1930 Rolls-Royce 20/25

This delightful 1930 Rolls Royce is the same age as Clint Eastwood, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen and Neil Armstrong.

It’s almost impossible to believe that just 39 years after this coachbuilt historical artefact rolled off the production line, the last of those named was walking on the moon.

This car, chassis number GSR5 Z6A, is a 1930 20/25 and, according to the very limited amount of paperwork accompanying it, is the longer wheelbase model.

We know that the chassis was delivered to London coachbuilder Barker & Co on 13th November of 1933, where it was given a ‘Coupé’ body.

We also know that when Rolls-Royce tested the engine in 1930 they charmingly observed that, “Petrol consumption is at the rate of 35 pints an hour.”

Is that going fast or slow, uphill or downhill, with one passenger or towing a circus elephant?

Who knows?

When completed, the car was delivered to its new owner, Sir William McLintock G.B.E, C.V.O., at 71 Queen St, London EC4.

Sir William, as far as we can tell, was a Scotsman and the founder of an accountancy firm.

C.S. Rolls took a particular fancy to Barker’s work just after the turn of the century and thereafter the coachbuilder’s association with the grand marque was pretty much official.

Sadly, that didn’t prevent the firm from going into receivership 1938.

The other thing we know about this car is that at some point in its long life it has been rebodied as the skiff-bodied boat tail you see before you today.

The simple and undeniable fact, though, is that this is a stunningly beautiful car, no matter what its exact provenance might be.

It is very well put together and the earlier restoration (we don’t know when) from which it’s clearly benefitted must have been carried out to a very high standard, from what we can see.

The car isn’t running at present and will need comprehensive recommissioning to get it back on the road after its 13 years in storage.

We are fortunate enough to know local chap who owns a 20/25 which he has had restored and maintains himself. He has had a good look at this car and reports that, assuming the engine and mechanicals are basically sound, he can’t see any obvious reasons to run away from it.

He thinks it will make a great ‘light’ project or a long-running flexible chequebook job with a marque and model specialist.

We’re inclined to agree with him.

It really is an achingly lovely thing to behold.

Just looking at it is enough to bring out your inner Jay Gatsby.

And when you view it from the stern, sorry, rear, you’ll be forgiven a moment of indecisiveness as you choose between hoisting the mainsail or going for a spin.

The cream and maroon colour scheme presents extremely well and the overall standard of the paintwork and finish is very good indeed.

The swooping flanks, running boards and giant headlamps are powerfully evocative of their era and the wooden boat tail is just wonderful.

The doors slam home with a reassuringly exact thunk that’s entirely in line with the sense of quality and engineering integrity conveyed by the rest of the vehicle.

The cream canvas roof is relatively easy to erect and store and is in decent nick save for a few stains to the inside rear section.

The nickel brightwork is a little pitted and foxed in places but is by no means beyond redemption.

You’ll notice that the car doesn’t currently have a mascot or cap. We don’t know why.

The records show that it wasn’t supplied with them when new, presumably so that Sir William McLintock could fit his own mascot.

The wheels seem to be fairly well preserved. The tyres are somewhat past their sell-by date.

The car is being sold by its two owners (one in the UK, one in Monaco) because it’s not being used for at least 13 years and they’d like to see it move on to a new chapter before it celebrates its 92nd birthday.

The good news carries on unabated on the inside, where acres of soft, rich, light brown leather provide comfortable and cosseting seating spaces both front and rear.

The carpets are reasonable, if a bit dusty in places, and there may well have been a malevolent moth or two at work in recent years.

The dashboard is gloriously authentic, with its array of dials from separate manufacturers specialising in instrumentation to measure speed, oil pressure, water temperature, etc.

The wood looks all of its 90+ years but would no doubt reward a future owner prepared to show it some French polish and a bit of elbow grease.

We haven’t had the car running so we’re not entirely sure if the car’s limited number of switches, toggles, levers and buttons do what they’re supposed to do.

Our 20/25 aficionado advises getting the electrics and loom thoroughly checked out.

All in all, it’s a glorious place to spend some time and is powerfully evocative of the pre-war era from which it hails.

The boot (under the boat tail) has an unfinished wooden underside but is nonetheless clean and tidy.

Lifting up the carpets anywhere on the inside of this car reveals – no rust worth mentioning.

The undersides of the car look to be in very decent condition. Which is perhaps not surprising considering that (a) it’s only done 58,000 miles since 1930, (b) it’s obviously been properly restored at some point in the not too distant past and (c) it’s spent the last 13 years in storage.

There is some superficial rust here and there, as you would expect, but we’ve not seen anything to raise an eyebrow or prompt a tut.

As far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place inside the gloriously period engine bay.

This car has less history than David Bowie in The Man Who Fell to Earth.

It has an invoice for £1185 for the chassis (which must have been an eye-watering sum of money 92 years ago).

It has some paperwork that accompanied the chassis on its original journey from Rolls-Royce to Barker & Co in 1930. It has a few odd letters and bits and pieces. It has a V5 and a couple of expired MoT certificates.

That’s your lot.

We think this is a very special car indeed. It’s clearly been rebodied and restored (some time ago) to the highest standards by people who knew what they were doing.

It’s solid, well-built, properly screwed together and seems to have a great deal of structural, mechanical and aesthetic integrity.

Yes, you’ll want to get the engine and the electrics checked. And yes, it will need some recommissioning.

But, with just a little effort, patience and expenditure, you could find yourself the proud owner of a car that will make you – and everyone else – grin from ear to ear whenever you see it and has the character and charisma to turn even the most mundane trip into a special occasion.

We think it’s wonderful.

We’re confident to offer this magnificent vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £25,000 - £35,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.