While luxury motorcars of the 1920s and '30s were predominantly chauffeur-driven, the sporting endeavours of young drivers at Brooklands and Le Mans contributed to a burgeoning enthusiast scene. Many were men returning from the First World War, hardened by their experiences, increasingly au fait with modern machinery and keen to drive their own vehicles - often very quickly indeed. Thus, we see the advent of the "owner-driver".

Coachbuilding firms gradually stopped building cars that partitioned drivers from passengers, instead opting for more sporting lines and a driver-orientated design. This 1936 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Swept Tail Sports Saloon is a superb example of this new design language executed by Park Ward.

It was supplied new to Captain Clifford Charles Fox Smith, MC, late of the Royal Irish Regiment. He retained the car until his death in 1951, at which time it passed to Jack Barclay, the pre-eminent Rolls-Royce agent in London.

The Rolls later lived for many years in Canada and the United States, where it was completely and meticulously restored; the restoration was accompanied by a large file of paperwork and photographs of the work in progress. The vendor notes that it is in exceptional condition throughout.

The vendor repatriated the car to the UK in 2021. With the help and support of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, he was able to recover the car’s original 1936 registration number. The car is sold with a complete set of tools and manuals, together with its original build records and documents spanning its entire lifetime.

The vendor provides the following detailed and well-researched account of the car's history:

GTK 37 was originally ordered via Hartwells by Captain Clifford Charles Fox Smith, MC, of ‘Pasadena’, Caldecote Lane, Bushey Heath, Herts, late of the Royal Irish Regiment, on 18th February 1936. This was at least the second Rolls-Royce 20/25 purchased by Capt. Smith; records show that he purchased an earlier example in April 1933. Capt. Smith retained the car until his death in 1951, at which time it passed to Jack Barclay, the pre-eminent Rolls-Royce agent in London.

Its second owner was Mr W. H. Gough Cooper, Esq, of Wilmington House, Dartford, Kent. The history file includes a letter from Mr Gough-Cooper’s widow containing her recollections of the car. Mr Gough-Cooper owned the car until 1963.

The third owner was Geo. M. White of Harrow Weald, Middlesex, who kept it until 1965.

In 1965, it was purchased by Ron Pickering, a motor dealer in Montreal, and exported to Canada. The car’s file contains a picture captioned ‘1st Day in Canada’ of the car and a smiling Mr Pickering. Notes in the history file also include a discussion with Mr Pickering, which say that the car remained unsold for a year. At this time, the film ‘The Yellow Rolls-Royce’ was being shown in cinemas worldwide, and Mr Pickering had the bottom half of the car repainted in yellow. The car sold three weeks later.

It was next owned by S, Christopher Dew, of Toronto, until 1991.

The following owner was Pierre-Andrew Ouimet of Montreal, who commissioned mechanical work on the car. During Mr Ouimet’s ownership, the car featured on the front cover of ‘Flying Lady’, having taken part in the ‘Upper Michigan Vintage Tour’, a 1,200-mile trip between 17-23 September 1995, during which GTK 37 provided ‘relaxed and pleasant’ transport. Mr Ouimet owned the car between 1991 and 2004

The car’s next owner was Tom Foster, of Great Falls, Montana, USA, who acquired it from Mr Ouimet in May 2004. Following meticulous research by Mr Foster, GTK 37 was subjected to a full body and interior restoration. The restoration is accompanied by a photographic record and much paperwork and associated invoices and receipts.

In 2021, the present owner acquired GTK 37 from Mr Foster and repatriated the car from the USA to the UK. With the help and support of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, he recovered the car’s original 1936 registration number, which it still carries. Import duty has been paid, and the car is sold with a current V5 registration document.

The recent photographs of the car and restoration records show the extent of the work carried out and attest to what a fine example this now is. This Rolls-Royce presents impeccably throughout, with very few signs of use and no damage or corrosion reported by the vendor.

The vendor comments:

"Rolls-Royce never ceased to develop their cars and continually adapted and improved their models during production, and this, one of the last 20/25 models produced, incorporates the many modifications introduced by Rolls-Royce during the 20/25’s 1929 to 1936 production cycle."

Rolls-Royces of this era are renowned for their smooth, effortless performance, and we're assured this 20/25 lives up to this reputation. The mechanicals underwent the same level of restoration as the rest of the car, and therefore, it's said to be in excellent running and driving order with no known faults to report.

These cars can still be used for long-distance touring, and we certainly encourage the next owner to drive this fine Rolls-Royce as often as possible.

BEFORE YOU BUY 

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. 

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