1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Four-Door

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK & purchased by a private individual. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £35,000, then £1,750 is added, making the total amount payable of £36,750.

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable.

Lastly, there will be a nominal administration fee of £250 for processing the NOVA application, and payable direct to the shipping company. A completed and processed NOVA will provide you formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK and thus allow you to register the vehicle with the DVLA

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be delighted to show the car to you and/or your appointed engineer.

This Wingham Four-Door Cabriolet, bodied by Martin Walter Ltd., of Folkestone, Surrey, is believed to be one of only three 25/30s built using this body style.

It has the chassis number GLP10.

Martin Walter’s design for the Wingham featured a convertible top design that was used with permission from German coachbuilder Gläser.

We understand that the car was commissioned by the Rootes Group for one of their directors and was acquired in the early 1970s by collector Don Criteser.

He kept the car for 30 years, during which time the car received the comprehensive, high-quality restoration you see today.

Today, the car has 55,733 recorded miles on the odometer.

It was auctioned by Sotheby’s in Arizona in 2014, at which time its mileage was 55,436.

We believe it may have been bought by the vendor at that auction and entered his collection of static display vehicles shortly afterwards.

As with the other cars in this vendor’s collection, we haven’t tried to start or drive it and, consequently, our opinions are confined to the car’s cosmetic condition.

In general, the car is in exceptional condition – outside, inside and underneath – but there are a few cosmetic issues to address as a result of minor damage.

The panels are largely free of dents, creases and folds, and the gaps and shut lines are pretty consistent.

The two-tone maroon and silver paintwork is largely very good, as are the hood, chrome, wheels, lights, badging and trim.

The principal exceptions are some scuffs, scrapes and scratches on the o/s/r and n/s/f wheel arches.

There are also scratches on the inner-facing aspects of both front wheel arches, probably incurred when opening and closing the engine covers.

The paint work on the o/s/f wheel arch has a curious, somewhat ‘scaly’ appearance.

There are one or two smudges and scuffs (which might well be easily removable) on the front bumper.

The rear bumper seems to be slightly lower at the o/s end.

The hood is in excellent condition.

The inside looks as good as the day it was restored.

The seats are supportive and comfortable, both front and back, and the leather is in excellent condition.

The carpets are fine, as is the hood lining.

The dashboard and instruments are all in fine fettle, as are the door cards with their charming leather storage pouches.

The inside door pull on the driver’s door is unattached at one end and needs screwing back into position. The passenger rear door handle is also loose.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start the vehicle.

The boot is in excellent condition and is home to a spare wheel and two complete toolkits.

The undersides of this car appear untroubled by either time or use and seem to have a great deal of structural integrity.

Clearly, you will want to come and see for yourself, but we’ve not seen anything to worry about anywhere we’ve looked.

The engine and engine bay appear to be clean and dry and, as far as we can tell, everything is in its right and proper place.

The car comes with no service history or any record of work done.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We haven’t tried to start or drive the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

There is some work to be done to rectify a few scuffs and scratches. Once done, the new owner will have a pretty much flawless example of an extremely rare vehicle and one that’s sure to turn heads wherever it goes – provided, of course, that the car’s engine and mechanicals prove to be in good working order.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £30,000 - £50,000, plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 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’.