Highlights

• 1937 7-seater limousine with Barker Coachwork
• In its most recent ownership for nearly 40 years
• Recently serviced and recommissioned with £2,500 spent
• Black & yellow two-tone paintwork with leather front seats and rear cord bench

The Appeal

The History and Paperwork

• Built in 1937
• Supplied new in July of the same year
• Sold by the Clyde Motor Company
• First owned by J Hay Esquire, Stirlingshire 
• The car was originally painted in blue and black, according to the DVLA
• This was repainted to the car’s current yellow livery  in 1981
• It’s been owned by the same family since 1984
• Over the past five years, it’s been kept in storage, with occasional startups
• In 1998, the car featured on the back cover of Bernard King’s ‘ The Rolls-Royce 25/30 and Wraith’
• The car has been recently recommissioned and serviced, at a cost of around £2,500
• The car currently indicates 24,925 miles on a five-figure odometer
• Sadly we can’t verify this as an authentic reading
• However, it can be verified the car has done less than 1,500 miles since 2006
• The car is long-since MOT exempt and was last tested in 2010
• The car’s paperwork includes:
  • The car’s original order sheet
  • A photocopy of the carriage spring inspection sheet
  • Photocopy of the chassis inspection sheet
  • A photocopy of the Particulars of Order sheet
  • A selection of invoices from 1984 onwards

The Interior

• Tall, spacious interior cabin with seating for seven
• We note the unusual twin-oval rear windows, a rare sight even in 1937
• Leather driver’s seat with cord fabric seats to the rear
• Leather was often favoured for driver’s seats in this period, as it was harder wearing
• Meanwhile the passengers were fitted with nice, soft velour (which was also kinder to fine clothes)
• Period patina throughout commensurate with the car’s venerable age
• The front leather seats are showing scuffs and wear, in line with their age
• However, the bolsters themselves look full and firm with no rips or tears
• The rear seats show some discolouration and sagging
• The fold-out bulkhead seats look to be in good order 
• Door cards carry some wear throughout but are complete and charmingly patina’d 
• Extensive wooden trims show some age-commensurate wear
• However, they carry a superb grain and still present beautifully
• The dashboard instruments are reportedly in good working order
• Some light fogging and wear is visible to the lenses, however, they remain easy to read 
• The multi-function wheel proves just how high-tech these were for 1937!
• Note the adjustable ignition, ride and throttle switches
• The wheel itself carries a level of patina, in line with age
• The drinks cabinet still contains some glassware and a fire extinguisher
• Interior bulkhead screen is in good order
• The carpets are showing some wear throughout 
• Headlining carries some light wear but is largely clean
• The rear boot hatch carries a swathe of delightful fitted luggage

The Exterior 

• Unusual, tall-bodied coachwork - built to provide space for top hats!
• Bodywork by Barker Coachwork of London
• We note the unusual proportions and twin oval rear-windows
• Panel fit is sound and tightly-knit 
• Stylish two-tone yellow and black colour scheme
• The car’s colour was changed in 1982, according to the DVLA
• As a result the car is carrying some wear and patina
• However it is quite bright and pleasantly presented for the car’s venerable age
• Some light paint chips are visible here and there
• Chromework carries some pitting and patina
• However, it still provides a nice, bright contrast
• Branding, horns and Spirit of Ecstasy ornament all present and correct
• The glasswork and lenses are all free of cracks and fractures
• The car is sat on colour-matched disc wheels which are well-presented
• The car’s tyres were replaced some time ago, but have done very little mileage
• Reportedly, the car’s chassis is good and solid with minimal wear or corrosion

The Mechanics 

• When introduced, the 25/30 was specified with:
  • A 4,257cc 6-cylinder powerplant, with a single Stromberg Carb
  • 4-speed manual gearbox with traditional right-hand change
  • Synchromesh is present on the third and forth gears
  • Mechanical servo brakes
  • Riveted chassis with hydraulic-damper suspension
• We understand the car’s mechanical condition to be highly original
• The car has recently been serviced and recommissioned
• It’s recently driven around 80 miles with no issues
• We understand the car to be in good working order throughout
• We’ve not been informed of any mechanical faults, leaks, knocks, bangs or smoke

Summary