1929 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Limousine de Ville by Thrupp & Maberley

This Rolls-Royce Twenty’s chassis number of GEN51 designates it as hailing from late in the production life of the model. GEN51 left Derby on the 17th of June 1929 to travel to Thrupp & Maberly in the West End. Roughly one month later the Twenty would receive its last test at the hands of Thrupp & Maberly having been fitted with their stylish Limousine de Ville body. Interestingly factory paperwork shows that GEN51 had been sold to Rootes Limited in Piccadilly back in April of 1929 with a 15% discount applied and a final sale price of £1,014 6s 9d. In this instance, Rootes, who bought Thrupp & Maberly four years prior, were in turn supplying the car to Mr Clive Nuttall of Cowes in the Isle of Wight.

In February 1932 GEN51 was sold to Padden Brothers of London SW7 who were prominent motor agents and coachwork distributors for the sum of £675. Several owners would enjoy GEN51 between then and the late 1930’s by which time the Twenty was in Perthshire in Scotland. A further three Perthshire based owners would follow before the Twenty crossed the Atlantic to first Massachusetts and then to New York.

By 1977 the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club were setting up their new HQ at the Hunt House in Paulerspury, Northamptonshire. At that time many of the club’s members had pre-war cars and it seems that GEN51 was gifted to the club with it taking up residence at the Hunt House right from its opening days. The club then removed key sections and panels from the Twenty in order to demonstrate and showcase the way in which these fascinating early cars were built and engineered. From then on, the Twenty affectionately became known as the “Sectioned Rolls-Royce.” 

Once the more recent history of GEN51 is explained the external condition of the Twenty makes a lot more sense. It has the look of an in progress restoration that stopped dead around fifty years ago. That is until one notes some cutaways and Perspex windows that have no place in a straightforward restoration.

Enough of the fabric of the car remains, however, for it to be clearly recognisable as a 20HP with a desirable Thrupp & Maberly town car style body. The elements of the body that remain in place are finished in black and a set of yellow painted cross-spoked wheels ensure it gets noticed and that it can legitimately be classed as a “rolling project.” The observant onlooker will notice that various key body facets have been removed in the name of automotive education. These included the hinged bonnet, the front wings, headlamps, running boards, a rear wing, the driver’s side panel from the scuttle and a nearside front door skin. In addition to this some cutaways have been created to help better demonstrate the peerless hidden quality that lies beneath. These cutaway sections include the top of the scuttle above the pedals, a section on the back of the Thrupp & Maberly passenger cabin roof and a sizeable slice out of the cabin’s rear panel.

The overall condition has clearly benefitted from around half a century of being stored inside. Despite this there are the usual chips, cracks and imperfections to the bodywork commensurate with a demonstration vehicle that will have been poured over by legions of inquisitive club members. The great news is that many of the missing panels aren’t missing at all and, in fact, are included with GEN51. These have been photographed for your review, but the larger, more obvious parts include the running boards, the missing front and one rear wing, the hinged bonnet and various cutaway remnants.

The interior of GEN51 has been comprehensively stripped out. The seats have been removed as has any carpeting and much of the cabin floor. Not much of what would have been a sumptuously appointed cabin remains in situ, but this does make for an instructive display vehicle or the perfect blank canvas for a future restoration or recommissioning.

What are in situ, however, are the major controls (pedals, steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake), most of the fascia bar the main two gauges and some of the door panels. Other door panels have been removed to showcase the chain operated window winder mechanism. Another fascinating feature are the Perspex covered inspection ports into the gearbox and bell housing. Given that these Perspex covers feature gaskets it could be assumed that they do not impede the utility of the components they reveal.

Once again there is a reassuring cache of removed interior parts included with the Twenty and photographed for your perusal. These clearly include seat cushions, floor panels and plenty of varnished wood and metal trim pieces.

The Rolls-Royce Twenty may have been a smaller, entry-level model but it was still a Rolls-Royce! As such its mechanical specification was among the best available at the time. The Inline 6-cylinder overhead-valve engine has a capacity of 3,127cc and a cast-iron monobloc cylinder block and detachable cylinder head. It has a 7-bearing crankshaft with vibration damper and a pressure-fed lubrication system and single Rolls-Royce carburettor. This being a late production model it benefits from both the desirable four speed gearbox (for more go) and the all-round servo aided braking system (for more stopping). The club reports that both the engine and the brakes are in working order.

No need to wrestle the multi-hinged bonnet in this Twenty in order to feast your eyes on that watershed straight six engine! Given that this unit is reported as a runner we can assume it hasn’t been stripped back at all. In fact, it looks very nicely presented indeed and, of course, highly original. The visible G7X engine number is confirmed as GEN51’s original factory fitted unit. There are some nicely polished alloys on display here that contrast strongly with the black painted block, cam cover and other heavy-duty hardware. The underside looks very well presented and original, its condition no doubt aided by its long-term ambient living conditions at the Hunt House.

The paperwork archive is made up of photocopies of the factory records which are most informative. The originals may well reside in the official Rolls-Royce sanctioned record archive that is also housed at the Hunt House. What is here gives enough detail to piece together GEN51’s life story with only a couple of vague periods whilst the car was in the USA.

This is a fascinating example of the Rolls-Royce Twenty from the last year of model production. Its proximity to the RREC over the last fifty years or so must be a huge boon to potential buyers as must the extensive cache of parts and panels which were likely removed from the car around fifty years ago. Certainly, a one-off example with some of the most respected and sought after coachwork ever to grace a 20HP.

It’s current status as “the sectioned Rolls-Royce” provides potential buyers with a choice of options. GEN51 could, of course, stay as a display vehicle in a museum or private car collection. Alternatively, it could provide a very solid and well-preserved foundation for a full restoration to return it to its original splendour. Offered here without reserve, we believe it will prove a popular and desirable lot.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) 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’.