Description

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Mann Egerton Limousine

Matching numbers car with original registration; much recent love and attention; new tyres; a well sorted car driven to the sale; sound coachwork with good door shuts; huge value

This impressive Rolls-Royce was first delivered in 1934 to Andrew Agnew, Managing Director of Shell Transport and Trading Company. He kept it until 1937, the new owner, Lt Col James Leigh-Wood working in Banking, passing away in 1945 after which time it changed hands again. A copy of the works build record comes with the car.

A fascinating file of information details subsequent owners, which include Mr Alan Ridsell of York who owned it for some years, a complete excentric who kept it running (with the help of friends) with various bodges and fixes certainly into the 1980s. Another two owners are listed on file, the car ending up as a true 'barn find' on offer at The Real Car Company. They sold it in 2018, the car having passed from owner to owner with little work being done over the years.

They offered it 'running sweetly' but requiring 'considerable renovation'. Luckily for chassis GWE32, its new owner spent considerable time and effort bringing the coachwork back to order, including lots of trimming and cosmetic work witnessed by bills on file, a £1,500 deposit for work to the coachwork and fresh paint which has been done to a good, if not show standard and repolished woodwork inside. The doors now shut nicely with no noticeable sag. By now well into his 80s, he then traded it for something a bit lighter to handle, the car being acquired via a dealer as a 'lockdown' project by the vendor. It is only on offer today because a rather exotic Rolls-Royce Phantom I FHC has arrived in the garage which takes up a lot of space, rendering the 20/25 surplus to requirements.

In his ownership, he has spent a lot of time and effort on the small details, such as fitting correct headlamp lenses and rechroming the rims, a full (five) set of new tyres (the spare has yet to be fitted), a thorough service, including points and plugs, replacement brake drums and a correct period flying lady for the radiator including a steam valve. All oils have been replaced (the engine has had four flushes) including the steering box and the central lubrication system has been fettled to function as it should.

The engine has been flushed of coolant, which included removing the two rear core plugs to make sure there is no sludge inside and the Calorstat has been made to function which operates the shutters on the radiator. In addition, the road springs - so often neglected, have been thoroughly cleaned and lubricated, and carefully wrapped in oil-soaked bandages for protection. The ride is reported to have been transformed. All other moving joints and parts have been cleaned and lubricated to great effect.

The vendor also managed to source a starting handle and shaft, both of which were missing.

It was driven some 30 miles to the sale and has continued to perform faultlessly while onsite. It is a ready starter, hot or cold and runs sweetly on all six, pulling well. The vendor advises that there does not appear to be an cross-contamination of oil and water and the gearbox is a pleasure to use, quiet in operation and synchro on 3rd and 4th work well as do the brakes which pull the car up sharply if needed.

Futher detail supplied tell us that the speedometer works fine but the odometer is not reading, the fuel gauge and interior lights don't work and there is no horn so he has left the new owner something to do. It does however sport a working heater and the wipers work fine, as do the semaphores which have LED bulbs.

Since this work has been completed, the vendor has covered some 4-500 miles which has proved the car's reliability - the vendor adding that every time he goes out it seems to get better and better to drive.

These 20/25s offer tremendous value today, the Rolls-Royce quality making them a total pleasure to own and drive.

Contact matthew.parkin@brighwells.com