• Originally a saloon by Park Ward
• Formerly resident in the USA
• Re-bodied in the UK as a drophead coupé
• Present ownership since 2003
• Offered from storage

The introduction of a smaller Rolls-Royce - the 20hp - in 1922 enabled the company to cater for the increasingly important owner-driver market that appreciated the quality of Rolls-Royce engineering but did not need a car as large as a 40/50hp Ghost or Phantom. The 'Twenty' proved eminently suited to town use, yet could cope admirably with Continental touring when called upon. Nevertheless, by the late 1920s the trend towards ever-heavier coachwork was beginning to have a detrimental effect on the Twenty's performance.

Introduced in 1929, the successor 20/25hp model addressed this problem, featuring numerous improvements, the most significant of which was an enlarged (from 3,127 to 3,669cc) version of the Twenty's six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine. The latter's increased power allowed the bespoke coachbuilders greater freedom in their efforts to satisfy a discerning clientele that demanded ever larger and more opulent designs. Produced concurrently with the Phantom II, the 20/25 benefited from many of the larger model's improvements, such as synchromesh gears and centralised chassis lubrication, becoming the best-selling Rolls-Royce of the inter-war period.

Copy chassis cards on file reveal that chassis number 'GYZ-10' was completed with 'Standardised Saloon Sunshine Roof' coachwork by Park Ward Ltd. The car was sold new on 8th June 1933 to Jack Barclay Ltd in London. Three private owners are listed up to April 1943.

The current vendor purchased the Rolls-Royce from a UK auction in 2003, at which time it was said to have been re-bodied with drophead coupé coachwork on returning from the USA, where it had been resident since the 1970s. The previous UK owner was Mr Terrance Cook of Wallasey, Cheshire.

The Rolls-Royce has been unused for at least the last 6-7 years, possibly longer, and will require recommissioning before returning to the road. The car is offered with an original handbook, a V5C Registration Certificate (the number is to be re-applied for) and the aforementioned chassis card copies.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.