1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Cabriolet

Registration No: MS 900
Chassis No: GOS 44
MOT: Exempt

• Fitted with its original Hooper Cabriolet coachwork
• Current ownership since 2012
• Previous engine overhaul with in-line oil filter
• The subject of much expense from 1999 to 2012
• Offered with chassis card records and sundry paperwork

Rolls-Royce introduced the 20/25 in 1929 as a successor to the outgoing 20hp model. Although the newcomer was primarily aimed at owner drivers, many examples were nevertheless sold to customers with chauffeurs. The four-speed manual gearbox featured the manufacturer's traditional right-hand change and was equipped with synchromesh on the top two ratios from 1932 onwards. The substantial chassis sported rigid axles front and rear suspended on semi-elliptic leaf springs. The four-wheeled braking was mechanically servo-assisted. Power came from an enlarged version of the straight-six OHV unit used in the 20hp. Now displacing 3,699cc, it made for swifter acceleration and a higher top speed of up to 75mph. The increased capacity of some 570cc gave useful extra power and allowed coachbuilders of the day to experiment and offer more intricate body styles without impeding performance.

As before, the choice of bodywork for each 20/25 was to the taste of each individual customer, and Freestone & Webb, Gurney Nutting, Park Ward, Thrupp & Maberly, Mulliner and Hooper were among the many coachbuilders selected to clothe these fine motorcars. Usefully faster than its 20hp predecessor, the model remained in production until 1936 by which time some 3,827 had been sold, making it the company’s best-selling model between the wars.

This 1931 Model 20/25 with overdrive was clothed in a 2-door Cabriolet body by coachbuilder Hooper. It is believed to be a ‘1 of 1’ build; in Tom Clarke's book on the 20/25, no other car has the same Hooper body number. It offered 4 seats with a small boot, the body features wind-up windows, the driver’s side front has a Hooper patented rise and fall section to enable hand signals. The chassis record card for chassis number GOS44, refers to ‘MS 900’ being supplied by Clyde Automobile Company Limited, 96-100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow to the locally well-known Macharg, Rennie and Lindsay bound for Miss Isobel K. Mitchell of Craigmount, Kelvinside, Glasgow. The Mitchell family (as Stephen Mitchell & Son est. 1723) were one of the earliest and the most significant Scottish tobacco producers, eventually to merge and become part of Imperial Tobacco. The Hooper Cabriolet was subsequently used by several nieces within the Mitchell family and in turn until sold and taken to the USA in the late 1960s. It was refurbished in that period when the original Black and Grey body was painted Green and the Black leather hood changed for the existing Beige fabric.

Repatriated from the United States in January 1999, ‘MS 900’ came into the possession of its next UK owner via The Real Car Company, the early Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist. Benefitting from restoration work since, it has been enjoyed on rallies in the UK and across Europe, including France, Italy and Switzerland.

Extensive remedial work was undertaken by the vendor to most chassis components while still being used for Rolls-Royce Club events and continental rallies when possible. Brakes were re-lined, auto lubrication rebuilt, complete renewal of wiring, integral direction indicators added, overdrive system manufactured and installed, engine re-bored and rebuilt with an in-line oil filter. New head and valve gear, Michelin tyres, twin tyre side mounts. Believed to be sound, original and unique, this Hooper Cabriolet is offered a current V5C Registration Document on file, copy chassis record card and sundry paperwork.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
[email protected]
07943 584760