1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30HP news, pictures, and information

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Barker Sedanca Limousine
Coachwork: Barker

The Rolls-Royce 25/30 was built between 1936 and 1938 being offered to those who wanted smaller cars to fit the older European roads and congested cities, plus offered an alternative to avoid horsepower/License taxes on the large and powerful Phantom cars. Prior to 1936 Rolls-Royce addressed the market with the 20/25 and 20 horsepower cars; and the successor of the 25/30 was the Wraith. The inline 6-cylinder overhead valve engine is 4257cc and is capable of about 70-75 mph depending on the type of coachwork fitted. Rolls-Royce cars of the period were provided by the factory in chassis form only and the owners chose custom coachwork builder. The luxury coachwork on the 1937 is by Barker & Co. Ltd and is a Sedanca Limousine. Total 25/30 production was 1,201 chassis.

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Sedanca de Ville
Coachwork: Gurney Nutting

Although this car was built in 1937, it was not registered until 1945, due chiefly to the war in Europe. The 25/30 was built between 1936 and 1938. It was powered by a 4257cc, inline six-cylinder engine with a 6:1 compression ratio.

In 1925 Gurney Nutting made the first of what would become one of the outstanding bodies installed on the Rolls-Royce chassis - the Sedanca de Ville (or town car). Eventually, Gurney Nutting coachwork became a favorite of several notable residents of Windsor Castle.

The four-wheel brake system, receives assistance from a mechanical servo under license from Hispano-Suiza. It has rigid front and rear ales suspended by half elliptic springs with hydraulic dampers.

This Rolls-Royce was fully restored in the 1980s.

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Sports Salon
Coachwork: Hooper

This Rolls-Royce 20/25 features coachwork by the noted English coachbuilder Hooper & Co., which designed and built bodies for many Rolls-Royce chassis. It is one of three such bodies built; two survive today.

The body style is known as a Sport Salon and features the razor edge styling that had become fashionable in the late 1930's in England. The interior features walnut trim and an ebony picnic table in the rear passenger compartment.

The 20/25 Rolls-Royce was powered by a 260 cubic-inch, six-cylinder motor that develops 102 horsepower. The car's unique features include a sun roof and built-in jacking system.

The 25/30 was an improvement on the 20/25 and ultimately marked the final development of the Twenty. The engine was enlarged to 4,257 cc and although similar in looks to its predecessor it was highly regarded, (a 25/30 can be distinguished from a late 20/25 by its three-spoke steering wheel). 1,201 25/30s were sold in just two years of production.

Some significant changes had been made for the 20/25, the most obvious being the use of proprietary parts. These included a Stromberg carburetor, SU fuel pumps, Lucas electrics, a Borg and Beck clutch, Marles steering and a Hardy Spicer propeller shaft.

The use of parts manufactured by other companies helped Rolls-Royce get to grips with the rising costs of manufacture. It was Henry Royce's financial pursuit for perfection that had precluded the use of proprietary parts in the past, but following his death in 1933 their use became more widespread. Until that time Rolls-Royce was about the only car company in the world to manufacture its own electrical, equipment. This practice was later described as the 'Silver Ghost mentality', but it was clear that the manufacturing process had to become modernized in order for the company to remain competitive.

Source - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd.

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