1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Coupe by Hooper |

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1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Coupe by Hooper

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Mileage~143,351
TransmissionManual
Engine3.7L
LocationStockton-on-Tees

AUCTION CLOSED

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Coupe by Hooper

Introduction

Kristina Leikaite

Professional Consigner

Ordered by a Brigadier directly from Coachbuilder Hooper in 1934, this car has seen a remarkable journey.

The Rolls-Royce 20/25 was something of a departure for the brand - it was specifically built to cater to a trend for the less expensive sporting market. What is more, this smart move was instrumental in keeping the company afloat during the great depression, helping the brand to focus on export without compromising its reputation. The combination of excellent build quality and straightforward engineering gave the 20/25 a reputation for longevity, which has resulted in a high survival rate. A comparatively easy car to drive and operate, the appeal of the 20/25 chassis continues to make these elegant cars sought after to this day.

In keeping with Rolls-Royce tradition, only the chassis and engine were built by the company, with the bodywork made and fitted by a coachbuilder. The Hooper name goes back to 1805, soon establishing a royal warrant to produce elegant horse-drawn carriages. The brand specialised in the top tier of the coachbuilding market, and when the advent of the motorcar arrived, Hooper transferred their skills to the likes of Rolls-Royce, as well as Bentley and Daimler.

This 1934 example comes with a fascinating log of its past, with copies of its original bill of sales, as well as a run-down of all of its owners over its 87-year history. Finished in a two-tone green and black, this long-wheelbase version of the Sedanca Coupe is coming out of 11 year ownership, having been bought off a friend who had looked after it over the previous 45 years.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Kristina after meeting Allan the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Meet the owner

I've enjoyed owning and working on this car, burning the midnight oil to complete the restoration.

Allan bought the car from a friend of his, who had bought the car in the mid-'60s. His friend Richard was in the process of rebuilding it but fell ill and this is were Allan stepped in.

Completely unique, as most coachbuilt cars were back in the day, the car was effectively in ~500 reconditioned/refurbished parts. It's very evident that this elegant machine has seen a lot of attention to its maintenance on a regular basis, including the location of the correct flying lady mascot upfront. It took Allan just under a year to build the car back to its former glory, including stripping the car back and painting to its original colour.

On our consignment visit, people wouldn’t stop coming to talk about the car when we left for location! Allan has decided to put the car up for sale, simply due to lack of use. He was a regular at the classic car events in his area, with several trophies to prove it.

Allan

Vehicle Owner

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Exterior
Interior
Mechanics
History
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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The 20/25 is the perfect combination of Rolls-Royce engineering and Hoopers elegant bodywork .

Wheels and Tyres

The mix of Excelsior and Dunlop tyres are in good condition, with no obvious signs of ageing. The tread is good and well within acceptable limits of wear. The chrome wheel embellishments present in great condition with no significant damage or corrosion.

Bodywork

The coachbuilt body, it has really worn its years well. The flat surfaces and doors are free from significant dents, excellent repair work. The doors hang straight, with no signs of corrosion. The black wings are in good condition, with minor signs of ageing, but no corrosion.

The fixed vinyl roof looks good and rip-free. Originally the car was a "Sedanca", but the roof has been fixed in place, Allan mentions that having discussed the roof with an expert, their advice was to not try to operate it and leave it as is now.

The chassis and underside is a sight to behold. You'll be hard pressed to see corrosion anywhere, this is a car that has been thoroughly rebuilt.

Paint

The paint is in good condition, with no blemishes, runs or signs of neglect. The attractive hue is covering the car evenly with no swirls or chips. The black sections of the bodywork naturally show up up a little wear and tear, mostly confined to small chips and the odd light rub when you look very closely.

Remember, this car is a show winner. It's easy to see why with the care that has gone in to the rebuild.

Glass and Trim

The glass shows typical signs of its vintage, it's good considering this is a 1934 car. We haven't spotted any major chips, cracks or scratches.

The brightwork on the body is generally very good, with the radiator and headlamps being particularly pleasing. The front bumper has minor surface corrosion coming through. The car wears the correct "Flying Lady" of era, a neat feature that moves to the side when needing to open the bonnet. Allan will also supply a flat cap for the bonnet in place of the motif should the owner wish to use that instead.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A genuine piece of historic engineering and coachbuilding, it has also seen a recent interior refit.

Seats and Carpets

Finished in a contrasting shade of green, the cabins on these coupes give you such a different feeling to the modern car. The rear seats especially, don't look or feel like anything you'll see produced today.

The seats are in good condition with no rips or tears, the driver's seat base shows a little wear. The rear seats have minor indentations on the bench but are in good condition overall. The carpets are in good condition too, with no major signs of deterioration. The surrounding door cards similarly are in good condition with minor signs of wear.

