Francisco Carrion
Once again our country has been chosen by a foreign brand club for its annual rally. In this case it is the Rolls Royce Twenty Owners Club, that for a week he has been touring Galicia and Asturias, so we assume that the event will have been "tourist-gastronomic".
These types of meetings, full of authentic automotive gems that are difficult to see in these parts, are more common than we think ... but normally no one finds out, since to avoid the odd "little problem" the organizers do not give too much publicity To the subject.
1- Imposing row of Rolls-Royce under the typical northern fog
2- Rolls Twenty as they should be: sober and with their original bodies
That is why Spanish fans we usually find out late and by chance, when a friend accidentally passes the spectacular caravan. This has been exactly what has happened to us with this Rolls-Royce rally, and thanks to the fact that our photographer Unai Ona was not too far from Asturias we can now offer this news.
The “fixed” headquarters from which we departed each day was the Hotel Palacio de Luces, whose director kindly provided us with the information so that we could approach to take a few photos. Once there we were able to check the quality of the assembled models.
It often happens with Rolls-Royces that many have lost their original bodies to be transformed into unsightly substitutes for convertibles or sports cars, modifications that used to be made in the 60s and 70s.
1- An Imposing Phantom II with original Barker body
2- To compare: Phantom I replica body made in the 60s or 70s
However, the vast majority of the Rolls present at this meeting they were dressed by famous body builders like Hooper or Barker and they had not undergone major modifications, quite the opposite.
As for the models, the “small” 20 hp and 20/25 stood out in number, a mandatory circumstance when this event was organized by its owners club, although practically all prewar models and some postwar models could also be seen, several Bentleys, or an Alvis TF 21 from the 50s.
PARTS TO HIGHLIGHT
Among all of them it would be difficult to single out one, although - in the opinion of this modest writer - the white Silver-Ghost Alpine Eagle stood out especially (the oldest in the quote), the sober 20 HP with metal spoke wheels and a Coupé-doctor bodywork recovered after being converted into a pickup truck during World War II. Also, a 20/25 with a graceful Windovers body with charming sporty details such as the absence of running boards.
1- The precious Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle
2- A Twenty and the 20/25 Windovers
The co-pilot's job
On this route, in addition to covering a reasonable number of kilometers, the companions were also thought about, and the day these photographs were taken was dedicated to a very special elegance contest.
It was about dressing the famous statuettes of the spirit of ecstasy with typical Spanish “outfits” made with articles of various kinds that the participants had to look for in supermarkets or souvenir shops.
Given the traditional British kindness, our photographer Unai was invited to ride in one of the participating Rolls… and even to be part of the jury of the elegance contest!
1- A Rolls of Faralaes?
2- This twenty was worthy of an award for its beautiful phaeton body
And it is that in these events all the good things of our hobby, of which the British are pioneers, usually come together. To give an example of the level of organization, even the place where each car had to be parked for the final photo was delimited by the club president with a temporary paint spray.
It only remains that from now on they continue to come to our country with as much –or more- frequency, and that they remember that Spanish fans also like to see, or even participate, in events of this caliber. Until next year, and More info, please!
Photo Gallery, By Unai Ona
