Rolls-Royce 20/25 (1931)

A sweet, correct and handsome car, bodied by H.J. Mulliner under Weymann patents, but actually carries Croall & Sons coachbuilder plates, as was sometimes the case, due to the two companies being closely associated - in fact, Croall owned H.J. Mulliner. The car, being an early 20/25, benefits from various early features, including short radiator, riveted bonnet, etc, as well as having delightful, precise steering, and the lightweight ‘half panelled’ body, gives it relatively sprightly performance. We sold the car in 2008, at which time it was exported to Norway, from where it has just returned, having been with one owner during its time there. Running well, driving nicely, to be fitted with a new set of tyres, and offered newly MoT tested.


Chassis No. GTR33 Reg. No. SC 9944 £42,500.


Snippets: Costume Party that Cost the Host his Company
According to the chassis cards the first owner was James Hazen Hyde of Paris (1876/1959), his father was the founder of Equitable Life Assurance Society which James inherited in 1899 aged just 23. In January 1905 James held a costume party at Sherry’s restaurant in Paris which according to rumours he charged to his company. This was incorrect but was too much for members of the Equitable Society and that year they demanded his resignation, James did resign and also left America to live in Paris where during WWI he donated his home on Rue Adolphe Yvon to the Red Cross for which, in gratitude he was awarded the Legion D’honneur. He remained in France until the outbreak of WWII when he returned to America. It is thought that James Hyde did not actually take delivery of GTR33 as the chassis cards show that the car was delivered to John Croall & Son as a demonstrator in Edinburgh; the next name on the chassis cards is that of R. Cousin whose address of 14 Church Hall, Edinburgh which was used as a bolt hole for Isabel Patino prior to her marriage to Sir James Goldsmith in 1954. The 3rd name is that of the Rt Hon Lord Forres of Glenogil of Forfar – this, we think, refers to the 2nd Baron Forres of Glenogil director of Balfour, Williamson & Co and Chairman of Lobitos Oilfield established in Peru in the early 1900s.

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