Rolls-Royce 25/30 James Young Sports Saloon

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Henry Royce had amongst his many obsessions, a real concern about the ever increasing weight of the coachwork that found its way onto his beautiful chassis’.

The sale of chassis’ only meant that the firm had little control over the coachwork that was fitted to them, leaving the choice of bodywork up to the customer. It was a constant battle to keep up with the ever increasing weight brought about by ever more opulent designs, a problem only solved through engineering more powerful engines and revised gear ratios.

The delightful and delicate Rolls 20 was succeeded in 1929 by the altogether more robust 20/25 for this very reason. Sharing many components with the similarly sized Bentley 3 1/2-litre, it too was further upgraded in 1936 when the bore of the engine was increased to 3 ½-inches giving 4,257cc and renamed the 25/30.

Introduced in the same year as the hugely complex V12 Phantom III and built to the same exacting standards, the company certainly had its hands full. The new 25/30 was fitted with synchromesh on third and top and powerful mechanical servo brakes produced under license from Hispano-Suiza. Contemporary road tests commented on the exquisite precision of all the controls, the entire absence of mechanical noise and the uncanny smoothness of the ride –one saying that the car behaved so beautifully that it was difficult to drive badly.

Although designed with the owner/driver in mind, many 25/30s ended up with rather formal coachwork, thus it is nice to find a car with a more sporting saloon body. First registered CYR 1 on 17 July 1936, chassis number GUL 73 was one of only three cars bodied by James Young of Bromley to their sports saloon design. Supplied through Rolls-Royce agents W H Johnson and Sons of Kings Lynn, it was delivered to Major William Parker, an equerry to King George V (who died shortly before the car was delivered), the car being a regular visitor to the Sandringham Estate where Major Parker had a grace and favour residence - Babingly Hall.

It is understood that the car was laid up during World War Two, thereafter passing into the ownership of Mr F Dane. An RAC inspection from 1956 states that the mileage at this time was 43,285 miles, the car then being in the ownership of Mr Bell who kept the car for almost 50 years until his death in 2005. During his tenure, Mr Bell kept copious notes, including retaining a vast number of invoices and detailed correspondence relating to servicing, repair and improvements.

Between 1985 and 1986, the car underwent a major restoration by Phantom Motors of Farnham which included a bare metal respray, rebuilt running-boards, full undersealing, a replacement cylinder head with new valves and guides and a stainless steel exhaust. The brakes were also overhauled including a replacement brake servo, fresh linings as well as work to the interior leather and seats. The woodwork was restored along with new carpets and attention to the wiring including the fitment of modern indicators to supplement the original semaphore arms (which these days are a mystery to any fellow motorist under the age of 50!).

The cost of this work amounted to over £15,000, the recorded mileage at this time being 85,882 miles. After Mr Bell’s death, the vehicle passed through two further owners who added fewer than 300 miles to the total before entering the hands of the current owner in 2011.

During his ownership, the car has been sympathetically maintained and improved with various mechanical and cosmetic improvements and comes with a correct flying lady mascot and two town-caps. The car has attended numerous RREC rallies having added some 1,500 miles since acquisition. Described by the vendor as a first time starter, he adds that the current mileage is still less than 88,000 miles from new which is backed up by literally hundreds of documents spanning some 60 years.

The original registration number CYR 1 is to be retained by the owner and is available by separate negotiation.