The Dawn of Motoring Sale 2023 4th August 2023

68 The Dawn of Motoring Sale 2023 - Cars Registration: BF 4349 Chassis No.: GAJ15 Estimate: £40,000 - £50,000 Lot 285 1927 Rolls-Royce 20hp Panel Brougham de Ville 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 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 1950s. 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. 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. Offered 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. A simply stunning 1927 20hp, one of only two bodied by Brewster as a Brougham de Ville and featured in numerous Rolls-Royce publications. Consignor: Harry Fox-Edwards Telephone No: 07398 872032 More Details Lot 285 Bid On Lot 285