1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Four-Light Coupe by J. Gurney Nutting

This 1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 is one of 1,201 examples built during just over two years of production and is clothed in Close-Coupled Four-Light Coupe bodywork by J. Gurney Nutting. Chassis GUL 80 is said to have been ordered new as dealer stock by Allied Motors in Bombay, India, where it was used as a demonstrator and in advertisements. The car returned to England in 1939 with a Sheffield owner who retained it until 1953, after which it remained in the UK until 1974. After spending the ensuing two decades in the US, it again returned to the UK, where it was purchased in 2001 as a running project by a Finnish enthusiast who commissioned a two-year refurbishment. Finished in black over red leather, the car is powered by a 4,257cc OHV inline-six mated to a four-speed manual transmission. Additional features include a single Stromberg downdraft carburetor, dual electric fuel pumps, servo-assisted mechanically actuated drum brakes, hydraulic shock absorbers that are adjustable from the steering wheel, a central lubrication system, 19” wire wheels with body-color Ace discs, a covered spare wheel, a sunroof, a central fog lamp, and dual windshield wipers. After being purchased by its current owner in Canada in 2018, the car participated in the 2020 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance and rally in India. This 25/30 is now offered on dealer consignment in Saint Louis, Missouri, with copies of its factory build sheets, photos from the refurbishment, a hardbound book chronicling the car’s return to India, a tool kit, and British Columbia registration. The 25/30 was introduced in 1936 to replace the 20/25 in the Rolls-Royce lineup as a more-compact alternative to the company’s flagship Phantom. While sharing its predecessor’s 3,350mm wheelbase, the 25/30 featured an upsized, higher-powered engine as well as refinements to the fuel, ignition, and brake systems. Bodywork was supplied by a variety of coachbuilders in the configuration of a client’s choice. This example’s pillarless closed-roof coachwork was supplied by J. Gurney Nutting in Chelsea, London, and was originally finished two shades of gray. The body was refinished in its current shade of black during the early-2000s refurbishment, which is also said to have included sheet metal and wood frame repairs. Features include rear-hinged doors, a louvered centrally hinged hood, a sliding sunroof, thermostatically controlled grille shutters, fender-mounted side mirrors, a central Lucas fog light, and a Spirit of Ecstasy radiator mascot. Body-color Ace wheel discs with bright centers are fitted over the wire wheels, which are wrapped in Excelsior Stahl Sport Radial tires measuring 6.50R19. A red-painted spare is secured under a body-color cover at the rear of the car. Stopping is handled by cable- and rod-actuated drum brakes, while a mechanical clutch-type servo driven via the gearbox provides braking assistance proportionate to the speed of travel. The selling dealer notes a clunk on some occasions when braking. The cabin is said to have been re-trimmed around the 1980s with red leather used over the front bucket seats, rear bench, and door panels in lieu of the original green upholstery. Additional features include color-keyed carpeting and headlining material, wood door caps and window frames, a right-hand shifter, and a heater. A fire extinguisher has been fitted under the dash. The interior woodwork is said to have been refurbished in Oregon in the 1980s. The three-spoke steering wheel is situated at the right-hand side of a wood dash that houses an 80-mph speedometer, a clock, and gauges monitoring coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 40k miles, approximately 4k of which have been added under current ownership. The 4,257cc inline-six is said to have been overhauled in 2003 and features seven main bearings, pushrod-actuated overhead valves, a Stromberg downdraft carburetor, twin SU electric fuel pumps, and coil ignition with a stand-by coil. An inline auxiliary coolant pump was added during the 2000s refurbishment to aid in circulation of the coolant to the rear cylinders. The battery was replaced in October 2022, at which time fluid and safety checks are said to have been performed. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on the top two gears. The selling dealer notes that the clutch is nearing the end of its adjustment threshold. Suspension incorporates semi-elliptical leaf springs and hydraulic shock absorbers, the latter of which are designed to allow adjustment to preferred firmness via a manette on the steering wheel hub. The chassis is also equipped with a pedal-operated central lubrication system. The factory build sheet notes the Gurney Nutting coachwork as well as the origin colors and delivery to Allied Motors in Bombay. Additional copies of factory documents are shown in the gallery below, as are images of a hardbound book covering the car’s history, refurbishment, and participation in the 21 Gun Salute event in India. The car does not have a title, as it is registered in a province that does not issue titles for vehicles. It is being sold on its registration.