Lot 533: 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Continental Sports Saloon
Coachwork by Arthur Mulliner Ltd.

Rolls-Royce 20/25 long-type chassis number ‘GAF33’ wears four-door, four-light, sports saloon coachwork in the ‘Continental’ style intended for enthusiastic owner-drivers whose touring ambitions often extended beyond these shores. The all-aluminium, ash-framed body is by the respected Northampton firm of Arthur Mulliner, a coachbuilder of the highest order whose designs were favoured by wealthy clients able to afford the finest chassis available. Only 27 20/25hp Continentals were bodied by Arthur Mulliner, and ‘VV 3477’ retains original features such as Art Deco door handles.
‘GAF33’ was sold new to Captain W J Seeds of Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire in November 1934 and was ready for collection by 26th January 1935, bearing the Northamptonshire registration ‘VV 3477’. In February 1955 the Continental was bought by another military man, Wing-Commander Piet Hugo, at that time resident in West Kilimanjaro, Tanganyika (now Tanzania). Piet Hugo was an Afrikaner and RAF fighter pilot of great renown. A WW2 Ace second only to Douglas Bader (he had 22 ‘kills’ to his name while Bader achieved 23), Hugo led the Gibraltar-based 332 Squadron into action at the start of ‘Operation Torch’ - the invasion of North Africa. Having probably flown more operational hours than any other man in Fighter Command, Piet Hugo was given a farm 6,500 feet up on the northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. His address there is shown on the car’s chassis card.
As far as is known, ‘GAF33’ left Africa for Canada, from where it was brought back to the UK and reregistered in March 1998 by Kevin Metcalfe. He then sold it to a Mr Brett, who took it to Spain. The car came back from Spain in June 2007 and was purchased on the 23rd of that month by the current owner. Its very good condition is no doubt attributable to having spent much of its life abroad in dry climates, while the vendor advises us that there is evidence of a recent engine top-end and chassis overhaul. Sold with a new exhaust system fitted, ‘GAF33’ has since then been lovingly reinstated to its former glory as a thoroughly usable - rather than concours - example. The strong ash frame has been sensitively repaired where necessary, the body repainted and a new battery and tyres fitted, in addition to the aforementioned exhaust. Bills for this work totalling £6,644.95 come with the car together with copy owner’s handbook and a complete set of copy service manuals. (NB: there was no tool kit recorded as having been supplied originally, but wheel remover, various spares, etc, are all in the boot). The only modification from factory specification notified is the fitting of an integral jacking system.
Finished in black over blue with re-trimmed biscuit leather interior, the car boasts a trio of valuable original badges to the front comprising an early 1900s Edward VII RAC, very early brass ‘AA’ and WW2 RAF by J R Gaunt of London. It is offered with current road fund licence, MoT to March 2009 and Swansea V5 registration document.