Alan Harris

1926 Windovers Sports Saloon GYK91

GYK91 was off test on 7th December 1926. With nickel fittings and raked steering, the chassis was delivered to Windovers in Hendon on 8th December 1926 where it was given a six light four door Sports Saloon body number 5371 which it still retains to this day. The car had been sold to Mr G Greatrex of Sutton Coldfield on 26th October 1926 and was registered RF2643 by Stafford County Council. The original owner kept the car until after WW11 but between then and 1958 there is a gap in the ownership history.

In 1958 it was for a brief time owned by a car dealer, A Clothier of Devon and acquired soon after in 1958 by an American Dr Findlay E Russell of Altadena, California. Dr Findley Russell was an eminent Professor of Neurology, Biology and Physiology at the University of Arizona. Having bought the car in the UK he drove it 4000 miles with his family before exporting it to the USA. He drove the car 3100 miles to his home in California - the only incidents being 14 flat tyres duly recorded in The Flying Lady of December 1958. His first purchase was a new set of tyres. He retained the car until 2002 when it was re-imported to the UK by The Real Car Co.

In 2003 John Ryan of Stafford acquired the car but travelled only 2300 miles in it until he sold it in 2019.

It was acquired by the current owner in February 2019 whereupon a series of work began to improve the mechanical and electrical reliability of the car. The first thing needed however was a set of new tyres as the car still had the tyres that were put on the car in California in 1958. The work included a full re-wire, installation of an overdrive, remote oil cleaner, an Alan Murcott thermostat, repairs to all of the wings after a small altercation with the front near side wing whilst the car was in America and more recently a full engine and gearbox re-build.

1929 Barker Tourer GXO87 (GVO79)

GXO87 was "Off Test" on 9th December 1929 with nickel fittings and lower raked steering and was delivered to L C Rawlence & Co Ltd on 23rd December 1929 for their customer Lieutenant-Colonel RDL James of Cornwall and then to Barker & Co Ltd on 1st January 1930 for the construction of a Torpedo Open Tourer body. The chassis was originally allocated GVO79 and was being manufactured as a 20hp model. During production at the request of the original owner it was decided to make the chassis into a 20/25. Towards the end of production of the 20hp's about 20 other cars were similarly converted. As part of the conversion the steering column was changed from being "upright", and the starter pedal shaft shortened by three inches. A 20/25 engine was installed and the chassis number changed from GVO79. The completed car was tested by Barkers on 13th March 1930 and the guarantee was effective from 19th March 1930.

GXO87 had been sold on 21st November 1929 to motor agents L C Rawlence & Co Ltd, 39 Sackville Street, London W1 for their customer Lieutenant-Colonel RDL James of Chyandhall, Gulval, Penzance who is recorded by Rolls Royce Ltd as being in possession of the car from 10th April 1930.

Subsequent owners of GXO87 are recorded by Rolls Royce as:-

• 7th March 1940, Mrs L Macdonald, Moonland Bungalow, Marazion, Cornwall
• 19th August 1946, J C Harris, 12 Princess Street, Truro, Cornwall
• 31st December 1947, 19 Chesham Street, London SW1
• 1st July 1953, Dr R I Shier, The Manor House, Penryn, Cornwall

Like so many Rolls Royce motor cars GXO87 was exported to the US in the 1960's where the body was modified to a shooting brake utilising the original front end of the passenger compartment of the car which is retained to this day.

GXO87 was re-imported to the UK by David Baldock of The Chequers Garage, Goudhurst, Kent. Thereafter the history and owners are recorded as follows:-

• 29th December 1987. Sold to C F Warner who began restoring the car but it was not completed.
• September 1989. Bought for £24000 by D S Backhouse who spent £93000 on having the car restored. The work was carried out between 1989 and 1991. The engine was re-built by Neil Smith of XK Engineering of Coventry. The coachwork was returned to its original Barker Open Tourer specification with the original front half being retained, the work being carried out by David Wall of Wroxham, Near Norwich.
• 2nd October 2004. Sold at Cheffins Auction (Lot 649) for £28500 plus buyers premium of £3011.56 to P A Lord
• 18th February 2020. Transferred to Irene Lord on the death of P A Lord.
• 29th March 2022. Acquired by Alan G Harris for £60000 plus buyers premium of £7200 Reeman Dansie Auction (Lot 2052)

GXO87 has blue leather upholstery, folding picnic table, removable side screens and Barker Patent dipping headlights. It also has a removable touring trunk and tools. It is believed that the original registration number was CV 1504 a Truro number but on re-import it was allocated JSU199.