Registration No: TJ 7378
Chassis No: GWE 36
MOT: Exempt

• Very rare Joseph Cockshoot bodied Limousine
• Current ownership since 1997 with over £50,000 of bills
• Comprehensive history file from new including buff log book and copies of the original build sheet
• Original registration number

Rolls-Royce introduced the 20/25 in 1929 as a successor to the outgoing 20hp model. Although the newcomer was primarily aimed at owner drivers, many examples were nevertheless sold to customers with chauffeurs. The four-speed manual gearbox featured the manufacturer's traditional right-hand change and was equipped with synchromesh on the top two ratios from 1932 onwards. The substantial chassis sported rigid axles front and rear suspended on semi-elliptic leaf springs. The four-wheeled braking was mechanically servo-assisted. Power came from an enlarged version of the straight-six OHV unit used in the 20hp. Now displacing 3,699cc, it made for swifter acceleration and a higher top speed of up to 75mph. The increased capacity of some 570cc gave useful extra power and allowed coachbuilders of the day to experiment and offer more intricate body styles without impeding performance. A small number of orders were sent to Manchester to be clothed in bodies by Manchester coachbuilders Joseph Cockshoot and Company.

There are two parts to the story of chassis GWE36 - the first is that the body fitted to the car currently was originally fitted to chassis GPS14 in 1931 and this combination was presented at the London Olympia Motor show on the Cockshoot display. According to copies of the chassis cards provided in the history file and fast forwarding to 24th November 1934, on the order of Colonel A. T. Porritt of Grange-over-Sands, chassis GWE36 was delivered with the re-fitted body from GPS14. Colonel Porritt is understood to have owned the car for some 13 years until another military man, Captain Winterbottom of Tarporley, Cheshire became the second owner. Throughout the car's life, it had a further four custodians until the vendor acquired it in 2001. The vendor, a renowned wedding car provider in South London, has kept and used the car in this time, treating it to extensive works mechanically and cosmetically but also that were somewhat sympathetic, as the car retains much originality such as its door cards and original interior light fittings and woodwork. The vendor understands he has spent over £50,000 on maintenance (with bills to show) whilst the car has been in his custodianship, which included a radiator re-core, fitment of an Aluminium cylinder head, works to the paintwork and a sympathetic interior overhaul only where necessary and using the highest quality, period style leather to match. The vendor describes the car as being in 'very good' order throughout, and is confident of the car's reliability. He rates the interior as 'very good' for the age and the exterior as being in 'very good' condition. Now presented as a very rare opportunity to buy something a little different from an obscure Mancunian coachbuilder, chassis GWE36 is sure to turn heads at any Rolls Royce / Bentley show or could be put to work as she has been so recently.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430