Beschreibung:

This Rolls-Royce 20/25 owner-driver sports saloon wears elegant, close-coupled, Continental-style coachwork by Rippon Brothers, of Huddersfield, Yorkshire. Britain's oldest coachbuilder and without question one of its finest, Rippon could trace its origins back to the middle of the 16th Century, and in pre-war days was ranked alongside the likes of Barker, Hooper, H J Mulliner and Park Ward. Needless to say, Rippon products were necessarily expensive and only to be found on the very best chassis, those of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler and Delage predominating during the 1930s. This unique Rolls-Royce 20/25 has recorded just 61,000 miles from new and comes with detailed service and ownership history. On 11th April 1933, Rolls-Royce raised the original chassis build card to supply Rippon with a 20/25hp long-wheelbase chassis - number 'GSY 3' - which was on test by the middle of May and delivered on 8th June. The completed car was first registered on 27th July 1933 in the name of Sir Arthur J Hill of Denton, Ilkley, Yorkshire and maintained by local Rolls-Royce agents Ross Bros. On its owner's death the car was re-registered in the name of Lady Hill. In 1936 the car was sold by Rippon Brothers to Mr Dennis Hartley of Harrogate, with 16,000 miles recorded. Mr Hartley owned the car for 20 years. 'YG 4580' was purchased in 1956 from Rolls-Royce agents Hoffmanns Ltd of Halifax by next private owner Mr Michael Aykroyd of Pool House, Arthington, Yorkshire, the recorded mileage of 36,000 being certified by Mr Hartley and confirmed by Mr Aykroyd. In 1960 the car was discovered in dilapidated condition at Poole Bridge Garage by the Rev J P Cooper of Catton, Thirsk, Yorkshire. The mileage now stood at 51,094. Between June and December 1960 the car was thoroughly cleaned and then towed to Rippon Brothers, where it was completely restored by many of the craftsmen who had built it originally. The work, completed in June 1962, included a total engine rebuild. (Rippon's detailed invoice dated 23rd August 1961 is available). The car was advertised for sale in the October 1962 edition of The Flying Lady and purchased later that same year by Mr B J Missinger of Santa Barbara, California, USA. Mileage on purchase was 51,700. The car enjoyed three further owners in the USA (details available) before returning to the UK in 1996 and being purchased by Mr Adrian Tennison in October that year, by which time the recorded mileage had risen to 60,584. In July 2000 the present owner acquired 'YG 4580' from Mr Tennison's deceased estate. The car was thoroughly cleaned, the chassis fully serviced and the engine rebuilt, these works being completed in November 2000. In December 2000 the coachwork was renovated and repainted where necessary, while further mechanical and other maintenance tasks have been undertaken in succeeding years (details available). The current mileage total stands at 60,998, so the engine will require further running in. Finished in black over blue with supremely well appointed blue leather interior, the car comes with a full complement of fitted tools and original suitcases, Continental luggage rack and original bevelled vanity mirrors to the doors. Bulls-eye headlamps, twin trumpet horns and a fully encased side mounted spare are only some of the many other features that enhance this exciting 'miniature Phantom'. The vehicle is offered with all small tools, owner's handbook, mascot, sundry invoices, recently expired MoT (April 2004) and Swansea V5 registration document.