Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; fully restored to an exacting standard and
only 2,400 miles since; idles almost silently; original engine; bespoke
coachwork; glass division; transferable number plate; magnificent in all
respects
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 New
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 3.1-litre 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lever in the centre, but by 1925 this had been replaced by a four-speed unit
with traditional right-hand change.
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. The rolling chassis cost £1,185 to
which the owner would fit a body of his or her choice from one of the many noted
coachbuilders of the day.
Copies of the original
works chassis records show that chassis GVO 58 was first tested on 13 August
1929. A period dyno sheet accompanies the file, confirming that the chassis had
covered 100 miles during the test period and that all was fit and well. The
chassis was dispatched two days later, being sent straight to HJ Mulliners in
Chiswick for a four-light, 7-passenger Weymann saloon body with division, an old
photo on file showing UW 44 as it originally looked (see last
photo).
The original order came via The Car Mart
and was placed on behalf of a Mrs Pauling of Thame. The factory records indicate
a further three pre-war owners and also document that in 1933 the mascot and
radiator cap had gone missing and that a year later the car was returned to the
factory for some crash repairs which included the fitting of a new front
dumb iron.
The next we hear of the car was in the
1970s when it was entrusted to Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists, McKenzie
Guppy, for a chassis restoration. Prior to this, the Weymann body had
disappeared (as did so many fabric saloon bodies of the period), the restoration
work reputedly costing in excess of £40,000.
In
1998 the rolling chassis was acquired by a Mr Francklow of Hereford, by which
point it had been sitting around for a long time and had suffered some frost
damage to the engine.
A retired engineer, he had
always wanted a Rolls-Royce chassis on which to build his own coachwork. His
first task was to repair the engine. The block was sent to South Cerney
Engineering who rebored it and sleeved it back to standard. Bills on file show
that this cost £3,500, with a further £4,750 being spent on a brand new
aluminium head with unleaded conversion from Alden Ltd.
The owner then set about a detailed and comprehensively documented
coachwork building project, amply covered by invoices and a CD of over 350
photos on file. Full-sized drawings were produced for an ‘All-Weather Tourer’
with fixed side-screens. The plans incorporated an extended bonnet – pretty much
to Phantom dimensions which gives the finished car a very different appearance
to a standard ‘short bonnet’ Twenty. The body frame was constructed from
seasoned ash which was then meticulously covered in Prussian blue
fabric.
The level of detail that has gone into
the design and build is extraordinary: cherry wood door cappings and internal
door handles; millimetre-perfect door shuts; gleaming dash instruments; sliding
glass division; charming and musical period 'cuckoo whistle'; butter-soft hide –
all exquisitely executed to a standard that would no doubt satisfy Henry Royce
himself.
An article in the July 2008 issue of ‘The Automobile’
by Michael Ware, when the restoration was mid-way through, extols the
quality of the workmanship, mentioning the ingenious hinged quarter lights and
the intricately engineered hood mechanism which are works of art in
themselves.
The wheels were rebuilt by Richards
Bros of Cardiff in 2002 and subsequently fitted with a new set of 6.00 x 19”
Lester tyres with Waymaster reinforced inner tubes which alone cost £2,112.
Another £11,000 was spent on having the wings, running boards and valance panels
professionally made and painted.
In
late-2013 the finished car was sent to Ristes of Nottingham for a thorough
going-over “to bring it up to a Ristes acceptable standard”. This involved a
full service and tune-up, overhauling the carburettor, the ignition system and
the Autovac plus some careful setting up of the brakes and suspension, the bill
for this lot coming to just under £9,000. The mileage at this point was 82,909
(now 85,294).
The current owner acquired UW 44
via Brightwells in March 2014 (for substantially more than the guide price
suggested here). He has looked after the car meticulously, with bills on file
for another £4,000 in servicing and sorting out some minor snags, all by City
Auto Sense of Stoke-on-Trent.
The large history file contains copies of
the factory build sheets; much technical literature relating to the model; an
original 20hp handbook; copies of the factory workshop manual; parts catalogues;
magazine features; Autovac booklet; correspondence; restoration photos
etc. There's also a plain radiator cap to stop the Spirit of Ecstasy
getting pinched when parked, a battery conditioner and even a pair of
Rolls-Royce cufflinks.
Since the
restoration was completed, this magnificent Rolls-Royce - affectionately known
as 'The Jester' - has only covered some 2,400 fine weather miles and it looks
superb. It has been starting instantly and driving beautifully as we have moved
it around on site, the engine being almost silent from inside the car at
tick-over which makes it hard to know if it is actually running or not.
A ’matching numbers’ Rolls-Royce with unique
coachwork, this outstanding motorcar is on offer here from a deceased estate and
needs to be seen and heard running to be fully appreciated. The icing on the
cake is the original London-issue number plate, UW 44, which is transferable and
no doubt has a substantial value of its own.
It all adds up to a
wonderful package which looks an absolute steal at the humble guide price
suggested so make sure you come and see The Jester for
yourselves!
Consigned by James Dennison –
07970 309907 – [email protected]