1932 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Carlton Carriage 2pos Drophead Coupe GBT80 (1932) For sale from The Real Car Co., in Gwynedd, United Kingdom

Chassis No. GBT80
A handsome and rare car, being an original-bodied drophead by the Carlton Carriage Co. Features include ‘trouser crease’ wings, rear-mounted spare wheel, twin pillar-mounted spotlights & mirrors, and a stylish, narrow windscreen. The car is in lovely order throughout, nicely painted and upholstered, with particularly attractive interior veneers and a lovely set of correct instruments. The engine compartment is of particular note, being absolutely correct, including original bakelite coil, etc, and two types of horn, a Klaxon and a Boa. Very well maintained since a major, body-off restoration in the 1970s, this includes maintenance carried out by the last long term owner, who had the car for more than 25 years. Running very nicely and comes with a large history file, including documentation of restoration work, invoices, letters, etc, etc, going back to the 1970s. Amongst the tools which are with the car is a correct and desirable Dunlop No.10 jack & handle. We are currently in the process of applying for the original registration number, GY 2058, to be reinstated, and hope to soon have this in place.
Chassis No. GBT80                Reg No. GY 2058                    
Snippets: Petrol Heads!
GBT80 was registered by her first owner - W A Hunt -  at  his home of Nr. 7 Sloane Street and at his business The Asiatic Petroleum Co Ltd in St Helen’s Court, London.  The Asiatic Petroleum Company was a joint venture between Shell Transport & Royal Dutch with their headquarters based in Shanghai.  The company was involved with Frank Whittle & Mr. Lubbock in the development of the Jet engine and devised the “Lubbock Burner”.   By the 1960s GBT80 had found her way over the water was with Phil Hill who although famous for his driving ability – Formula One, Le Man, Sebring, Grand Prix etc he was also a writer (Road & Track) and a car collector and restorer.  After Phil retired from racing he and his business partner Ken Vaughan established a classic car restoration business called Hill & Vaughn which they sold in the 1980s.  Whilst in America GBT80’s owners included Byron Meyer (1927/2021) of San Francisco, a property investor whose success allowed him to be a patron of the arts. He was a consultant for MOMA and an art collector which he bequeathed to SFMOMA.  His homes included the “Octagon House” in San Franciso which as suggested by the name was indeed 8 sided and was situated on Russian Hill.  This style of property was designed in the 1800s by Orson Squire Fowler with some 100 houses built as a result of his book on the subject.  Another of Byron’s interesting homes was a modernised country house designed by Stanley Saitowitz which had a 17ft high wall painting by Sol LewWitt which was featured in the New York Times.  The 1970s saw GBT80 with William Schlenker of Seattle a car enthusiast who in 1984 alongside Cliff Spohn drove a 1935 Dusenberg from Manitowoc to Seattle -  a distance of over 2,000 miles at speeds upto 85mph with an average fuel consumption of 8mpg!!  After having had a complete body-off restoration GBT80 was then acquired by Jacqueline and Chuck La Rocco who went on to show the car at many events including the 1975 National RROC (3rd), 1980 LeCercle Concours d’Elegance (3rd), 1981 LeCercle Concours d’Elegance (2nd) and in 1982 they achieved 1st place at the LeCercle Concours d’Elegance!