1932 Rolls-Royce 20/25 news, pictures, and information

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Chassis Num: GHW-79

This vehicle's main function was for a gentleman's hunting wagon. However, the second owner of the Shooting Brake was a doctor in South Africa in the 1930's-1940's. There were only eighty-one cars produced in this GHW Chassis series. The coachwork is constructed of a mixture of Honduras and African Mahogany, which was made to order by Crosbie & Dunn. Ltd. coach builders. Few of these Shooting Brakes survive today. Chassis No. GHW-79.

Source - Luray Cavern Museum

The Rolls-Royce was the result of a meeting between Henry Royce, a manufacturer of electric cranes in Manchester, and the Honorable C.S. Rolls, a pioneer motorist then selling Panhard automobiles in London. Rolls wanted his name to be associated only with the finest motorcar available and when he learned of the cars Royce was building, he was convinced he had found his opportunity. The first Rolls-Royce cars were offered in 1906 and by September of that year the first Rolls-Royce arrived in America. From the inception of the company until the outbreak of World War II, Rolls-Royce built only chassis, with coachbuilders creating each body to suit specific customers.

Though Rolls-Royce is well known for building large, stately vehicles, they offered smaller cars as well. The 20/25 was built along with the Phantom II from 1929 to 1936, and more 20/25 chassis were built than any other model between the First and Second World Wars. Many were completed with limousine type bodies; the Paris coachbuilder Vanvooren originally bodied this car as a Sedanca Saloon. In the 1950's and 1960's, it was common to take early Rolls-Royce models with closed bodies and refit them with sportier bodies reminiscent of the 1930s.

Collection of Fred Einer

Source - SDAM

In 1929 the Twenty's replacement, the 20/25 HP was launched. This car used the Twenty chassis, virtually unchanged, but the engine was enlarged from 3.1 litres to 3.7 litres, giving a significant increase in performance. Improved power had become a necessity because owners often insisted on fitting elaborate and heavy coachwork, which severely affected the performance. This was an important change considering owners didn't like to be overtaken by what they believed to be inferior cars.
An 'Autocar' report in 1931 describes the 20/25 thus: 'Every single feature spells durability, the machine is on a plane altogether superior to the normal style of motor car'. This claim is backed up by the fact that this model was the choice of some of the most famous sporting drivers of the day. Tommy Sopwith owned one, as did the famous racing driver Prince Bira of Siam and racing driver and record breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell.
- Rolls-Rocye Motor Cars

Overview
The 20/25 kept the Rolls-Royce tradition of a two-model policy, being sold alongside of the Phantom II. It was offered as a more economical car and was smaller than its sibling. All of the 20/25HP were outfitted with custom coachbuilt bodies from legendary names such as Vanden Plas, Freestone and Webb, Brewster, Gurney Nutting, Park Ward, Coachcraft, and Thrupp & Maberly.

With nearly 4000 chassis created it is one of Rolls-Royce's best selling contemporary models, lasting from 1929 through 1936. During the production lifespan of the 20/25, the vehicle received many updates. The ignition, brakes, clutch, and carburetors were just a few of the mechanical areas to received modifications and improvements. In 1932 shock absorbers and thermostat controlled devices were introduced. The thermostats operated the radiator air-flow automatically eliminating the need to operate the radiator shutters by hand.

Source - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

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