1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Cabriolet De Ville
Coachwork by Thrupp and Maberly Ltd of London

Registration No: GX 7255
Chassis No: GFT 34
MOT: Exempt
Estimate: £20,000 - £24,000

Motor Car Location: Essex

• Coachwork by Thrupp and Maberly Ltd of London
• First owned by Major-General Sir Miles William Arthur Peel Graham
• Dame Vera Lynn was a previous passenger
• Current family ownership for over 60 years

Launched in 1929, the Rolls-Royce 20/25 was powered by a 3669cc OHV straight-six engine allied to four-speed manual transmission. Usefully faster than its 20hp predecessor, the model remained in production until 1936 by which time some 3,827 had been sold. Capable of supporting a wide variety of coachwork, the 20/25hp's substantial ladder frame chassis was equipped with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension, four-wheel drum brakes and a mechanical servo.

In family ownership for c.60 years and with connections to the 'Forces Sweetheart' Dame Vera Lynn, the very elegant and distinctive Black and Yellow 1931 Rolls Royce 20/25 offered, is clothed in coachwork by Thrupp and Maberly Ltd. Utilising chassis GFT34 and engine number Z3J, the 20/25 was registered as a 'Cabriolet De Ville Closed'. 'GX 7255' was originally in the ownership of Captain (later Major-General Sir) Miles Graham, latterly the Tote Board Chairman. The Rolls then passed to the Onsite Flooring Company. Later purchased in 1960 for £120 in part exchange for a Standard Avon Special from a dealer in Paddington, with instalments being £10 per month for six months. In 1962 the car was sold again, in order to purchase a Mini for General Practice use, however, the Rolls was bought back for the same princely sum of £200 when that owner went to Hong Kong in 1965. 'GFT 34' was also featured in a Rowland Emett painting.

Icon and entertainer Dame Vera Lynn lived in the same village as the vendor and annually attended the Ditchling Village Fair (Sussex) riding in 'GX 7255'. She can be seen with the car in a photograph taken at the Village Fair in 1982. A doctor (GP), he could also be found carrying out his rounds of the Ditchling area, in the car. With recent servicing and a mechanical check (there is a photographic capture of the £2,292.47 invoice), 'GX7255's' story is about to continue with a new custodian. Offered with the driver's handbook, the Autovac handbook, a collection of old MOTs and invoices dating back to the 1960s. Accompanied by an original 1930s 'Buff' logbook and a copy of the chassis card record.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760