Description
1929 ROLLS ROYCE 20/ 25HP WEYMANN SALOONCoachwork by H. J. Mulliner & Co. LtdSupplied by Jack Barclay Registration No: GK 2467Chassis No: GDP-60Engine No: Q2PA distinguished and particularly characterful example of the Vintage-era Rolls-Royce, this 1929 20/ 25hp Weymann Saloon combines elegant coachbuilt styling, a fascinating ownership history and an impressive record of vintage motoring achievement. Constructed by the renowned H. J. Mulliner & Co. Ltd, its lightweight Weymann sports saloon coachwork lends the car a distinctive appearance, while its beautifully appointed interior evokes the comfort and refinement of a bygone age. Introduced in 1929 as the successor to the 20hp, the Rolls-Royce 20/ 25hp represented an important development in the marque’s history, bringing the company’s celebrated engineering and refinement to the increasingly popular owner-driver market. Its enlarged 3. 7-litre, six-cylinder overhead-valve engine offered improved performance, while the chassis benefited from many of the engineering refinements developed for the larger Phantom II. Produced exclusively with coachbuilt bodies, the 20/ 25hp would become Rolls-Royce’s best-selling model of the inter-war period. Built in 1929 and first registered in 1930, chassis GDP-60 was originally owned by Mrs Lilley of the Lilley & Skinner footwear family, who retained the car for approximately nine years. In a letter preserved within the history file, her son, James Lilley, recalled that his father had purchased the Rolls-Royce for his mother, who drove it frequently before eventually exchanging it for a new Rolls-Royce through Jack Barclay. The car’s subsequent history is equally intriguing. Correspondence from Jack Barclay Limited, of Berkeley Square, includes references to work undertaken on the starter motor in 1950, together with details of the car’s earlier ownership, including its acquisition by Colonel Haynes in 1939. Further correspondence from H. J. Mulliner & Co. Ltd, alongside London County Council records documenting ownership between 1930 and 1959, provides valuable insight into its early life. During the 1960s, the Rolls-Royce crossed the Atlantic to America before returning to the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The accompanying archive includes a photocopy of the original 1929 purchase invoice, a copy of the RF60 registration document, correspondence concerning its re-registration in Britain in 1989, historic MOT certificates, old tax discs and sundry invoices. The car is also featured in Lawrence Dalton’s 'Those Elegant Rolls-Royce' on page 146. Beyond its historical interest, GDP-60 has established an enviable reputation on the vintage motoring scene. It completed the Gordon Bennett Rally on three consecutive occasions, finishing fifth overall in 2016 and receiving the award for Best Overseas Entrant, before winning the event outright in 2017. These achievements underline the car’s suitability for long-distance vintage motoring and add a particularly appealing sporting dimension to its provenance. The interior is one of the car’s most endearing features, being sumptuously upholstered and possessing the atmosphere of a traditional drawing room. This sense of domestic comfort, combined with the craftsmanship and understated grandeur of its period coachwork, provides a wonderfully evocative reminder of an era when motoring was an altogether more leisurely and considered affair. Since its acquisition in 2018 by the previous keeper, expenditure totalling just over £5, 500 was incurred, including attention to the steering, brakes, axle and kingpins, together with the fitting of new tyres. The current keeper has continued with the investment in this fine motor vehicle and testament to that is the presentation and mechanical prowess of the vehicle as herein offered. The car starts and runs beautifully. Following periods of limited use as a museum exhibit, however, some recommissioning should be anticipated before it is returned to regular road use. With its distinguished Mulliner coachwork, documented early ownership, international history and proven success on the Gordon Bennett Rally, this is a highly engaging example of the Rolls-Royce 20/ 25hp. Equally suited to display, historic motoring events and special occasions, it offers the next custodian the opportunity to acquire a vintage Rolls-Royce with genuine character, an extensive historical archive and a story spanning almost a century. Accompanied by a substantial history file, including period correspondence, registration documentation, historic invoices, MOT certificates and tax discs. Offered at an extremely attractive and market appropriate estimate of £19, 000-£23, 000. This is surely one of the better Rolls-Royce 20/ 25s available.This vehicle is located near from Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 where it will need to be collected. Videos available on request. Viewing is by appointment, please contact the office to arrange.
