The Rolls Royce 20/25 restoration thread
Discussion
Some of you asked me to start a thread on this project, so here goes.
The history behind the car: She was bought new by my wife's great uncle, Welby Skinner, from Jack Barclay's in 1933. Apparently he also purchased a new mink coat that day too for his wife...to pacify her.
The coachwork is by Mann Egerton, which I don't believe is the most sought after. Originally the car had running boards but was updated at some point to have the wings built out over them and along the bottom of the doors. It's a slightly peculiar arrangement as they are 'suicide' doors and therefore a section had to be constructed between them to allow them to open. (I'll add a pic in the thread later). The doors originally had a kind of weave effect, though I'm not sure whether it was a paint effect or real weave of sorts.
Welby died in 1984 and the Rolls was taken on by Malcolm, the son of his second wife, who lived in the house with them . Though Malcolm wasn't an engineer, he was from engineering stock and it was in his veins...perhaps to the detriment of the Rolls in later years. He'd take things apart and fiddle with them, taking so long to do so they might not have made it back to the car. The headlights, or 'projectors' according to Rolls Royce, sat on his sofa for 18 years! His knowledge was immense but his style chaotic. Now I'm picking up the pieces...many of which could have been distributed anywhere in a large, extremely cluttered, bachelor's house. I'm hoping I've found everything, but time will tell.
Malcolm died late last year but had gifted the Rolls to me earlier, albeit it remained unroadworthy at his house. For the previous three years or so, I had been giving up a Sunday where possible to visit Malcolm so we could play with the car. And play was literally all we ever did, as 20 minutes in he would often go for a rest in front of a blaring cable TV channel and doze off. Not much progress was ever made and by return visits he'd have removed something else from the car. My fears came true last year when he died, taking with him a lot of knowledge that I needed. He had made it into the 50 year ownership club and had the badge to prove it, suggesting Welby had gifted the car to him around 1970.
Malcolm's intention was for the car to continue in one family ownership and I am the honoured latest custodian. Hopefully I can afford to keep it, but it comes with great expense, including the need to build a completely new garage that is a minimum 6m long to house it! There are nice little touches to prove the family history, for example lead seals on split pins stamped with WS, MM and now my initials from where all three of us have worked on those parts. There is also an engraved plate on the inside doors with the names of the previous two owners and mine is to be added.
So in a nutshell, a nice little history with more to come I'm sure. Below is a picture of Welby Skinner back in the day. He lived in Harley Street where he had a dental practice. Here he is at a dinner where he had been presented with the adornment around his neck. It's made from teeth veneers! I have it at home now. It's hideous!!
The next picture is from my wedding 27 years ago, where I looked a right plonker but the car and my wife excelled. I had spent hours polishing the Rolls for the big day. Sadly it has been many years since it looked like that, but hopefully with some effort, luck and pleasure, it will rise again!
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/6s2WMxFb.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/snZ3sdM6" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/snZ3sdM6.jpg)
The history behind the car: She was bought new by my wife's great uncle, Welby Skinner, from Jack Barclay's in 1933. Apparently he also purchased a new mink coat that day too for his wife...to pacify her.
The coachwork is by Mann Egerton, which I don't believe is the most sought after. Originally the car had running boards but was updated at some point to have the wings built out over them and along the bottom of the doors. It's a slightly peculiar arrangement as they are 'suicide' doors and therefore a section had to be constructed between them to allow them to open. (I'll add a pic in the thread later). The doors originally had a kind of weave effect, though I'm not sure whether it was a paint effect or real weave of sorts.
Welby died in 1984 and the Rolls was taken on by Malcolm, the son of his second wife, who lived in the house with them . Though Malcolm wasn't an engineer, he was from engineering stock and it was in his veins...perhaps to the detriment of the Rolls in later years. He'd take things apart and fiddle with them, taking so long to do so they might not have made it back to the car. The headlights, or 'projectors' according to Rolls Royce, sat on his sofa for 18 years! His knowledge was immense but his style chaotic. Now I'm picking up the pieces...many of which could have been distributed anywhere in a large, extremely cluttered, bachelor's house. I'm hoping I've found everything, but time will tell.
