1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp Panel Brougham de Ville

Following World War I, Rolls-Royce abandoned the ‘one model’ policy they had previously employed, and sought to expand within the luxury top tier echelons of the motor car industry and in 1922 the all-new 20hp or Twenty was introduced to their lineup alongside the simply fabulous 40/50hp Silver Ghost.

The Twenty was built to reflect Henry Royce’s interest in contemporary trends within the American motor car industry, incorporating a singular construction of engine and gearbox, and featuring the modern innovation of a central ball change gearbox and a 'Hotchkiss drive' rear axle. The smooth and silent 3,127cc inline six-cylinder engine benefitted from being Rolls-Royce's first engine with overhead valves. While the car was well received overall, the three-speed, central change transmission was not well liked, so in 1925 the Twenty was reintroduced with four-wheel, servo-assisted brakes and importantly, a four-speed gearbox with a right-hand, gated gearchange.

The 20hp was initially produced to target owner-drivers, but many were sold to customers with chauffeurs, somewhat expected with their clientele at the time. Only the chassis and mechanical parts were made by Rolls-Royce with the bodywork created and fitted by a coachbuilder selected by the owner.

This, right-hand drive example, was purchased new, in rolling chassis form, on 31st January 1927 by Mrs A L Sylvester, a resident of the Plaza Hotel, New York and shipped to the USA aboard the SS Laconia. GAJ 15 wears unusual Panel Brougham de Ville coachwork by the respected coachbuilder Brewster, a company acquired by Rolls-Royce of America Inc. in December 1925.

Presenting in simply fabulous condition, this wonderful example retains its original body and is one of just two built on the 20hp chassis. Credited to Henry Peter, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868), this style of bodywork is noted for its formal upright and square appearance with a forward curving swage line in front of the rear compartment doors. This style was commonly seen on horse-drawn carriages of the time and, when the motorcar was introduced, many carriage designs were simply adapted by coachbuilders to accommodate an engine at the front as opposed to horses. This formal style is often referred to as a Town Car and would likely have been used for taking the owner(s) to the theatre or opera or other formal occasions. The well presented brightwork is nickel silver, and the style of the vertically striped paintwork is known as Dutch Pink although, in this case, it's undoubtedly red and not pink.

Reportedly by Fabergé, the door furniture in the cabin is silver and enamel. The grey cord upholstery is not believed to be original, however, it presents well and the pull-down blinds are silk, albeit expectedly fragile. To confirm the high level of opulence, there is a speaking tube for the passengers to communicate with the chauffeur who sits on black leather seating. The solid artillery wheels present well. GAJ 15 changed hands five times whilst in the USA and was resident in the Powers Automobile Museum in Connecticut in the 1940s and '50s. The car returned to the UK in 1991 and soon after its arrival the engine was stripped and rebuilt before being stored between 2000 and 2005.

Within the car's history file there is a list of all its owners in the USA up to and including the immediately preceding owner in the UK. Other documentation includes copies of the original Order Form and Chassis cards, photocopied literature, a quantity of old MOTs and tax discs, copies of previous registration documents, a current V5C and a most impressive quantity of bills for works carried out and parts purchased whilst with previous owners. The car has benefitted from some gentle recommissioning in our vendor's ownership having been purchased from an elderly gentleman who sadly wasn't able to maintain it due to failing health.

This exceptional motor car comes complete with tools, jack, hubcap tool, rim lever and special grease gun, etc., all housed under the front seats and has a period-correct, Flying Lady mascot on a correct cap. It also comes with an original instruction book, a full set of keys for ignition, bonnet locks, rear compartment, and the padlocks on the spare wheels and the fuel can. Side-screens for the front compartment are kept in a black bag in the rear compartment. This car is featured in several publications including Rolls-Royce in America by John Webb de Campi; The Rolls-Royce Twenty by John Fasal, and Coachwork on Rolls-Royce by Lawrence Dalton. A die-cast scale model of this particular car has been made by Top Marques of Honiton and an example is included in the sale.

With the other car bodied in this style still residing in the USA, and with both examples being owned by the same family in the 1960s, this is a fabulous opportunity to own a very special motor car that epitomises why Rolls-Royce were considered, and remain, the 'Best Car in the World'.