Descrição
A handsome, early example of a 20/ 25, having vintage character and style, but with the benefit of the larger engine when compared to the 20hp, and coupled with the fact that the car is fitted with overdrive, it really is a useable car, much more relaxing when cruising than if to standard specification. The car is spacious, finished in black and pale grey (although looking more like ivory in some light conditions), with really excellent blue leather interior, and fresh headlining and carpets. Notable touches include a lovely set of instruments, P80 ‘bullseye’ headlights, and a trunk with fitted suitcases. Driven over 100 miles to us. Currently registered in Ireland (ZV 4501), the car can be transferred to any EEC country without incurring VAT, but we can also offer it UK registered as DV 4035. A charming car, running well and MoT tested until December 2024.
See video on our website
Chassis No. GXO97 Reg No. DV 4035
Snippets: Putman to Putnam
GXO97 was purchased by James Putman (1874/ 1957) - a champion cyclist whose business interests varied from Putman Tents who during WWII supplied Aero Hangers to the RFC., Bessemar Engineering, Cubbitt Engineering (he swopped factory space for shares in Cubbitt Cars), breeder of Friesian cattle & champion horses, newspapers, Gunter’s Catering & was also a share-holder in Rolls-Royce! Various documents show that the family surname was often mis-spelt and in some cases when mother & daughter competed against each other in horse shows! The properties that he lived in included Farringdon House which consisted of 10, 000 acres and 7 farms – here he bred cattle and reared horses including Pink Carnation (Champion Hackney), Punt Gun & Shell of Gold both which ran in the Grand National. James & his family preferred driving Rolls-Royce cars usually painted in his racing colours of navy & magenta (apart from during the war), the family had 3 chauffeurs Smythe, Coombes & Hagar. Guests at Farringdon included Sir Alfred Munnings whose painted a miniature of James’ wining champion bull which is displayed on the wall of Queen Mary’s Dolls House in Windsor! Haydon Hill House was their first home and whilst living there the Putman’s opened Putnam House for young unmarried mothers. During WWII the Ministry of Home Security purchased Farringdon House plus 1 farm and some 90 acres for £20, 000, this was then used to house members of the RAF & Polish Air Force due to its proximity to Exeter Airport. After WWII James and his wife Violet bough Delph House in Dorset where GXO97 & his chauffeur, Anderson, relocated to. Being a keen gardener the Putman’s created a 15acre garden with input from the gardeners at Kingston Lacey, Stour Head & Compton Acres. The chassis cards show that from 1935/ 41 the car was with Geoffrey Norman Grinling served in North Africa during WWII, it is thought that GXO97 was purchased to replace his earlier Rolls-Royce which was destroyed by fire at Ramhurst Manor in 1934. The 3rd owner was Cecil E. S. Barclay, whose family tree can be traced back to the 1500s, he kept GXO97 until 1954 when it was sold to Lt Col Frank Steward Ramsay who after passing out at Sandhurst in 1920 spent 5 years with the Iraq Levies and was awarded the King Feisal’s Iraq medal for his services, during WWII he was a PoW from 1940/ 5 in Germany.
