Rolls-Royce Twenty 1923
General description :
1923 Rolls 20hp Doctors Coupe by Mitchell of Nottingham.
Chassis number: 86k2
Registration number: NN6154
Chassis number '86K2' carries well proportioned coupé-with-dickey-seat coachwork by the little known Nottingham-based firm of F Mitchell Ltd, at whose Derby Road premises it was finally tested in December 1923. Accompanying copy chassis cards record the first private owner as J E Cahn of Papplewick Grange, Nottingham, this being Sir Julien Cahn whose biography 'The Eccentric Entrepreneur' describes his as 'businessman, philanthropist, magician and cricket-lover.' Two further owners are recorded on the cards: H Knight and A Craven-Smith-Milnes, both in Nottinghamshire, the latter acquiring the car in November 1945.
By the mid/late 1970s the Twenty had passed into the ownership of Mr Terry Talbot, a dealer in luxury cars based at St Annes, Lancashire, who drove it to Windsor in 1977 to participate in the parade of Rolls-Royce cars forming part of HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations (see press cutting and event programme on file). The current vendor acquired the car for museum display in 2009, the immediately preceding owner being recorded as Mrs Jane Lever of Bramhall, Lancashire.
The car is finished in good green paintwork with black to the wings and presents very nicely. The real beauty of this car is that it is largely untouched & is in very original order throughout, right down to the tool kit located in the running boards.
To the interior is older black leather in good serviceable order with matching black carpets. The door cards are beautiful wooden items with fine marquetry with the theme continuing to the dash board & twin cubby holes located either side of the dash. It really is a splendid & delightful interior. A St Christopher is mounted on the dash to watch over one on journeys. An early car; the gear changes is of the central 3 speed variety.
The car is tidy under the bonnet & has both its original under trays in situ along with its brass Lukas oil can. The engine is very quiet starting readily & running beautifully. To the rear is a useful dickey seat adequate for two persons. The hood is of Japanned black leather & folds easily down after breaking the twin pram irons. Original ace wheel discs cover the wire wheels, whilst the spare is rear mounted.
These little 20's are a delight to drive with delicate steering, an easy gear change & willing little engine; perfect for exploring the leafy lanes of summer.
http://www.vintagerollsroycecars.com/car-details/1923-rolls-20hp-doctors-coupe-by-mitchell_1129.html
1923 Rolls-Royce Twenty is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Grays by Vintage Prestige for £72000.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : Twenty Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1923 Sub type : Coupé Location : Essex Vehicle Registration : Normal
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About Rolls-Royce
Well, ladies and gentlemen, today we're diving into the illustrious history of a brand that has always embodied the very essence of British luxury and craftsmanship - Rolls-Royce.Our story begins at the turn of the 20th century when two visionaries, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, decided to join forces. In 1904, the very first Rolls-Royce was born, the Rolls-Royce 10 hp. It was a modest start for a company that would go on to redefine automotive excellence.
But it wasn't until 1907 that Rolls-Royce truly made its mark with the introduction of the Silver Ghost. It was hailed as the "Best Car in the World" and set the gold standard for luxury motoring. With its whisper-quiet engine and exquisite craftsmanship, it was a statement of opulence and refinement.
The 1920s brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom I, an icon of its time. It was the first Rolls-Royce to feature a 6-cylinder engine and set the stage for the legendary Phantom line. This was the era when the Maharajas of India commissioned custom-bodied Rolls-Royces that were nothing short of automotive palaces.
Fast forward to the post-war years, and we have the Silver Cloud, a symbol of post-war British optimism. The Silver Cloud was elegance personified, with its flowing lines and handcrafted interiors. It was the choice of royalty, celebrities, and captains of industry.
But if we're talking about the epitome of Rolls-Royce luxury, it's the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which graced us with its presence from 1968 to 1991. This was a car that made the statement that "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." Customization was the name of the game, and the Phantom VI was a canvas for the world's wealthiest to express their unique tastes.
Now, it's impossible to discuss Rolls-Royce without mentioning the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Produced from 1971 to 1995, it was a convertible and coupe version of the Silver Shadow. The Corniche was the quintessential grand tourer, a car for those who wished to traverse continents in absolute luxury.
But, alas, even the mightiest must face their decline, and Rolls-Royce was no exception. The company went through financial turmoil in the 1970s and 80s, leading to the takeover by Vickers plc. Then came the controversial BMW and Volkswagen ownership period, which divided enthusiasts.
Rolls-Royce regained its footing under BMW ownership, and the new millennium brought us the Rolls-Royce Phantom VII, a return to the company's roots of uncompromising luxury. The Phantom VII was a testament to British engineering and craftsmanship.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us to today. Rolls-Royce continues to produce some of the most opulent, bespoke vehicles on the planet, a symbol of British imperiousness that has not waned with time. The spirit of Sir Henry Royce and Charles Rolls lives on in every car that bears the Spirit of Ecstasy, a testament to the enduring legacy of British automotive excellence.