Lot details Registration No: GLG 228 Chassis No: GUJ58 Mot Expiry: Dec 2005
Henry Royce's Rolls-Royce `Twenty', which could do 60mph without the expense of a chauffeur, started to appear in the motor houses of the increasingly taxed upper crust from October 1922...times were a' changing. A four-speed, right-hand gear change and, more importantly for client safety not to mention other road users, brakes retarding all four wheels were added from 1925. The first small Rolls-Royce, more manageable and considerably cheaper than the previous Silver Ghost, the new 20hp engine chassis was nevertheless produced to the same high quality and very fussy standards as the 40/50hp flagship model.
A London Olympia Show exhibit in 1927, this Rolls-Royce 20hp was specially furnished with coupe two-door coachwork with dickey seat accommodation for up to five by the craftsmen at the well known Manchester coachbuilders Joseph Cockshoot and Company. We understand that although bodied with what is claimed to be a one-off design from the Northern firm, right-hand drive chassis number GUJ 58 was originally built to accept `Top Hat' style saloon bodywork.
The details of the original 30 August 1927 R-R sales invoice for £1185 to Cockshoot & Co for them to body the rolling chassis for the Olympia Show and supply it to first owner one Harry Lomax Esquire of Hale in Cheshire straight afterwards are included within the car's paperwork, as is a 1957-dated Cockshoot service voucher (after a WW2 making aircraft components, Cockshoot continued only as R-R and Bentley dealers before a 1968 Lex takeover). Happily surviving well and also included with the car are the original handbook, tool kit and keys, and both the mascot and the travel radiator cap.
The current condition of the chassis he describes as being in very good condition as are the bodywork and the burgundy over black paintwork and the red leather interior. The 20hp rated six-cylinder engine and the manual gearbox with four forward speeds and reverse are all reportedly in very good order. Rewired, the electrical equipment is rated by the owner as being very good, whilst the artillery-type wheels are shod with Dunlop tyres, which have been renewed.
In last ownership since 1958, the GLG 228 registered timewarp 1920s Rolls had 55,709 miles displayed on the odometer when entered for this sale and this mileage, extraordinarily little for the year, is believed by the vendor to be the genuine total for the coupe from new. The latest MOT certificate is valid until December and the historic vehicle tax-exempt disc until the end of April next year.
All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.
You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:
If so, contact one of our friendly specialists for your free valuation by completing the form below and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.
If you prefer to speak to humans, don't hesitate to call our office on +44 (0)1925 210035