1925 Rolls-Royce 20 HP

1925 Rolls Royce 20hp Landaulette by Elkington.

Chassis Number: YM2250

Registration Number: GPK41

The car was originally sold to H Tyrell Gray of 68 Harley Street London W1 who later adopted his parents surnames in hyphenated form Tyrell-Gray. Prior to delivery the car was despatched to Elkington, Coach Builder who it is believed took a Landaulette body which had been built for a larger car and adapted it to fit GPK41. In 1931 Harry Tyrell-Gray suffered a serious illness from which it is believed he never recovered, as a consequence in October 1931 the car was re-registered in his wife's name.

According to Rolls-Royce records the third owner was was Mr Percy P. Rilett of Worksop, Nottinghamshire but the date of his acquisition is unknown, he was a garage proprietor and motor engineer.

The next owner was F. Thorley of Milestone Cafe in Retford Nottinghamshire who purchased the car in November 1956 after which knowledge of the car's whereabouts are sadly missing.

Old V5 documents show that GPK41 later moved to Manchester under the ownership of Robert Gresty, past President of The British Institute of Funeral Directors. No doubt it was used as a follower car in funeral processions.

Some time before 1965 it is believed that GPK41 may have been re-painted by Hooper & Co Ltd and incorrectly attracted the name of Hooper to describe the coachbuilder rather than Elkington.

In the July 1970 edition of the RREC Bulletin GPK41 is recorded as being in the hands of Richard Burge of Axbridge, Somerset but erroneously described as a 1925 Hooper Landaulette.

In August 2016 the car was acquired by the head of an engineering firm near Crewe. It changed hands on two more occasions, being kept for a number of years in storage as part of a large Italian collection.

Under the current ownership considerable money has been spent including the fuel tank being removed & refurbished & also a brand new radiator core in the correct honeycomb pattern fabricated & installed by noted experts Anglia Radiators. The AUtovac has also been overhauled & numerous other small jobs attended to.

This is a car with a lot of originality & charming patination aquired over its 101 years of life. The rear seat lether is original to the car & it is fitted with fold out occasional seat making it a true 7 seater. The rear landaulette roof is in good condition & folds open easily affording the read passengers an alfresco motoring experience.

In stock now it is ready for its next owner to become custodian of it