Rolls-Royce 20 hp 1923
General description :
1923 Maharajah of Gwalior Rolls Royce 20hp Barker All weather Cabriolet
Chassis Number: 71A6
Registration Number: EL1017
The best of the best. This car was ordered new by The Maharajah of Gwailor & was shipped to India in 1923. IN 1928 he sold it to the Nirzam of Hyderbad, reputedly the richest man in India at the time. It was fitted when new with the current coachwork by Barker (Body Number 5055) taking the form of a very versatile all weather cabriolet: about the most expensive coachwork available at that time. Being an early car it has the 3 speed centre change gear box & rounded radiator edges.
The car comes to us with a massive history & impeccable provenance including a hand written letter from the son of The Nirzam of Hyderbad recounting his memories of taking the car Tiger hunting back in the day & also driving it along the edges of rice paddies whilst hunting snipe & waterfowl.
The exterior paint is Dark Green over Black & in fine order. To the interior is dark green lightly patinated leather with the roof being lined in West of England cloth. The wind up division has angled windows & makes the front cabin quite snug when driving with the roof down.
From the history file we glean the following:
THE PRINCE'S "BABY ROLLS'
71A6 is an early 1923 2Ohp with original Barker cabriolet body. The first owner was the Maharajah ofGwalior and the car remained in India until 1967. In 1928 the car was given to H.H. of Gwalior whenshe bore a son: Prince Nawab Habeeb Jung the Ameer of Paigah of Hyderabad'. The prince and hisfamily affectionately referred to the car as our Baby Rolls as it stood alongside a 1925 Silver Ghostseven-seater tourer, later sold to Bill Meredith Owens and in which Her Majesty the Queen rodeduring Jubilee year.
The above information was gleaned from a letter the Prince senf to a previous owner and I quote:"l've taken this car into the jungle on Tiger Shoots and chased buck across country. She wentthrough paddy fields on snipe and duck shoots.'.I purchased the car in London in July 1980. The run home to Wiltshire down the M4 proved thatPerhaps the brakes needed attention, although a new MOT came with the car! Temporaryadjustments were made until the brake system was completely overhauled during the 1980/81winter.
Although basically sound, both mechanically and bodily, much work was needed to restorethe car to her former glory.Front wheel hubs, gearbox and clutch have received attention and the car runs much smoother with taut spokes. When purchased, neither the windows~ the split windscreen or the three partcentre division operated correctly. After attention to window mechanisms and with new safety glassall round, another job was done. Door hanging has been adjusted and new hood frames made. Avisit to Cirencester Park in pouring rain, with the afternoon spent catching drips (torrents in bowlsetc), quickly convinced me that new hooding might ease frustration!Resplendent with new hood and most brightwork renicke!led 71A6 now looks very elegant. Theradiused front edge to the radiator and the scuttle mounted Stephen Grebe! tiger tights are unusual,likewise the silver faced instruments with nickel bezels as per original order card.
Most mechanical and bodywork has been carried out by Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations, and Tony Cobum of Blunsdon, Swindon, was responsible for trimming; first class workmanship as usual.
More recently the engine has had a full rebulid wich new pistons, a reground crank & new big & little ends along with a new aluminium cylinder head. As a result the car runs beautifully in perfect silence with oil pressure at 28 PSI even when hot & the temperature gauge never reading over 80 degrees even on long climbs in hot weather. The car runs readily at 45 to 50MPH up hill & down dale.
This is a rare opportunity to purchase what is possibly the best 20HP we have had the pleasure to handle with the added bonus of being a Maharajas car that escaped from India prior to the ban on exports coming into place from that country. It abounds with period details & is in superb order needing nothing having been supplied to the current onwer by the brothers P & A Wood & having covered a scant few miles since then.
There are huge & meticulous bills from Ashton Keynes restoration for a massive refurbishment of the car undertaken upon its return to these shores from India in the 1980's. An interesting Magazine article about Princess Ezra, The Nirzams descendent comes with the car, detailing her restoration of the Nirzams Chowmahalla Palace & having to deal with the Nirzams 42 elderly concubines who were still in residence when she took over the running of the palace.
Please note that the Luggage trunk to the rear has been retained by the curent owner as it was non original to the car & is thus not included in the sale.
http://www.vintagerollsroycecars.com/sales/1795/1923-maharajah-of-gwalior-rolls-royce-20hp-barker-all-weather-cabriolet/
1923 Rolls-Royce 20 hp is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Grays by Vintage Prestige for Not priced.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Rolls-Royce Model : 20 hp Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1923 Sub type : Convertible Color : Green Location : Essex
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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.