had three-speed gearboxes
with the change lever in the centre, but this changed in 1925 to a four-speed
unit with traditional right-hand change. A torque tube was used to transmit the
power to the rear axle. The substantial chassis had rigid front and rear axles
suspended by half elliptic springs, with braking initially only on the rear
wheels. Four-wheel brakes with mechanical servo were introduced in 1925.
Ordered in
1925 and delivered to its first owner in May of 1926, chassis number GCK44 was
originally from the coachbuilders Flewitt and was given the three-quarter Coupe
body, then later in the car's life it was sent to Horsfield who
changed the body to the handsome Tourer it is today. The car comes
with early copies of factory documents showing the original specification of
GCK44 when it left the workshops and other information giving an interesting
read.
In 1969,
GCK44 appeared with its touring body in Ken Russell's memorable film
'Women in Love' staring Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson, giving a nice
little twist to this Rolls-Royce history. Amongst the file of paperwork is a
letter from Reed’s wife confirming the appearance and a still from the film can
be seen online on the photo gallery here from IMCDB.
The paintwork is a
pleasing ivory and in good order for its age, with just a
few minor blemishes here and there. The interior red leather has
lovely patina and appears either original to the car or at least of some
considerable age. A set of side-screens are stowed in a cubby hole behind the
front seats for winter driving and there is a tonneau cover for when the car is
parked with the hood down.
Under the bonnet the car is tidy and the
engine well detailed, with a Lucas brass oil can sitting in its appointed place
next to the engine. On the dashboard a full set or instruments are found with
the mileometer showing 39,381 miles and to finish the car off it has the lovely
original brass fire extinguisher mounted on the front wing.
Mechanically,
the car certainly runs and drives, having recently had considerable work done on
the engine by Vintage Vehicle Restorations in Shropshire, although we are told
that the carburettors do still need some fine tuning for regular road use.
Contact: [email protected]