Tech Meet of May 25, 2002

This page documents most of the major aspects of the restoration of "Gen", my 1929 Rolls-Royce 20 H.P. with Shooting Brake coach.

The earliest pictures of the "before" condition are from 1977 when I purchased the car. I joined RROC and the Northern California club at that time. I am now a life member of RROC.

The research and collecting of parts for this restoration have led me to travel to RROC Headquarters in PA., the RREC
Headquarters in the UK, as well as to IVA, South Carolina, and Copperas Cove, Texas.

My shop has increased in capability by the acquisition of a lathe, mill, Mig and Tig welders, a plasma cutter, industrial sewing machine, and various wood working tools (to name a few), all just because of this restoration.

I have done all of the work personally except for the cylinder bore of the engine, the drive line balance, and the seat upholstery.

My first close look in

1977 from atop stacks

of cardboard on pallets.

Antique furniture also

made access difficult.

I had to see more of this

car and knew that it

would require research.

I knew a Rolls-Royce

was something special

and the wood had my

interest.

A sunroof was obvious…

the fold out windscreen

was not.

This is what the car was

like in the light of day

with a good dust-off.

Naturally, a wash was

out of the question due

to the wood and lack

of any weather strips.

The car was rough and

missing parts and had

crude wings and running

boards.

I had to look thru a lot of

dust

I scanned the above

picture into a PC and

then made a B/W copy

Note that the wings

have been reshaped

so as to be correct for

1929 style. This effort

was done so shape and color

could be visualized

prior to committing to

work on the coach.

Toning was done by

hand with watercolor.

The results as of Nov.

2008

This photo is of a 1929

chassis at the Roll-Royce

factory being Dyno

tested. This was prior to

a test track session to

be sure it ran well.

Then the chassis was

driven to the coachworks

using the wooden seat.

The customer worked

with the coachbuilder

of choice for the body

and features desired.

The chassis was ready

to take to Hillsborough

Concourse May 1, 2005.

With the wooden seat,

this was like the chassis

left assembly at RR.

With a display car,

I was honored to be

choosen for the Parade

of Excelence and be

interviewed at the

podium.

A 2008 picture as I was

beginning my final

test drives

On the field, the chassis

only display afforded all

to see just what a RR is

like when not hidden by

coachwork.

Everyone enjoyed this

revealing display.

Another 2008 view.

Brand Spanking new.