The Rolls-Royce 20/25 is the second of Rolls-Royce Limited's inter-war entry-level models. Built between 1929 and 1936, it was very popular, becoming the most successful selling inter-war Rolls-Royce. Its success enabled Rolls-Royce to survive the Great Depression, and remain one of World's great brands. 3,827 20/25s were produced, and more than 70% of these survive in use.
The 20/25 replaced the highly successful 20hp Rolls-Royce Twenty that had been introduced in 1922. The target market for the 20/25 was the same as the Twenty – the luxury, owner driver market. The project to develop the next generation 20hp was code named Goshawk.[1] The goal for the new model was to increase power & performance.[2] This was achieved by increasing the bore from 3 to 3.25 inches. The stroke was unchanged at 4.5 inches. This increased capacity by 17%, from 3,128 to 3,675cc, and raised the RAC rating up to 25.4hp.[3]
The new 20/25 model was debuted at the 1929 Olympia Motor Show. It proved very popular, and became Rolls-Royce's greatest inter-war success. 3,827 were 20/25hp made – more than twice as many as its larger sibling the Phantom II. The 20/25's popularity saved Rolls-Royce in the 1930s.[4] In 1936 the 20/25 model was replaced by the 25/30, in which the bore was further increased to 3.5 inches. In 1938 the 25/30 was given a new chassis with independent front suspension, and became the Wraith.[5]
The 20/25 also enabled Rolls-Royce to quickly capitalize on its 1931 acquisition of Bentley Motors Ltd. As part of integrating its acquisition, Rolls-Royce management discontinued the Bentley 8 Litre car due to the perceived market overlap with the Phantom II. This meant the acquisition brought with it the Bentley brand; debt; engineers; and manufacturing employees, but no car to produce. They quickly decided to create a new Bentley using the 20/25 engine with some adaptations, and a chassis that had been developed for a 2¾ litre Rolls-Royce that had been intended as an economy version of the 20/25 but had been cancelled. This formed the basis of the first "Derby Bentley" – the Bentley 3½ litre. The model was very successful; became known as the "Silent Sports Car"; and was another major contribution of the 20/25 to the success of Rolls-Royce.[6]
Engineering
The general technical specification of the 20/25 are:[7]
Engine: inline 6-cylinder, overhead pushrod operated valve engine with 3,699cc capacity. Separate cast iron block and aluminum crankcase with detachable cast iron 6-plug head. It has an 82mm bore with a 114mm stroke. 7-bearing crankshaft with vibration damper. Pressure fed lubrication with relief valve feeding rocker shaft and timing gears.
Ignition System: independent coil and standby magneto systems. 12V system 50 Amp-hours battery. Centrifugal advance with hand override. Distributor gap 0.017-0.021inches
Cooling System: The famous Rolls-Royce radiator with triangular top with vertical louvres, the angle of which can be adjusted to control engine cooling. In early models, the radiator shutters is operated manually via a lever on the dashboard. Cars from 1931 onward have an automatic control via a thermostat. Engine driven centrifugal pump and belt-driven fan.
Carburation: A single Rolls-Royce two-jet type with starting carburetor, automatic air valve and steering column control.
Fuel: 14-gallon rear tank, increased to 18 gallons from 1932 onward. "Autovac" vacuum-fed fuel pump. Electric fuel gauge from 1933 onward.
Transmission: four-speed gearbox. Gearboxes from 1932 onward have synchromesh in third and top gears. Right hand gearchange. Single dry plate clutch. Open drive propeller shaft.
Suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear. Hydraulic dampers.
Brakes: Internal expanding four-wheel operation with independent handbrake on the rear wheels. Mechanical servo motor driven from the gearbox.
Rolls-Royce continued to enhance the 20/25 engineering during its production run. There were 36 technical releases or series. The key enhancements by year are:[8]
1930:
Flexible engine suspension
5.25:1 compression ratio
Longer wheelbase (11’ 0")
1931
Reserve petrol supply
Anti-splash radiator cap
1932
Completely centralized chassis lubrication system
Diamond engine mounting
New thin-rimmed steering wheel
Improved engine performance, 5.75:1 compression ratio
Based on a test published in Autocar in June 1935 of a Hooper closed-coupled Sports Saloon:[9]
Acceleration
From rest to 50mph through gears in 21.0 sec
From rest to 60mph through gears in 31.4 sec
Best timed speed: 76.27mph
Maximum speeds in gears:
1st – 18mph
2nd – 32mph
3rd – 53mph
4th – 76mph
Petrol Consumption: driven hard – 14 mpg
The 20/25 engine and chassis were designed for owner drivers: ideally to be fitted with a saloon or coupé body, such as that in the 1935 Autocar test. However, many 20/25's were fitted with larger and heavier limousine bodies, which impaired their performance.
