1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sedanca Coupé

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sedanca Coupé

• Stunning and sophisticated coachwork by Gurney Nutting.
• Fully restored with significant improvements from ourselves.
• An ideal 20-Ghost Club touring car.
• Benefits from an overdrive.

This glorious car boasts supremely versatile and attractive coachwork that makes it stand out against other Sedanca Coupés.

Designed by master coachbuilders Gurney Nutting, the removable Sedanca sidearms have sophisticated and rigid location, resulting in a rattle free hood and having all the refinements associated with a fixed head. Furthermore, the clever roof design incorporates an easy to operate rigid sliding sunroof. Few cars offer refined motoring in both enclosed and open styles.

As documented in the build sheets, this 20/25 chassis was first assigned chassis no. GED-4, but upon receiving the new type controllable shock absorbers and expanding type carburettor, it was renumbered GYD-55 by the factory.  Supplied new via Jack Barlcay to F.O.Salisbury Esq. of London on 4^th May 1935, chassis GYD-55 was specified to have a long-type chassis and F-rake steering, sports coupé coachwork by Gurney Nutting, and to ‘be used in the UK for mainly fast touring’.  The car was originally set to receive 2 side-mounted spare wheels, however period sales photographs from Jack Barclay show the car with a single spare wheel fitted to the rear encased within a metal cover.  Additionally, the car was fitted with DWS jacks, headlamp brackets 1.2” shorter than standard, and a spring-type steering wheel.  Period Jack Barclay sales literature describes the car as ‘a most attractive two-door, two-light, foursome fixed head coupé with sunshine roof and integral rear trunk’ and describes it as having ‘very pleasing ridged wings, those at the rear moulded into the body’.

In 1937 chassis GYD-55 passed to a A.H.Walton Esq. of Hale in Cheshire and later Blackpool, with G.Taylor Esq of Warwickshire acquiring the car in August 1947.  After nine years of ownership, the car was then purchased by Mr John Enstone of London in 1958.

The present owner, a prominent UK collector, purchased GYD-55 in 2019 following a complete restoration of the car in which several notable specialists were involved including Penny Vintage Carriages; Taylors UK Limited, Chichester; Fiennes Restoration and Richard James Upholstery.  Upon acquiring GYD-55, the current owner commissioned ourselves to thoroughly prepare the car for long-distance touring, work which included major servicing and recommissioning work, as well as the fitting of an overdrive.

Chassis GYD-55 presents an opportunity to acquire one of the best 20/25s for touring given its mechanical specification, versatile coachwork and the extensive restoration it has received.  Combine this with its eye-catching silver paintwork and striking red hide upholstery, this car offers the chance to stand out from the crowd.