The oldest known surviving Rolls-Royce will take part in the legendary RM Sotheby's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on Sunday, November 1. On Saturday, October 31, the 1904 car will make its first public appearance since its restoration at the St. James’s Motoring Spectacle on Pall Mall in London.
A Return After Decades
Chassis 20154 is one of the brand’s most historic vehicles. It has participated in the Run before, but that was many decades ago. This was preceded by a three-year restoration to original specifications, including the body configuration, the Primrose Yellow paint finish, and the Manchester license plate M 612. At this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it won the “Antique” class.
A Witness to the Early Days
Built in November 1904, 20154 was the fourth of only 17 Type A 10 hp vehicles and the third to feature the new Rolls-Royce radiator. It was the result of a partnership between Frederick Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls, who had first met on May 4, 1904, at the Midland Hotel in Manchester. As a show car, the vehicle was fitted with a Park Phaeton body by Barker, featuring an additional emergency seat. It made its international debut at the Salon de l’Automobile in Paris (December 9–25, 1904), where Rolls received a special medal that is now housed at the Monmouth Museum.
The Only Pre-1905 Rolls-Royce Eligible to Compete
“It is the oldest known surviving Rolls-Royce and the only known pre-1905 Rolls-Royce eligible to participate in the Run,” says Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, which organizes both events.
Owner Terry Bramall purchased the car a little over three years ago. “I thought to myself: Let’s restore it exactly as it left the factory on Cooke Street in Manchester,” he says. “The research involved was enormous, and we’ve come as close as possible to the original down to the last detail.”
Two Events in One Weekend
On October 31, the St. James’s Motoring Spectacle will bring over 150 automobiles from every era to Pall Mall; more than 12,000 spectators are expected, and admission is free. The following day, the Rolls-Royce will join the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, a 96-kilometer route that is the world’s longest-running automotive event.
It commemorates the repeal of the 4-mph speed limit under the Locomotives on Highways Act; the first run took place in 1896. This fall, the event marks the 140th anniversary of the birth of the automobile.
Vehicle: Rolls-Royce 10 hp, Chassis 20154, built in November 1904
Special feature: the oldest known surviving Rolls-Royce; the fourth of 17 Type A 10 hp vehicles
Body: Park Phaeton by Barker (show car)
License plate: M 612 (Manchester, original)
Owner: Terry Bramall
Award: Class winner in the “Antique” category, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
St. James’s Motoring Spectacle: Saturday, October 31, Pall Mall, London (free admission)
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run: Sunday, November 1, approximately 96 km
Organizer: Royal Automobile Club
