Guy Baird
1926 Park Ward Limousine GCK43
Chassis despatched to Messrs Park Ward & Co Limited, 473 High Road, Willesden, NW10 on 1 February 1926 and delivered on 4 February. Finally tested at Park Ward’s 3 March 1926 and guarantee issued effective from that date. The car carries its original registration number YM-9546. The engine number is G 1542. GCK43 is a largely a "matching number" vehicle; the engine block though had to be replaced (in 2007).
The sale price of the chassis was £1100, but a discount of 15% was allowed on condition that the chassis was used as a demonstration car for at least 6 months. The specification of the car includes "matt finish white metal" radiator shutters, and front wheel brakes, for which there was an additional charge of £85 (less 15%). The invoice for the chassis totalled £1007-5s-0d. net.
The car was supplied to HC Nelson Ltd, authorised Rolls-Royce retailer of 107 Jermyn St., London, for Maj Thomas Esmé Baring OBE, initially of Nuffield, Weeke, Winchester and from 1928 of Denham Court, Park Road, Winchester. He was a great great grandson of Sir Francis Baring, 1st Bt. (created 1793), who in 1762 had founded Barings Bank and went on to be Chairman of the Honourable East India Company 1792 to 1793. The family crest was painted discreetly on each of the rear doors, a tradition from the age of the horse-drawn carriage (these crests were later blacked out).
The car was supplied with upright steering, and would have been chauffeur driven. Subsequently the steering was raked, as it was for many other "baby" Rolls-Royce 20 HPs which were becoming progressively an owner-driver's motor.
Maj Baring, who was born in 1882, died in 1957 at age 75, and the car passed into the hands of Mrs E White of Northam, Hertfordshire. She sold it in 1961 (advertised at £185) to Mr T Atkinson of Margaretting, Essex, from whose widow it was bought in 2006 by Mr GM Baird.
The six light D-backed limousine body has a curved division and two side facing occasional seats. The trim is largely original, and features include a cocktail cabinet with decanters & glasses, driver's "ACE" auto cigarette ejector and ashtray, patent cigar/cigarette lighter, small "smoking hatch" window in the roof and rear window blind. The rear upholstery is in cloth and the front seat is black leather. It has a Brexton of Birmingham trunk with fitted cases.
It is one of the first 20HPs with four wheeled braking and four speed gearbox (right-hand gear lever). Engine particulars are similar to other 20HPs: six cylinders, 3" bore, 4½" stroke, 3127 c.c., 21.6 H.P. on RAC rating. Unit construction with gearbox, three-point suspension, mono-bloc with detachable head, overhead valves operated by pushrods, Rolls-Royce battery ignition with automatic advance, magneto provided as a stand-by, forced lubrication, cooling by pump circulation, Rolls-Royce automatic expanding carburettor. The car has "friction" shock absorbers at the front. Wheels and straight-sided tyres (32" x 4½") are as per the original specification. It has a headlight dipping system by Barker & Co. (Coachbuilders) Ltd.
