1923 Rolls-Royce 20hp Drophead Coupe with Dickey
Original coachwork by Arthur Mulliner of Northampton

Registration No: KK 6350
Chassis No: 74A9
MOT: Exempt

• Original and highly attractive Drophead Coupé with Dickey coachwork by Arthur Mulliner of Northampton
• Notably early example with centre gear change
• Supplied new to Mrs. Nora Chalcraft of Kitcombe House, Alton, Hampshire
• Part of a significant private collection of predominantly Rolls-Royce and Bentley since 2006
• A remarkable four owners from new!
• Purchased as a partially-restored project and brought close to completion over the following two years

Unveiled in 1922, the 20hp was a second string to the Rolls-Royce bow – a smaller, more economical sibling to the Silver Ghost which broadened the marque’s reach to include the very rich as well as the inordinately rich. Distinguished by its horizontal radiator shutters, the newcomer was constructed around a ladder-frame chassis with a 129in wheelbase. Power came from a 3,127cc straight-six, OHV monobloc engine mated to a three-speed manual gearbox. Suspension was by semi-elliptic leaf springs all-round. Braking was initially on the rear wheels alone, while steering was by worm and nut. Progressively updated to feature a four-speed gearbox and servo-assisted all-wheel braking, the ‘baby’ Rolls remained in production until 1929, by which time some 2,885 examples had left the company’s Derby factory. Lighter and more pert than the Silver Ghost, the 20hp was capable of exceeding 60mph.

Chassis ‘74A9’ was originally supplied to the Bridge Street, Northampton, coachworks of Arthur Mulliner to receive its attractive drophead coupé-with-dickey body, while the chassis itself was completed with a raked steering column and nickel fittings. The first owner was a Mrs. Nora Chalcraft of Kitcombe House, Alton, Hampshire. We understand Mrs. Chalcraft died in 1962, which is when ownership of the Rolls-Royce was taken over by John Markham Baldock of Liphook, Hampshire. It changed hands for only the second in time in 1978, when it went to live with Thomas Charles Gill Whitehead of Newton-under-Roseberry in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It remained in Mr. Whitehead’s possession until 2006, when was purchased at auction for the significant Rolls-Royce and Bentley-focussed collection in which it presently resides.

Restoration work had been commenced during Mr. Whitehead’s ownership but was not completed. When it changed hands, work resumed and the Rolls-Royce was restored almost to completion by 2008. The work included recommissioning, rewiring and a respray, but the car never received a new hood. While we understand that the car was driven lightly after recommissioning, the records held (or not held) by the DVLA suggest that it has not been on the road for several decades. The engine turns over but the car is now in need of recommissioning again. The transmission is believed to be in working order but the clutch, steering, brakes and suspension will require attention, and the hood remains to be finished. Altogether, there is not a great amount of work that remains to put this charming Rolls back into use, and it will be wonderful to see it on the rally circuit after so many years out of sight. It is offered with the current V5C, the original buff logbook, copies of Rolls-Royce build records, a 2023 condition report and the 2006 auction invoice.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452