From Riches to Rags… and back from Rags to Riches (UPDATE about 10 EX)
Maybe that’s the best way to describe the history of this 1928 Rolls Royce. At an attempt to gain a top speed of 100 mph, Henry Royce developed four ‘lightweight sports cars” on the Phantom I chassis. The first, number 10EX, was not really successful (too heavy and a top speed of 86 mph) so three more prototypes were made. 15 EX, 16 EX and the one we have here, 17 EX bodied by Jarvis of Wimbledon. After testing 17EX proved not capable of the magic 100 mph (“only” 99.5 mph!) and was sold to the Maharaja Bahadur of Jammu and Kashmir, who kept it until 1932. A string of wealthy and titled owners followed, but gradually 17EX deteriorated and after years of being stored a first restoration was attempted in 1967. Almost ten years later 17EX was sold to Europe. In the 1990s it needed another extensive restoration, preparing it for Pebble Beach. This truly sporty, elegant and intriguing Rolls will be offered by RM during their Automobiles of London auction on October 28. (photos courtesy RM)
Update by Jan Bruijn who feels that our article about 17 EX the famous 10 EX gets a poor reporting: “Of the 4 experimental Phantom I’s, 10 EX is by all means the most important. It was the first and the only official test car of the factory, the other experimental cars (15 EX, 16 EX and 17 EX) were sold to private parties. 10 EX was tested from 1925 till the end of 1927 and after that used as works demonstrator, lend to influential customers such as Laurence of Arabia and shown at the Schneider Cup races to attract potential customers as a sporting Rolls Royce. While under testing the car came to a top speed of 91.2 mph. The factory kept the car till 1932.”
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