L.A. Auction Features Rolls-Royce Pickup

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When you think Rolls-Royce, you think timeless luxury, chauffeurs and champagne. So why do we here at PickupTrucks.com have classic British luxury on our minds? Because the chance to own a Rolls-Royce pickup truck doesn't come every day.

The 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost pickup pictured above, from the collection of Lindley and Ann Bothwell, will be auctioned off by Bonhams Nov. 11 near Los Angeles at the Bothwell Ranch in Woodland Hills.

The truck, said to be the only Rolls-Royce pickup in existence, started its life as a Tilbury sedan but was converted to a pickup truck around the 1940s when it joined the Bothwell Collection, which is providing the lots for this auction. Not long after purchasing the Tilbury, Lindley Bothwell decided to change it up into something more practical.

For the conversion to pickup truck, the front of the sedan was kept and closed off to form a cabin, while the rear was leveled to form a flat bed. The Bothwells were orange growers and this truck is said to have seen regular duty on the ranch. Bonham says that the truck has been out of service for a few years, which explains its appearance. It's being sold without reserve, with an estimated final price of $50,000 to $70,000.

To see other for-sale vehicles in the Bothwell Collection, click here.

Classic pickup lovers such as ourselves also will be interested in two other trucks pictured below, which are available for more modest prices.

Bonhams images

 

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1929 Ford Model AA police truck, $10,000 to $15,000

1929 Ford Model AA Paddy Wagon[3]

1930 Ford Model AA flatbed truck, $8,000 to $10,000

1930 Ford Model AA Flat Bed[6]

 

Comments

I doubt if it will pass the CAFE standards.

Very cool old RR six cylinder motor. It appears to have a backup distributor (or???) with the spark plug wires just bundled and tucked away.

Back in those days you had a driver, and seated next to him the mechanic. Sort of like what people who own modern F150s ahve.

[edit ]Sort of like what people who own modern F150s have

Two plugs per cylinder and is that a turbo on the side of the engine? Pretty advanced tech for the era.

It may be the only one of that vintage but I recall seeing ads in the 70's by a company in Texas that converted Rolls Royces into pickups for people with money to burn. A quick google search turned up several more Rolls pickups.

Two plugs per cylinder and is that a turbo on the side of the engine? Pretty advanced tech for the era. Posted by: Walt | Oct 27, 2017

I'm thinking that maybe it had two complete systems for spark delivery, maybe with one timed (more advanced?) than the other. I don't think that distributors had automatic timing advance (for spark) in those days. Two discrete systems would have allowed for some advance, in a way.

The thing you think is a turbo might be a water pump for keeping the cylinder head from getting too hot.

RR would not approve of a chop and channel of their cars. They see them as offspring they nurture through life.
They scolded an owner who was seen, pulled over, on the Autobahn with the hood open. He was just taking an impromptu look-see with his passenger while out for a joyride.
It's not the image they want other drivers to have.

"RR would not approve of a chop and channel of their cars. They see them as offspring they nurture through life.
They scolded an owner who was seen, pulled over, on the Autobahn with the hood open. He was just taking an impromptu look-see with his passenger while out for a joyride.
It's not the image they want other drivers to have.

Posted by: Stevador"

I don't think that they would have wanted to see their cars butchered by amateurs. Also, they took pride in being able to maintain anything that they made but many Rolls Royces were customized at the factory so they may not have been totally against it. Who knows what the new owners think. Who owns them now anyway? I believe that it is either Volkswagon or BMW. As for opening the hood, I have heard that new Rolls's come with the hood locked and only dealers have the key.

"Back in those days you had a driver, and seated next to him the mechanic. Sort of like what people who own modern F150s ahve."

It is amazing how some people can turn any subject into an opportunity to spew filth.

@walt

Filth?

What thing to say. Does this mean we're not friends anymore?

Love the 1930 Model AA in green. The bed is screaming for a
stake side in oak...It would look kick butt on the long Island
Expressway just sitting in endless traffic jams-a way of life here.

I would have thought the Rolls hybrid would have gone for mid-6 figures...70k ain't squat. Its engine kinda reminds me of the I-16 Rolls Merlin engine we dropped into the P51 Mustang back in 1942. A mechanical masterpiece...

But nothing-NOTHING, IMHO, beats for sheer looks, a 1946 Dodge Power Wagon, fully restored, in green, all decked out.

Papa, sounds like you have some problems with Ford. Me personally, I like them all as they all have their good and bad things. My Silverado is far from perfect, I cannot wait to drive them all when I look to trade up to a newer one. I am going to start the process in spring.

Papa, sounds like you have some problems with Ford. Posted by: crunchtime | Oct 27, 2017

@crunchtime

Damn right! They sold me a brand new pickup with a bum transmission and refused to fix it. They said, "slipping? Oh that's normal." I yelled NORMAL? They said "oh yeah, they all do that."

It would hang up instead of dropping into lock-up in high gear. "They all do that." It would pause before shifting into reverse. "you think that's bad? That's not a problem. I've seen worse."

They wear you down. My truck starting showing problems before it was finished with the first tank of gas.

That's why

It is an I-12.
Two 6 cylinders together.

It is an I-12. Two 6 cylinders together. Posted by: JK | Oct 27, 2017.

@JK

Not correct.

