1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Drophead Coupe

Registration No: US 2763
Chassis No: GTZ 8
MOT: Exempt

• Re-bodied from a limousine into the style of a Gurney Nutting Owen Sedanca
• Offered with an extensive photographic record
• Current ownership since 2012
• Subject to c.£11,500 worth of expenditure with Ristes Motor Company in 2020

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.

First registered on 17^th October 1933, chassis GTZ8 began life as a standard Hooper Limousine to design 5430 with its first owner being a Mr R.A. Murray Esq.. Today ‘US 2763’ (believed to be a Glasgow registration) is clothed in a replacement body in the style of a Gurney Nutting 3-position Drophead Coupe to an Owen design. Externally a very good re-creation of the aforementioned design, complemented by imaginative Black over Red painting and a refreshed interior. Rebodied in c.2003, photographic evidence of the original and ‘dilapidated’ limousine body are present prior to being clothed in a new Sedanca Coupe body by Jack Buckley of Oldham, Lancashire (more specifically the work of the son Duncan Buckley). VAS Co. of Wakefield completed the upholstery c.2004. The owner at the time, a Mr Wilde suffered a stroke and never drove the car, although the car lay dormant awaiting his potential recovery before Mike Abbas Classic Cars, Chorley, Lancashire sold the Rolls-Royce to the vendor in 2012.

A performance upgrade of note is the Rover 2000 SU carburettor which has been disguised as a period carburettor and is said to work well. Meanwhile, the ‘Autovac’ has been left in situ, however, there is a modern electric fuel pump in-line located under the rear seating on the near side. A ‘Tim Payne’ Laycock electrically activated overdrive has been fitted on 4th gear, along with a modern bypass oil filter and a modern fuel gauge, the original gauge remains but is non-functioning. The gear lever and handbrake operate unchanged from the limousine location. Flashing indicators have been fitted with a non-self-cancelling switch.

Mechanically, ‘US 2763’ has seen further improvement work, regardless of the car having done little mileage since its re-body. In 2013 David Wall Vintage & Classic Cars lavished £2,796 of work on the car, which involved all the necessary work to run the car on the correct carburettor and carry out a short road test, remove the Rolls-Royce carburettor, carry out modifications as required and fit the SU carburettor. In addition, there was work to make a manifold to accept the original air cleaner/intake silencer and paint all parts in two-pack Black paint. These were then assembled onto the engine, road tested and adjusted as required, checking for leaks on the central lubrication system. Last serviced some 4 years ago, there is an invoice dated 24^th April 2020 on file from specialists Ristes Motor Company Ltd, Nottingham, showing the labour and materials at £11,492.93. for engine and servicing work. In the vendor’s ownership since August 2012, ‘US 2763’ is offered with detailed photographs of the body conversion and the mechanical overhaul. The Bentley retains its original registration and possesses a V5C Registration Document and sundry paperwork.

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