Highlights
- Beautiful and highly detailed one-off bespoke-built DHC
- Awarded 'Best in Show' at a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Rally
- Matching numbers Rolls-Royce in great mechanical order
- Handsome Midnight Blue with Cream leather interior and dark blue roof
- Part of a private collection, garaged in a warm ventilated building
- Very stylish and individual 20/25
The Appeal
This matching numbers 1930 20/25 began life as a four door, four light demonstrator for Park Ward. Today, you see the fruits of a clever and very detailed evolution into a beautiful Drophead Coupe. The work was completed by experts Charlton of Evesham, and the lines informed by the fiacre-style vintage Bugattis.
Finished in Midnight Blue with dark blue roof and cream leather interior, it is in quite elevated condition. It is no surprise that this lovely car, currently part of a high-end collection, is a former Best in Show winner at a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club event.
The joy of this gorgeous coachbuilt pre-war Rolls-Royce is that it is so well done and you will never park next to another one. It remains in great order and we are told that it runs very well with no issues for the buyer to attend to.
The vendor says:
“The car is extremely refined, correct for its period and is a matching numbers Rolls Royce in excellent condition. The car is garaged in a warm ventilated building and extremely well loved.”
History and Paperwork
- First UK registered 1930
- Chassis number GLR68
- Factory guarantee from July 1930
- HPI checks show UK registration in December 1992 likely due to deterioration noted below
- Two registered keepers since 1992
- Current keeper since March 2022
- Was previously black which was changed in 2006
- V5C in current keeper’s name
- Originally bodied by Park Ward as a 4 door, 4 light saloon with sunshine roof
- Used as a demonstrater by Park Ward
- Sold seven months later to Dr. Douglas C. Beaumont of Portman Square, W1
- Then fell into disrepair and was acquired by its previous keeper, Roger Charlton Esq. as a little more than a rolling chassis
- Roger Charlton used chassis GLR68 as a 'blank canvas' to create a three-position Drophead Coupe
- Extensive factory records provided with car as shown in photos
- Rebodied by Charlton of Evesham as part of a professional, 'chassis up' restoration
- A subsequent award winner at various Rolls-Royce gatherings
- Awarded 'Best in Show' at a past Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Rally
- Currently part of a private collection
- Current keeper is a friend of Roger Charlton and has enjoyed many trips with him in this car
- Splitting time between various homes and countries, the seller has decided to give someone else the chance to own chassis GLR68
- The car is garaged in a warm ventilated building and well-loved
- Original chassis paperwork as shown
- History file includes factory workshop manual as shown and old tax discs
- Rosette, tools and other fittings included as shown
- Last MOT expired in 2013 with no advisories and very few miles covered since
The vendor says:
“Initially clothed by Park Ward as a four-door, four-light Saloon complete with sunshine roof, chassis GLR68 had its factory guarantee issued during July 1930. Having served the London coachbuilder as a demonstrator, the Rolls-Royce was sold some seven months later to Dr Douglas C. Beaumont of 6 Lower Berkeley Street, Portman Square, W1. Subsequently falling into disrepair, the 20/25 was little more than a rolling chassis when acquired by its previous keeper, Roger Charlton Esq. A man of considerable talents, photographs on file show that he used chassis GLR68 as a ‘blank canvas’ upon which to create a truly exquisite three-position Drophead Coupe. Bodied to his own design but with echoes of the Fiacre-style coachwork found aboard Vintage Bugattis, the result is a singularly handsome car that was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at a past Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Rally.
“Even hidden elements such as the boot stay are neatly executed, while the wonderfully intricate door cappings were apparently crafted from a single piece of timber. Supported by triple hinges, the doors open and close with ease giving access to the fully-lined hood, well-stocked dashboard and Cream leather upholstery of the interior. The Lucas headlights and ‘Owl’s Eyes’ taillights contrast nicely with the Midnight Blue paintwork as do the raised elements of the Ace wheel discs.
“Befriending Mr Charlton through their mutual membership of the Bristol Owners’ Club, the vendor was only too happy to welcome ‘HX 795’ into his own collection and has many fond memories of five-up journeys around East Anglia. Starting readily and running well upon inspection, the 20/25 is still fuelled via an Autovac.
“Highly presentable, it would not seemingly take much to return the Rolls-Royce to concours standards. Splitting his time between various homes and countries, the seller has decided to give someone else the chance to own chassis GLR68. Worthy of close inspection, this delightful Three-Position Drophead Coupe is offered for sale with V5C Registration Document, copy chassis cards and sundry restoration photos.”
The Condition
- Rebodied by specialists Charlton of Evesham with Bugatti-style body
- Finished in Midnight Blue with paintwork in very good order
- There are some minor marks but none overly detract from the aesthetics
- The body looks in very good order with bespoke design as above
- Navy blue roof with roll-back sunroof and full fold back options
- Smart cream leather interior with bespoke trimming and fitting as shown
- Detailed throughout with art deco door furniture and bespoke door cappings fashioned from a single timber
- Hidden elements such as the boot stay are neatly executed
- Intricate door cappings crafted from a single piece of timber
- Supported by triple hinges, the doors open and close with ease
- Fully-lined hood and well-stocked dashboard as shown
- Lucas headlights and ‘Owl’s Eyes’ taillights are well-kept and functional
- Ace wheel discs in matching blue with good condition showing light age
- Fitted with vintage Lester tyres which present well in photos
- Four seat interior layout with plenty of space in rear
- Interior shows minor signs of age such as to edge of dashboard as shown
- Fitted with large rear luggage box as shown
- Underside appears in good order in photos with no issues advised by vendor
The Mechanics
- 3,669cc 6cyl engine
- 4spd manual gearbox wth right-hand change
- The vendor tells us that the car is matching numbers
- We are told that the mechanicals are in excellent condition
- The engine is said to start readily and run quietly
- Single Rolls-Royce carburettor
- Magneto and coil ignition
- Semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension
- Four-wheel drum brakes with mechanical servo
- The 20/25 is still fuelled via an Autovac
- Stored in a dry garage as part of a private collection
- Very tidy engine bay as shown
- No reported running or driving issues
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed on Car & Classic and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance. However, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it is always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it’s worth checking beforehand..
