Beschreibung:

1926 Rolls-Royce 20hp Roadster
Coachwork by Diskon & Molyneux (Australia)
Registration no. BF 9865
Chassis no. GUK21
Engine no. G1736• Delivered new to Australia
• Re-bodied as a roadster in 1975
• Engine last rebuilt in 1997
• Recently recommissioned
"This model was introduced to meet requests for a smaller, less expensive car in keeping with the trend after the First World War towards smaller cars for a wider market. Construction was simplified - but standards of workmanship were not compromised..." - Edward Eves, Rolls-Royce - 75 Years of Motoring Excellence.
Produced alongside the renowned 40/50hp Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the 20hp model was equally well engineered and became popular as a lighter alternative suitable for a wide range of body styles. The 3,127cc, six-cylinder, monobloc engine featured overhead valves and drove via an in-unit gearbox, single plate clutch, and open shaft with spiral bevel drive. As the company's founder Henry Royce said when the car was introduced, "simplicity was one of the aims of the designers, but not at the expense of perfection". Intended principally as an 'owner driver' car, the Twenty sold well during the period following hostilities, being popular as a town car while many were fitted with touring bodies.
This particular Rolls-Royce 20hp was originally fitted with a four-door saloon body by Motor Bodies London and shipped new to Australia for its first owner, a Dr Harding. In 1956 the car was dismantled, the body removed, and the engine rebuilt (the body was later restored and found its way onto a 1929 Rolls-Royce). In 1968 one Alexander Hawke bought the chassis, which after his death was re-bodied in 1975 as a two-seater roadster, with large boot, by Diskon & Molyneux of Sydney. By this time the car was like new. Then the engine was rebuilt again (in 1997) and the Rolls enjoyed three further owners in Australia up to 2021 when our vendor purchased the car and brought it back to the UK. Since then the Twenty has received a new starter ring and a new fabric hood (both in 2023) while benefiting from numerous adjustments including a clutch check (2023). Modifications from factory specification include flashing indicators; brake lights; windscreen wiper; heavy-duty battery; and a stronger rear main bearing. According to our vendor the Rolls is in generally excellent condition and starts and drives well. Accompanying paperwork includes copy factory build sheets; factory 'Handbook' and 'Catalogue of Parts'; Rolls-Royce Instructions (photocopy); useful set of tools and some spares; sundry bills; and a V5C Registration Certificate.