Body
Rolls-Royce made only the chassis and mechanical parts. The body was made and fitted by a coachbuilder chosen by the owner. Among the most respected coachbuilders who produced bodies for Rolls-Royce cars are Park Ward, Thrupp & Maberly, Mulliner, Carlton and Hooper.
Today 20/25s are very popular with enthusiasts. They are significantly less expensive than the inter-war large horsepower Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, and are solid drivers[clarification needed] on modern roads. The price of a 20/25 is typically between half or one-fifth of that of its larger-horsepower contemporary, the Phantom II, and it is more drivable than its predecessor the 20hp.[10] This makes a 20/25 a suitable inter-war car for an owner who wants to enjoy weekend drives and car club outings.
Maintenance – Inter-war Rolls-Royces were exceptionally well designed. 3,827 20/25s were produced, and over 70% are still on the road today.[11] The 20/25 is relatively easy to maintain for someone with general automotive experience. Basic parts are still readily available through speciality suppliers. In Europe, the US and Australia there is a network of restoration and repair shops that are experienced in inter-war Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, although the number of quality shops is declining as a generation of experienced specialist mechanics retire. For many, part of the joy of owning a 20/25 is maintaining these cars. The Rolls-Royce car clubs sponsor on-line forums and regular in-person meetings for members to help each other on all type of repairs and restorations. There is always a member ready to help a fellow enthusiast by sharing his or her experience.
Driving – The 20/25 is a joy to drive.[12] The steering is quite high-geared, so little turning of the wheel is required, and it is accurate, enabling the car to be placed exactly where the driver wants. On country road cruising at 40 to 50mph, all but the heaviest bodied cars are un-stressed. Many owners have added an overdrive to their 20/25, which enables a car to cruise at highway speeds of 50 to 65mph.
Geographic Location – Originally, 93% of new 20/25's were sold within the UK. Due to their global popularity as a drivable, inter-war motor car, they have been re-sold throughout the World. Today only 38% of the surviving cars remain in the UK. There are 20/25s in more than 50 countries.[13]
A 1934 Mulliner-bodied car, chassis number GRC33, registration mark BMG 443, was used many times by the BBC and some Hollywood and British based movie makers. Its appearances include:
To the Manor Born – Audrey's much-loved Rolls throughout the series.
Dad's Army – episode The Captain's Car, in which the platoon stole it by accident from the Mayor and camouflaged it.
Secret Ceremony – A 1968 British drama horror film by Universal Pictures starring Elizabeth Taylor, Mia Farrow, and Robert Mitchum
Au Pair Girls – A 1972 British sex comedy film starring John Le Mesurier, Richard O'Sullivan, Trevor Bannister, and Harold Bennet
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References
↑ Tom C Clarke, The Rolls-Royce 20/25 H.P., A Complete Classics Publication, June 2009, page 6.
↑ Peter Pugh, The Magic of a Name: The Rolls-Royce Story – The First 40 Years Icon Books Ltd., Cambridge, 2000, page 103
↑ Nick Walker, Rolls-Royce 20HP, 20/25, 25/30 & Wraith in Detail 1922–1939, Herridge & Sons, 2009, page 83
↑ John Bolster, The Upper Crust: The Aristocrats of Automobiles, Follett Publishing Company, Chicago, 1976, page 132
↑ Pugh, The Magic of a Name: The Rolls-Royce Story – The First 40 Years, page 103
↑ Anthony Bird & Ian Hollows, The Rolls-Royce Motor Car and Bentley since 1931, Updated by Brendan James, BT Batsford, 6th Edition, 2002, pages 214–216
↑ Bird & Hollows, The Rolls-Royce Motor Car and Bentley since 1931, pages 266–271
↑ Martin Bennett, Rolls-Royce, The History of the Car, The Oxford Illustrated Press, 1983
↑ Bird, The Rolls-Royce Motor Car and the Bentley since 1931, page 271
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