It is a six cylinder Silver Ghost engine. First gen Ghost inline motors had 3 sets of two cylinders, which was later revised to 2 sets of three cylinders arranged inline. They built a lot of Ghost motors. Google it.

Papa, what year and model was this? I have been saying the same to Gm about my brake issues, the dealer fix was to install after market rotors, which they did. I found it odd they were ok with swapping to non GM parts.

@crunchtime

brakes are a different story. You can get your brakes fixed right at any major brand car dealership or brake repair specialist. Unless the hydraulics (or electronics?) on your brakes are messed up you can get things right for less than 500 bucks.

An auto transmission is something else. My 2010 Ranger had the five speed auto. It sucked right off. Big disappointment. I should have bought a stick shift anyway.

My previous Ranger was a delight. It ran forever but got hit from behind at a stop light and was never right after that.

Papa, I got it. What do you drive currently? I will not be looking at a small truck when I trade this one in, but will look at Ford, Ram, Toyota, and of course the GM's-

Bentley and Rolls Royce Utes were built for owners in Australia
https://www.hcvc.com.au/forum/general/5352-bentley-ute

Still don't see what an F-150 has to do with an article about a 1926 Rolls converted into a pickup.

Dodge-em Ram owners brag about their junk, but when my dad was an O/O for Riss & co. in 1934, Riss would only use Dodges IF you were a certified Dodge mechanic. I do NOT make this up.

Papa, I got it. What do you drive currently? Posted by: crunchtime | Oct 27, 2017

@crunchtime

Silverado half ton SWB reg cab. V8 auto Great truck with zero hassles. Almost 100k miles

Hell this thing will out run a Ford eco pop, its already like 80 plus years older. Ford always following.

In war time and some time after petrol was on ration but available with coupons to commercial vehicle owners. Many owners had them converted for their business rather than leave it in the motor house. I have bought several of them over the years usually built by Angel Motor Bodies, Manchester UK. Btw the original meeting place of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce.

"They wear you down. My truck starting showing problems before it was finished with the first tank of gas.

That's why" - Papajim

Same here. My last two F-150's had either engine or transmission problems within the first 10k miles. Not the first tank but still bad. And just like you, the dealer brushed me off until I had an engine that was so bad they couldn't deny it.

@Peter Walker--Thanks, interesting information that I never knew about. It makes sense that the Brits would convert a car into a truck rather than let it sit idle during WW II. It would be interesting to know the history of this Rolls--that would make a good read.

@papa jim--I never had a Ford truck but I have had a Mitsubishi MIghty Max and my Grand Dad's IH which I learned to drive on before my 99 S-10 and 08 Isuzu. Almost bought a Ranger when I bought the S-10 but I got a great deal on the S-10 (would have gotten a 5 speed manual on the Ranger). I know people that have bad experiences with Ford trucks and others that have had good experiences. I am happy with what I have now and if I were to buy new I would either get a Colorado, Canyon, or Frontier. I have nephews that have Fords, Toyotas, and Rams and one of my brothers who had a business had Chevrolets. I will not own another Chrysler or FCA product because of friends who have had major issues with new Chryslers but then my one nephew has had a good experience with Ram trucks. One of my neighbors had a 2010 F-150 that the V-8 engine went at about 100k and he traded it for a 2016 F-150 EcoBoost (he got $500 trade in which isn't much). If I were to choose a full size truck it would either be a Silverado, Sierra, or a Titan. Don't need or want a full size truck and if I needed to use one I can always borrow one of my nephews.

My last two F-150's had either engine or transmission problems ...And just like you, the dealer brushed me off Posted by: MidwestSleddin | Oct 28, 2017

@Midwestsleddin

My troubles were in late 2009.

The Ford dealership I'm referring to went out of business not long after the events I described. I really believe a different dealership might have been a lot more interested in my concerns.

I've known a lot of really good hard-working people in the car business in my lifetime and it was probably just one bad apple.

The truck was fine except for the hassle with the trans, but it soured me on Fords for a while. More recently I think Ford's corporate direction has been off target and they're getting their lunch eaten by lesser companies.

The Expedition and the the Ranger are two examples of goofy thinking at the top. Ford's big SUV was the class of the field ten years ago. The Ranger is presently AWOL. These were both really important models that management allowed to die on the vine.

The new Expedition does not even offer a V8. Go Figure. The 6.2 SOHC motor would be a perfect fit, but it's not in the cards.

The Taurus was the leader in its class for years and Ford let it dry on the vine. Ford spent billions developing alternative vehicles, but they have almost NO impact on the market.

The new CEO has been brought in to shake things up. God speed!

@Walt: Who owns them now anyway?

One-percenter's who need to let other's know they have arrived.
I have about a dozen Richie Rich's on my repeat customer's list. Only 2 have Bentley's that they drive themselves but not their daily driver's.
One's dog has to be coaxed into the back seat (they put a towel over the leather). She hates that car! I can see it in her eye's. Maybe because it has no rear doors? Whiny little bitch.

Walt: Who owns them now anyway?

One-percenter's who need to let other's know they have arrived.

I was referring to the company. From what I have found out Volkswagen bought everything but the name. BMW secured the name and emblem. This all happened in 1998.

Ha! Senior moment!.
Good luck with a tough question though.



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