Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1929 Rolls-Royce 20/ 25 Tourer
The 1929 Olympia Motor Show car
Estimate
£50, 000 - £60, 000
Registration No: UW 2726
Chassis No: GX026
MOT: Exempt
Matching chassis and engine numbers
Displayed at the 1929 Olympia Motor Show and then supplied new to Alfred Sainsbury of the famous grocery chain
Recently retrimmed interior, new hood, and tonneau cover by David Beswick coach trimming
Bought by the previous owner in 1994 as a restored rolling chassis with the coachwork included
Re-bodied as a four-seater tourer reputedly using a Tony Robinson body
Restoration completed in 1997 and then used on many continental tours soon after
A logical progression from Rolls-Royce's first ‘owner driver' model the 20hp, the 20/ 25hp was introduced in 1929. Near identical to its forebear, at least to begin with, the newcomer enjoyed a greater turn of speed thanks to an enlarged 3669cc OHV straight-six engine. Fed by a single Rolls-Royce carburettor and carrying both magneto and coil ignition, the super-smooth powerplant was mounted in unit with a four-speed manual gearbox (the latter operated via a traditional right-hand change). 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. Progressively developed, the Rolls-Royce 20/ 25hp remained in production until 1936 by which time some 3, 827 are thought to have been sold.
Chassis ‘GXO26’ was displayed at the 1929 Olympia Motor Show and was just the 15th example of the 20/ 25 sold to the public. Supplied new to Mr. Alfred Sainsbury of Queen Anne’s Mansions, W. 1, London, an important member of the famous grocery chain (and was made a director of Sainsbury's when the company became a PLC). Beginning life as a H. J. Mulliner-bodied Weymann Saloon, the original coachwork had long since fallen into disrepair by the time the previous owner acquired the Rolls-Royce in 1994. In fact, at that time the 20/ 25 existed as a well restored rolling chassis with a handsome, but yet to be fitted, four-seater tourer body which is thought to have been crafted by the esteemed coachbuilder Tony Robinson. The restoration project was completed by 1997, with the former keeper subsequently enjoying ‘UW 2726’ on a number of Continental Tours.
As part of the restoration works, the interior was re-upholstered and a new hood and tonneau cover made by David Beswick Coach Trimming costing some £7, 000 in trimming alone. Boasting a dynamo starter and full flow oil filter, the Rolls-Royce is said to possess ‘very good oil pressure’, not to mention ‘a fully functional central chassis lubrication system’. Having had its brakes relined c. 5, 000 miles ago, the 20/ 25 was offered through H&H after twenty-seven years of ownership and sold into the current late ownership for £92, 250 in 2021. Thereafter used and enjoyed by the late vendor alongside his other classic cars, the 20/ 25 is accompanied by copies of the RREC chassis card records, a collection of invoices and previous MOT certificates, and a current V5C document. A very pretty Tourer bodied 20/ 25, and boasting matching numbers chassis and engine number, the example offered here takes some beating.