Malcolm died late last year but had gifted the Rolls to me earlier, albeit it remained unroadworthy at his house. For the previous three years or so, I had been giving up a Sunday where possible to visit Malcolm so we could play with the car. And play was literally all we ever did, as 20 minutes in he would often go for a rest in front of a blaring cable TV channel and doze off. Not much progress was ever made and by return visits he'd have removed something else from the car. My fears came true last year when he died, taking with him a lot of knowledge that I needed. He had made it into the 50 year ownership club and had the badge to prove it, suggesting Welby had gifted the car to him around 1970.
Malcolm's intention was for the car to continue in one family ownership and I am the honoured latest custodian. Hopefully I can afford to keep it, but it comes with great expense, including the need to build a completely new garage that is a minimum 6m long to house it! There are nice little touches to prove the family history, for example lead seals on split pins stamped with WS, MM and now my initials from where all three of us have worked on those parts. There is also an engraved plate on the inside doors with the names of the previous two owners and mine is to be added.
So in a nutshell, a nice little history with more to come I'm sure. Below is a picture of Welby Skinner back in the day. He lived in Harley Street where he had a dental practice. Here he is at a dinner where he had been presented with the adornment around his neck. It's made from teeth veneers! I have it at home now. It's hideous!!
The next picture is from my wedding 27 years ago, where I looked a right plonker but the car and my wife excelled. I had spent hours polishing the Rolls for the big day. Sadly it has been many years since it looked like that, but hopefully with some effort, luck and pleasure, it will rise again!
Edited by Lord Flashheart on Sunday 5th February 09:37
RichB said:
I will follow this thread and contribute any encouragement I can! I am not a ROlls Royce chap but as I also own a 1933 car I am involved in the vintage (okay PVT / Post Vintage Thoroughbred) scene and have several good contacts for stuff. OOI, where abouts are you?
Thank you. It's not a car I would have chosen, but it has chosen me, so here goes! I'm in the south east and do have a good friend who is an old school engineering type of chap helping me out. He sees it as an honour...which is handy! Once roadworthy, we will both enjoy using it.
Lord Flashheart said:
I'm in the south east...
If you don't already know them these chaps are vintage & PVT Rolls Royce specialists https://fiennesclassics.co.uk/ proper craftsmen in grey work coats doing intricate stuff with lathes and milling machines! They used to have open days (pre-Covid) and I assume will start again soon - you may need to tag onto a club day but it's worth it. Their place in Oxfordshire (Broughton Poggs) is really worth a visit even if only to inspire you to keep going with the renovation. I went there with the Aston Martin Owners Club and a friend came away having bought a Rolls Royce
https://fiennesclassics.co.uk/marques/pre-war-roll...
Edited by RichB on Monday 17th May 09:35
What a lovely looking car - and a wonderful family-owned story. I looks forward to reading about it. The cane work effect seen on some cars of this era was created by painstakingly building up the paint and no doubt took a good deal of time and incredible skill. I personally like it.
dbdb said:
What a lovely looking car - and a wonderful family-owned story. I looks forward to reading about it. The cane work effect seen on some cars of this era was created by painstakingly building up the paint and no doubt took a good deal of time and incredible skill. I personally like it.
Here's a pic of the original doors, but it's not the clearest image.
RichB said:
Lord Flashheart said:
Here's a pic of the original doors, but it's not the clearest image.
The chaps at Finnes restoration would know all about this, I guarantee 
RichB said:
Lord Flashheart said:
I'm in the south east...
If you don't already know them these chaps are vintage & PVT Rolls Royce specialists https://fiennesclassics.co.uk/ proper craftsmen in grey work coats doing intricate stuff with lathes and milling machines! They used to have open days (pre-Covid) and I assume will start again soon - you may need to tag onto a club day but it's worth it. Their place in Oxfordshire (Broughton Poggs) is really worth a visit even if only to inspire you to keep going with the renovation. I went there with the Aston Martin Owners Club and a friend came away having bought a Rolls Royce
https://fiennesclassics.co.uk/marques/pre-war-roll...
Edited by RichB on Monday 17th May 09:35
RichB said:
crankedup5 said:
Not often we have the pleasure of reading a thread of restoration of such an early car, especially a cracker. such as this. Look forward to reading and seeing.
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