Richard Stafford
Senior Specialist, Head of Research
LOT 65
1923 Rolls-Royce 20 hp Tourer Coachwork by Charlesworth Registration no. OK 9475 Chassis no. 68H4 Engine no. G363
Sold for £63,250 inc. premium
Lot 65
1923 Rolls-Royce 20 hp Tourer Coachwork by Charlesworth Registration no. OK 9475 Chassis no. 68H4 Engine no. G363
1923 Rolls-Royce 20 hp Tourer
Coachwork by Charlesworth
Registration no. OK 9475
Chassis no. 68H4
Engine no. G363
Coachwork by Charlesworth
Registration no. OK 9475
Chassis no. 68H4
Engine no. G363
• Highly original and unique Charlesworth coachwork
• Formed part of the Harrah Collection for 25 years
• Restored by Ristes Motors in the early 1990s at a cost of £70,000
• Bills from specialists including P&A Wood
• Formed part of the Harrah Collection for 25 years
• Restored by Ristes Motors in the early 1990s at a cost of £70,000
• Bills from specialists including P&A Wood
Footnotes
"This model was introduced to meet requests for a smaller, less expensive car in keeping with the trend after the First World War towards smaller cars for a wider market. Construction was simplified - but standards of workmanship were not compromised..." - Edward Eves, Rolls-Royce - 75 Years of Motoring Excellence.
Produced alongside the renowned 40/50hp Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the 20hp model was equally well engineered and became popular as a lighter alternative suitable for a wide range of body styles. The 3,127cc, six-cylinder, monobloc engine featured overhead valves and drove via an in-unit gearbox, single plate clutch, and open shaft with spiral bevel drive. As the company's founder Henry Royce said when the car was introduced, "simplicity was one of the aims of the designers, but not at the expense of perfection". Intended principally as an 'owner driver' car, the Twenty sold well during the period following hostilities, being popular as a town car while many were fitted with touring bodies.
This handsome example wears unique tourer coachwork by Charlesworth of Coventry, a company perhaps best known for its contract work for various manufacturers, most notably Alvis, as well as bespoke designs on other high quality chassis such as Rolls-Royce. 'OK 9475' features twin spare wheels, 'Auster' style rear screen and a large rear trunk, and comes complete with a hood bag, tonneau, side screens and Rolls-Royce tools in their lockers.
The Rolls-Royce was first owed by a Mr E Marcom of Aberdovey, North Wales and subsequently by a succession of Northern industrialists. In 1963 the car was exported to the USA where it formed part of the celebrated Harrah Museum Collection for some 25 years.
The car was restored by respected marque specialists Ristes Motors at a cost of £70,000 some three decades ago and still presents in generally excellent order. It has been regularly maintained since then and comes with a substantial history file containing bills, letters, photographs, copy build sheets, etc.
Additional information
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