The Rolls-Royce Twenty, introduced in 1922, was a major move for the Company, since it represented the first new model since the great Silver Ghost went into production in 1907.  Still with the same world-beating standard of engineering quality as the Ghost, the model was smaller and more manoeuvrable, and designed to appeal to owner-drivers as well as the chauffeur. Performance was magnificently flexible and the whole drivetrain extraordinarily silent and the steering offered jewel-like precision, incidentally bringing a whole new range of customers to Rolls-Royce as the car appealed mightily to lady drivers of the era.
Rolls-Royce had built a very strong relationship with the coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly, and one of the most handsome and also most popular coachwork designs on the Twenty was the classic tourer of which we are proud to offer an uncommonly delightful example today. The car was despatched on the 2nd June 1926 to Thrupp & Maberly with the coachwork undertaken in July 1926.
Originally ordered by Rootes Limited of 141 New Bond Street, W1 and delivered into its first owner, Mrs S Hardman-Hoyle of Haslemere. According to correspondence from the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club Mrs Hardman-Hoyle was an interesting figure in public social work and the car was used extensively for her activities in this field.
GZK81 was purchased by the current vendors from Coys in 1994 and has been cherished ever since and used on rallies including the Gordon Bennett Rally in Ireland earlier this summer.
The Rolls-Royce Twenty, introduced in 1922, was a major move for the Company, since it represented the first new model since the great Silver Ghost went into production in 1907.  Still with the same world-beating standard of engineering quality as the Ghost, the model was smaller and more manoeuvrable, and designed to appeal to owner-drivers as well as the chauffeur. Performance was magnificently flexible and the whole drivetrain extraordinarily silent and the steering offered jewel-like precision, incidentally bringing a whole new range of customers to Rolls-Royce as the car appealed mightily to lady drivers of the era.
Rolls-Royce had built a very strong relationship with the coachbuilders Thrupp & Maberly, and one of the most handsome and also most popular coachwork designs on the Twenty was the classic tourer of which we are proud to offer an uncommonly delightful example today. The car was despatched on the 2nd June 1926 to Thrupp & Maberly with the coachwork undertaken in July 1926.
Originally ordered by Rootes Limited of 141 New Bond Street, W1 and delivered into its first owner, Mrs S Hardman-Hoyle of Haslemere. According to correspondence from the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club Mrs Hardman-Hoyle was an interesting figure in public social work and the car was used extensively for her activities in this field.
GZK81 was purchased by the current vendors from Coys in 1994 and has been cherished ever since and used on rallies including the Gordon Bennett Rally in Ireland earlier this summer.
A significant history file includes copies of the original build sheets and old MoT certificates; further invoices show a large amount of bills from various specialists from the late 1980s and early 1990s including invoices from Ro-Ben Cars totalling over £12,000 and a  further  £8,485 from Alan Geater as well as bills from specialists A and S Engineering totalling over £7,000; more recently the Dynamo has been overhauled. Further documents include an original 20HP Instruction booklet amongst other sundry items. Earlier this summer it completed.
The body work is finished in burgundy over black wings with a spare wheel mounted on the near side. The sumptuous interior is finished in red leather and is reported to be in good overall condition. The leather also extends to the door cards with black carpet to the floor and wet weather equipment is present.
Retaining many original features with the open tourer bodywork, whose proportions are exceptional from every angle, it is described by the vendor as being in good condition throughout. An ideal opportunity to experience the fun and astonishing quality of Vintage Rolls-Royce motoring.
View 1926 Rolls-Royce 20HP Open Tourer by Thrupp & Maberly on www.coys.co.uk for further details.