1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25

This rare car was bodied as a Sports Saloon by the esteemed Manchester coachbuilders Joseph Cockshoot & Co, a firm noted for the very high quality of its work.

It was delivered new to a gentleman in Oldham in 1935 and, in 1959, it was owned by a man whose postal address was the intriguing ‘Weir Common Room, University College, Oxford.’ 

At some point it crossed the Atlantic. We know it was in New York State in 1961.

We also know that it was at one time part of a motor museum in the US. 

In 2010 it underwent a significant restoration in the US, carried out, we’re told, by a ‘highly experienced British auto engineer’. 

As well as the bodywork and interior, the restoration included the engine, drivetrain and mechanicals.

At some point, possibly during the US restoration, it changed colour from its original silver to the black over yellow you see today. 

It seems logical to assume that it would have acquired the nickname of ‘Buttercup’ at roughly the same time.

The vendor is selling this car as part of a collection owned by his late brother. 

It has been running in the not too distant past but has been idle in storage for some time now and is, consequently, a project in need recommissioning.

We can confirm that the engine does turn over by hand.

Aside from some fairly obvious damage to the nearside rear corner of the car, it is actually in really very decent overall condition and would, we think, make an excellent winter project for someone with the right levels of enthusiasm and knowledge. 

The Cockshoot ‘Sports Saloon’ body sits atop a Rolls-Royce 20/25 ‘long type’ chassis.

It’s a combination that helps the car presently very well, in our opinion, and we think it achieves an aesthetically pleasing balance of (relatively) compact proportions and stylish lines. 

The nearside rear corner of the car has taken a bash and will need some professional expertise to get it back to its former glory. The boot lid is detached (but present), for obvious reasons.

Aside from that, though, the bodywork is pretty much free of any dinks, dents, creases or other aberrations of real significance or consequence.

The running boards are solid and sound, and the doors close with plenty of coach-built heft and authority.

Even the paintwork has done a reasonable job of retaining much of its shine and lustre, with not much more than a pretty standard number and distribution of scuffs, scratches and stone chips around the car in the usual places.

The brightwork is shiny and free of any noticeable foxing, pitting or tarnishing.

The lights, lenses badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all good, too, and there’s impressive attention to detail in features such as the driver’s side wing mirror mounted on top of the spare wheel with leather straps.

The black wire wheels are in good order. We imagine the tyres are decidedly long in the tooth.

There’s more soft brown hide in here than you’d find at a rodeo, and most of it is in very good condition.

Buttery and supple, the brown leather upholstery has yet to earn more than the odd light crease, let alone any ingrained patina.

There is a length of detached trim on the front passenger seat.

The rear seat backs are not fixed in place at the moment and there’s nothing between them and the interior of the boot. It looks like a job that might have been paused at some point and never restarted. 

The leather on the door cards is also very good, although possibly very slightly baggy here and there.

The carpeted sections at the base of the door cards and the rearward bases of the front seats are a tad scruffy in places, but are broadly pretty decent.

Elsewhere, the brown carpets have stood up well, and the headlining and wooden inserts are decent, save for a couple of faint marks to the former and the odd scratch or two on the latter.

The steering wheel, gear lever and other controls all appear to be in order but, as we haven’t started or driven the car, we can’t vouch for their behaviour or efficacy.

The engine and engine bay are reassuringly clean and dry, and everything appears to be in its right and proper place, as far as we can see.

The car’s chassis and underpinnings look to have plenty of structural integrity, and we’ve seen absolutely nothing to make doubt the car’s solidity or soundness.

The car comes with all sorts of copies of original build and specification sheets, plus a photographic record of the restoration accompanied by a record of the work carried out and at what cost. 

More up-to-date history is rather thinner on the ground, largely because the car has been leading a very quiet life in recent years.

We’ve seen quite a few 20/25s here at HQ, but we can’t recall ever encountering a Cockshoot-bodied specimen before.

This is a rare car and, while it will require work to sort out some obvious issues, much of the restoration and refurbishment heavy lifting was done by other people (so you don’t have to) around 15 years ago.

We think it has the makings of a very fine car indeed and fully expect its next owner to enjoy many happy years of pedigree motoring. 

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET, HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.