New Zealand Rolls-Royce & Bentley Club Inc - The Enthusiasts ...

A Day in the Life of a Rolls-Royce 20, by Glynn Williams
The Matthews family of New Plymouth were well known because
of their wonderful garden property, “Tupare,” in Mangorei Road.
During the 1950s and ‘60s “Tupare” was always open to the
public over Labour Weekend, with the proceeds going to some
worthy charity. At the time the garden boasted the widest selection
of rhododendrons in New Zealand.
The elder son, John Matthews (in the photograph above),
had a Riley 9 Special, and in the late ‘50s this was replaced by a
1923 Rolls-Royce 20, 71A7. It was an early car with central gearchange
and was really just a mobile chassis with no body. He had
bought it from a traffic officer in Christchurch, and it had been
used as a saw bench. John built a scuttle with a V windscreen to
line up with the original bonnet top. Seating was on a steel frame
bolted to the chassis.
Here is an extract from a family letter of 1961 written by
Mary Matthews (later Lady Matthews). It is reproduced here by
kind permission of my old school mate, Richard Matthews.
Glynn Williams.
“The trip to Wellington was Quite Something as Elinor [Mary
Matthews’s sister. Ed] would say. We were planning to leave at
eight but still at nine the engine was spluttering badly and poor
John bewildered so I rang the airways to make sure I could get
on the afternoon plane to connect with my flight to Christchurch.
Suddenly there was a yell of relief from the mechanic who
discovered that he had left an important spring out of the
carburettor (I can’t spell that) when he was so tired working late
the night before. Last minute welding of a little donkey seat in
the back for Richard, luggage piled in, safety straps fastened and
away we left.
Left N.P. 9:20 a.m.
9:25 Stopped at garage to buy puncture outfit.
9:30 Stopped outside the Crematorium to check wheels ‘This’ll do
as well as anywhere I guess’ says John picking up an ENORMOUS
spanner from the back.
9:38 Rain ahead.
John: There’s a knock somewhere – I hope it’s just the bonnet.
No speedometer.
John: Everything’s passing us. (A little hurt) Maybe we are only
doing 27 m.p.h. 1923 and still going strong. Good old Venus.
10:00 One hair comb shaken out. Decided to wear flying helmet
and goggles kindly provided by Stan Olsen.
10:05 Passed first car (in 15 m.p.h. area.)
10:10 Passed first truck.
Tighten safety belt.
Richard tightened belt keeping his hat on.
Passers-by fascinated. Waves from little Maori boys. Passing
motorist slowed down and shouted incredulously, ‘Good Lord’.
Cheers from us.
New smell from the back. Remark from Richard: ‘I wish you had
put a longer exhaust pipe on, John.’
Wave from engine driver.
11:00 Stop for routine check (big heavy spanner).
Dark clouds ahead. Passed someone broken down! All thought
that very funny. Stopped by two men in a car. ‘Are you boys
local?’ (me in my stove pipe pants). They wanted some direction
to somewhere.
Us: ‘No.’
Men: ‘Well you can’t help. What have you got there?’
John: ‘Take a look.’
Men: ‘Gee. A Rolls-Royce? What do you do if it rains?’
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