Dashboard

Bathed in an interior full of leather, the walnut burr finishing is a beautiful sight. The detail on the dials and bezels are reflective of the age of the car but are all in a legible state.

The additional chrome detailing, such as the handbrake and steering rod, is in good condition. The headlining is tear-free and is in good order, with minor signs of age around the rear window.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and controls are in 'workmanlike' condition, which is more than acceptable and is reflective of the fascinating past this car has seen.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 20/25 engine and chassis were designed for the owner-driver market.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine is a visual treat and has clearly been well maintained and looked after. It runs well, with no issues, the cold start proved to offer no obstacle for the car. There were no nasty noises or knocks coming from the block, and once settled down, the engine ran like a sewing machine.

The car has the benefit of an overdrive gear which improves its prospects of keeping up with the flow of modern traffic. Allan fitted this around a year after completing the rebuild, he tells us "although the car is capable of 70MPH, it really does put some strain on the engine, and so the overdrive gear allows it to cruise at 70MPH without issue".

Suspension and Brakes

The combination of Richard and Allan on restoring and recommissioning this car has meant that what needed attention was tended do. The brakes are said to stop the car well.

The Drive

Considered one of the finest cars ever to be put into production, the 20/25 was marketed as a car targeted at owners-drivers rather than people with chauffeurs.

Like any pre-war Rolls-Royce, ownership carries a certain weight of responsibility, which if fulfilled, offers huge benefits to the owner. The sense of occasion, the ride and the sumptuous interior leaves an impression of a bygone era but is surprisingly adept in dealing with modern driving conditions. Simply put, there is nothing quite like owning a Rolls-Royce.

Electrics and Other

The electrical system is said to be fully functional, again all part of the care of duty of the successive owners.

In the trunk of the car, a beautiful tool kit has been preserved as you'll see in the photos - what a lovely thing.

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History and Paperwork

The 20/25 has been subject to bare metal restoration and interior refit, without losing any of its unique character.

Allan has owned this car for around 10 years now. He was friends with the previous owner Richard for some 30 years, and in late 2011 tried to buy the car from him. He initially declined, but some months later agreed to let Allan purchase the car. Richard had already spent many weekends working on reconditioning the car, a total nut and bolt restoration, and Allan took on the car effectively as a project in ~500 parts. Some 9 months later, Allan completed the car in March 2013, and then started to take the car to shows and events.

Going back to the original history, the 20/25 Sedanca Coupe comes with some very detailed and fascinating owners notes and documentation from the cars past, including the Hoopers sectional drawings, photos as well as the original handbook and paperwork. It was ordered by a Brigadier General W.N Bicket directly from Hooper from the London showroom in 1934. It is said that he worked directly with the designer on this car, making it effectively a 1 of 1 20/25. It was then sold in 1937 to a Lancia dealer, when it made its way up to Yorkshire. It was kept by several owners including a lady who bought the car following an accident in a small car and was persuaded by her husband to buy something more substantial. After its brief stay in 'God's Own County', the Rolls briefly had a stay in the south and then back North to County Durham in the mid-'60s. There's an MOT certificate that documents the mileage at 137,858 in 1974, enabling us to record that it has only covered an additional 6,000 miles since then.

Well known by the Rolls-Royce Owners Club, this example has seen a bare metal restoration, interior re-trim, new headling, re-chroming, engine maintenance and recently installed tyres over the last 11 years, as well as paperwork including the fitment of an overdrive gear.

We've actioned our usual checks; Seller ID, V5, HPi check.

Key Details

ModelHooper 20/25 Sedanca Coupe
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date1934
CC3,669
Mileage~143,351
HistorySome
ColourGreen/Black
Interior ColourGreen/Black
Interior TrimWalnut Burr and Leather
Chassis #GMD41
Engine #T6Z
RestoredYes
Engine RebuildYes
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
Tyre BrandExcelsior/Dunlop
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned10 years
Key FeatureUnique Hooper bodywork and history

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Vehicle Location

Stockton-on-Tees

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Seller : Allan F

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2 Comments

D J

3 years ago

Did the Sedanca over the front seats open originally? I assume it doesn’t now?
Is it the original cylinder head?
Any leaks?
Is there any rot in the frame, particularly on the windscreen top rail?
Lastly do the semaphore indicators work?
Have the brakes and servo been overhauled?
Thanks

Allan F

Seller

D J

3 years ago

Hi doug,

Yes the sedanca used to open, but it’s always been sealed shut since I’ve had it.

The car has a replacement cylinder head, and no leaks to report.

No rot in the frame, the car is kept in my garage.

The semaphore indicators work, but I use the fitted electric ones as that’s what road users tend to look out for.

The brakes and servo have indeed been overhauled, a later servo fitted as it’s more effective at providing braking.

Thanks, Allan

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