1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Owen Sedanca Coupe

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Owen Sedanca Coupe Coachwork by Gurney Nutting

This lovely Rolls-Royce 20/25 three-position Drophead Coupe, chassis GYD26, was first sold to the prominent Rolls-Royce dealer H.R. Owen Ltd. of number 7 Berkeley Street, London W1 on 28 August 1934. The works number was 9384, engine number was K.8.J., and it was designated a type D2 series.

The long wheelbase chassis was invoiced to the famous coachbuilder J. Gurney Nutting & Co. Ltd. of Lacland Place, King's Road in Chelsea, London on 7 September 1934, and delivery to Gurney Nutting took place by road on 11 September. With a 15% trade discount, the price of the chassis was a still considerable GBP 1,050. It was specified that the car was for use in the United Kingdom – mainly for touring. Bonnet hinge mouldings were to be painted, while the bonnet had louvres sloped at 16° with the rear end sloped to correspond, and the louvres were carried right through to the rear end of the bonnet and into the cowl.

The complete car had been ordered for stock by H.R. Owen and was sold on 3 January 1935 to a certain C. Treherne Thomas, Esq. of the International Sportsmen's Club, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London W1. According to the well-known Rolls-Royce historian Tom Clarke, GYD26 was re-sold in period by Jack Barclay Ltd. in London in 1936 and 1938.

The car was restored for Alan and Betty Archer in 1998 to concours condition, including a complete interior retrim by Roy Creech and a bare metal repaint by Brian Ginns of Essex, England. A large file containing the records of the restoration comes with the car. In addition, various invoices dating back to 1976 are included, which indicate a complete engine overhaul at that time, including clutch work and general servicing over a period of 20 years by a previous owner who was an engineer.

An overdrive unit was fitted during the 1998 restoration giving good performance for pleasurable touring. There is a full complement of tools fitted in the trunk lid.

Chassis GYD26 is well known in RREC circles having had regular use and it has won a number of concours, elegance and best of show awards in the years since its restoration. Finished in two-tone green with mid-green hide interior, GYD26 is overflowing with pre-war charisma and style. The superbly proportioned Gurney Nutting Drophead Coupe coachwork paired with the more compact dimensions of the 20/25 chassis in relation to the enormity of a Phantom II is quite simply a winning combination.

Descriptions & pictures by Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & coachbuild