Rolls-Royce wreck restored: a 20/25 Back on the Road

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The restoration of a Rolls-Royce is not for the faint-hearted. The complexity of their engineering makes them a minefield for any novice restorer, to say nothing of the woodwork, metalwork, electrical and upholstery skills which are also required if the car in question is particularly far gone.

This 1934 20/25 with landaulet body by William Arnold certainly was far gone. It had been taken to pieces in 1971 and it remained so until 2019, when the present owner needed a project to occupy his time. Fortunately, he is a skilled engineer with years of experience behind him, and the mechanical and electrical work came more naturally to him than it would to many of us. He had no background in bodywork, however, and a lot of the ash frame had to be replaced, while the absent hood frame had to be fabricated anew. The interior had mostly disappeared or rotted, and so he decided to try his hand at upholstery, too. The car you see now is the result of lots of trial and error, having a go and making mistakes until eventually the engineer became an accomplished and multi-talented craftsman.

Upon completion, the Rolls-Royce was driven to a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club rally where it took the award for Best Private Restoration, and it’s been shown widely since. Zack Stiling reveals how the unique 20/25 was put Back on the Road in the December issue of The Automobile, available now.

Words and photographs by Zack Stiling

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