1929 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Barker Landaulette

This sublime example of the Twenty is a Barker Landaulette bodied example. The Landaulette was a configuration where the passengers sit beneath a convertible hood and, most often, a partition separated the driver from said passengers. Such is the case with this example.

Thanks to current owner, Nigel, we know a surprising amount about this Twenty’s history despite its 95 years. The Twenty was ordered new by Sir H.S. Theobold KC of London for a total cost, including the Barker body, of £1,953.10.6p. Sadly Sir Theobold passed away before the car was delivered so Lady Theobold took delivery in February 1929.

A further six owners followed during the next 68 years seeing the car used as a hackney carriage during the war and being exhibited in a museum. The last of these bought the car in 1974 in order to restore for his son’s wedding in 1977. By the time current owner, Nigel, bought the car as a partially restored chassis and numerous boxes of parts in 1997, the previous owner’s son had been married for 20 years!

Nigel is a Rolls-Royce connoisseur, enthusiast and engineer and on acquisition of the Twenty he set about a three-year restoration. Nigel has strived to restore the car to as near original condition as possible and is now delighted to see the car back in regular use. Today’s car is a testament to his skill and attention to detail.

The Barker Landaulette body is possibly more commodious than Rolls-Royce had originally envisaged for the smaller Twenty, but it definitely gives this example a remarkable road presence. Today it presents in black over a summery looking Primrose Yellow. In keeping with the Rolls-Royce fashion of the time, the black dresses the bottom (wings, running boards, sills) and the top (bonnet, roof and window frames) of the car with the yellow gracing the flanks and the wire wheels.

The external condition is excellent throughout thanks mostly to Neil’s earlier three-year restoration and partly to its diligent care and respectful use since. Those more used to feasting their eyes on later Rolls-Royces will note the Twenty’s radiator vanes on its Pantheon grill are horizontal as opposed to vertical. This car comes from about the time that the change from horizontal to vertical was made, likely making it one of the last thus equipped. Whilst at the front, those beautiful frosted lensed Lucas headlamps must be admired. They combine with the wing mounted sidelights to illuminate the road ahead. The deeply chromed bowls of these are bright and shiny, matching the rest of the car’s brightwork which has been subject to extensive re-chroming.

At the rear the Twenty is fitted with a no. 6 style luggage rack which supports a vintage, Rexine trimmed motoring trunk which opens to reveal three individual cases. These are finished with chromed furniture and catches with the whole ensemble removeable and likely to look entirely at home in the ostentatious entrance hall of Highclere Castle.

The 21-inch cross-spoked wire wheels are finished in body coloured paintwork and centred with polished alloy, Rolls-Royce embossed spinners. The wheels are shod with a matching set of period look Dunlop tyres in a 6.0 / 21 configuration.

Having witnessed the quality and condition of this car’s exterior, the interior will not disappoint either. In 1999 Neil commissioned Rolls-Royce specialist trimmers, Gary H. Wright, to fully retrim the interior at a total cost of 50p short of £5,500 – in 1999! This was clearly money well spent, however, with the presentation remaining breathtaking a full 25 years later.

Despite the Twenty being aimed at the owner / driver the driver’s quarters are more austere in comparison to the sublime passenger compartment. Despite that it is still beautifully engineered and presented. This area is dominated by a full width back rest and two separate seat bases that meet in the middle. These are finished in vertically box pleated smooth Connolly black leather. 

The dashboard and door tops are finished in deeply varnished wood veneer. The instrument panel is comprehensively equipped with a set of five white on black gauges, some bearing the RR monogram, and associated switchgear. The four spoked alloy and Bakelite steering wheel is centred with a black lever operated control unit. This allows the driver to adjust key variables such as fuel mixture, ignition timing and governor speed.

Open a rear-hinged door to the passenger compartment and you are greeted by a brass Barker’s maker’s plate sitting below a deep pile lambswool rug. Seating in here is courtesy of a well stuffed, full width, pleated bench which is trimmed in beige Bedford Cord. The headlining is finished in beige West of England cloth. Such is the quality of this application that the folding Landaulette hood is easily missed. A pair of cantilevered, occasional dickie seats fold out of the partition base providing accommodation for five in here, when needed.

There are too many charming details in this interior to mention here, but some highlights include a period St Cristopher medal affixed to the dash, the original brass, mounted oil gun and the satchel type front door pockets. Delightful!

The 3.1L straight six engine fitted to the Twenty may have been a relative minnow compared to the Silver Ghost’s behemoth, but the smaller car was usefully lighter, too. Thus, the Twenty became noted for giving an overriding impression of delicacy and lightness in comparison. Early in his tenure Neil had the leaking cylinder head replaced together with some accompanying repairs resulting in a fine running Rolls-Royce, a condition that endures today.

Lifting the centre hinged bonnet reveals that straight six engine. This is a beautifully presented engine bay exhibiting a blend of polished alloys, bright brass, black power coated surfaces and embossed RR motifs. There’s even some brown Bakelite still present. The underside of the car is every bit the equal of the engine bay. It is clean, straight and awash with period details like the leather spring gaiters. A real credit to its restoration as well as the peerless quality of the Rolls-Royces of this period.

The Twenty is known to start, drive and stop beautifully making it a regularly used and usable cherished automotive companion.

This Twenty comes with a comprehensive paperwork archive. Of course, the current V5 registration document is present with the car classified as an Historic Vehicle. That renders it MoT exempt and VED zero rated in the UK. There are many earlier MoTs present too, with the last test having been performed in 2010. The original, heavily stamped, original Registration Booklet is on hand, too, and makes fascinating reading.

Other highlights include a stack of invoices documenting services commissioned and numerous parts acquired in order to bring the Twenty back to its former and rightful glory. Key amongst these are the cylinder head replacement, the full retrimming and extensive re-chroming that amount to well over £10,000 worth of expenditure from over 20 years ago.

The 20 h.p. is such a pivotal car in Rolls-Royces’ history. It showed that the most conservative of luxury car purveyors were responsive to customer wants and needs. The arrival of this “small” model to accompany the “full blooded” Silver Ghost set a two-model strategy, one to drive and one to be driven in, that essentially prevails to this day.

Despite their fast approaching 100th anniversary, the Twenty is not vanishingly rare. They were just engineered too well and are held in too much esteem for lots of them to have disappeared. Examples in this sort of condition, however, are certainly considerably rarer. As such this is a vintage Rolls Royce that should demand the attention of those who know and appreciate this peerless marque.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.