Lot 168 - 1935 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sports Saloon by James Young
| Lot Number | 168 |
| Registration | BOF 366 |
| Chassis Number | GOH60 |
| Engine Number | L4N |
| Odometer reading | 40,800 miles |
| Result | Sold - £36,960 |
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. Its successor, the 20/25hp, introduced in 1929, up-dated the concept with significant improvements, featuring an enlarged and more-powerful version of the Twenty's six-cylinder overhead-valve engine. Produced contemporaneously with the Phantom II, the 20/25 benefited from many of the features, such as synchromesh gears and centralised chassis lubrication, developed for the larger model and would become the best-selling Rolls-Royce of the inter-war period. The Rolls-Royce 20/25hp was, of course, exclusively coach-built and most of the great British coach-building firms offered designs, many of them unique, on the 20/25hp chassis.
This 1935 Rolls-Royce Sports Saloon was the subject of an eight page spread in 'Thoroughbred and Classic cars' in June 1982 when it had a nut and bolt restoration. It comes with extensive provenance (including a copy of the magazine as mentioned) which goes as far back as the engine test results from the Rolls-Royce factory with repair bills etc to date. The interior retains most of the original leather and has picnic tables fitted in the rear of the front seats. Decanters and glasses are fitted in the rear quarter panel and the boot has an extensive tool kit fitted with most of its original tools. This lovely example of the renowned James Young coachbuilders has a matching numbers engine and gearbox. It is visually stunning and represents what the British car manufacturer was all about, it still commands a wonderful presence on the roads today as it did back in the 1930s.
Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each Lot prior to the sale. Accordingly, buyers are on notice that each vehicle is offered ‘as is/as seen’ subject to the Terms and Conditions for the auction. All registration numbers, engine and chassis details are sourced from registration documents provided to Historics by the client or representative or HPI checks and buyers are to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of these details. Buyers are advised to inspect the vehicle in person or use a professional to carry out this service. Historics will not entertain disputes over descriptions.