1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 'Dreadnought Special' (Bespoke Bodywork Brooklands-style body)

GNS39roadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 3.8L inline-six, supercharged via Godfrey Marshall K300 blower, billet camshaft, forged pistons, alloy head, ~190 bhp and 350 ft.lb torque
Colour: Dark green

A 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 rolling chassis (GNS 39), originally bodied by H.J. Mulliner as a Two Seater Tourer and delivered to its first owner in March 1931, later transformed into a purpose-built VSCC-eligible racing special. The current owner commissioned a hand-formed alloy Brooklands-style race body, a supercharged 3.8-litre engine producing around 190 bhp, and numerous competition-oriented mechanical upgrades, creating a unique vehicle known as the 'Dreadnought Special'.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Estimate £150,000 – £200,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1931-03-01 →Factory delivery
Vincent Hemery Esq.
partial documentation
Took delivery of the car approximately two weeks after its initial road registration, receiving it in original H.J. Mulliner two-seater tourer configuration.
2014-06-04 →Private sale
Current owner
full documentation
Acquired as a rolling chassis with drivetrain and subsequently commissioned a comprehensive bespoke rebuild, transforming it into the Dreadnought Special with an alloy race body, enlarged engine, and numerous performance upgrades.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2014
Maintenance
Interior trimmed in red leather; steering wheel finished in leather cord binding; twin Brooklands aero screens installed.
Cabin work completed as part of the overall bespoke conversion.
2014Bodywork
Bespoke Bodywork
A hand-formed alloy race body in Brooklands-Bentley style was constructed over an English ash frame, with the chassis shortened to accommodate the new bodywork.
Workshop located in Church Crookham, England. Body finished in dark green with white 'Dreadnought' lettering and a single wrapped exhaust on the left side.
2014
Mechanical
Suspension upgraded with stiffer cord-wrapped springs; Blockley road-legal competition tyres fitted; Afin brakes installed with competition linings.
Part of the broader bespoke build undertaken after acquisition in June 2014.
2014
Engine rebuild
Original engine bored out to 3.8 litres and fitted with a billet camshaft, forged pistons, alloy cylinder head, and a lightweight flywheel. A Godfrey Marshall K300 supercharger was added, with claimed outputs of 190 bhp and 350 ft.lb of torque.
Part of the comprehensive build programme following the 2014 acquisition.
2014
Mechanical
Rolls-Royce gearbox overhauled with new SKF bearings, an AP Racing clutch fitted, and a Laycock overdrive unit added.
Gearbox work carried out as part of the same build programme.

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