1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sports Saloon by Charlesworth
No Reserve – Entered from the Alyth Collection

Registration No: Un-Registered
Chassis No: GMD56
MOT: Exempt

• Entered from the Alyth Collection, a collection of motor cars kept in storage in Scotland for over 30 years
• Originally fitted with a Watson 'Enclosed Cabriolet' (Saloon) body, but later rebodied with this attractive Charlesworth Sports Saloon body
• A worthwhile recommissioning project with 'oily rag' potential

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 increase of 570cc provided 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, H. J. Mulliner and Hooper were among the many coachbuilders selected to clothe these fine motorcars. 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.

The origins of this charming 20/25 are very interesting, as it was originally bodied by the rather obscure coachbuilder Watson of Lowestoft, with what it called an ‘Enclosed Cabriolet’ (i.e. Saloon) body. Although it remained active as a car bodybuilder until 1937, it ceased attending the Olympia shows after 1930, so it is a surprising that a Rolls-Royce customer should have patronised them, unless they were a resident of Suffolk. Indeed, the ‘ABJ 999’ number plate is an East Suffolk issue. However, very early in its life, it was rebodied as a Sports Saloon by Charlesworth of Coventry, which was then in its prime.

Later history is unknown, as ‘ABJ 999’ disappeared from the D.V.L.A. records many years ago, but some thirty years ago or more it was bought for the Alyth Collection, where it was the oldest resident. Despite its age and disused state, it is by no means in bad shape, and the condition of the upholstery is suggestive of some previous restoration. It will obviously need some light restoration, but it certainly is not a formidable project and would be suitable, perhaps, for an enthusiastic amateur.

There is no paperwork with this lot.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430