1923 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Cabriolet

The Rolls-Royce Twenty was the company's answer to those seeking a model that could meet requests for a smaller, less expensive car. They were arguably the company's first car to leave the legacy of the Edwardian age behind. Power came from a 3127cc overhead valve inline six-cylinder engine and the gear selector and brake moved inside the body where it was both more convenience and didn't require reaching outside into the rain and wind. The overhead valve engine was a first for Rolls-Royce and mated to a three-speed transmission with central gear-change. The transmission was not well liked and when four-wheel, servo-assisted brakes were introduced in 1925, a four-speed gearbox with right-hand, gated change replaced served as its replacement.

With a 129-inch wheelbase, the Model Twenty was a foot shorter than the contemporary Silver Ghost. The single ignition with coil and distributor increased reliability of the components and saved the company money.

At introduction, the chassis price was £1,100 which was far less than the £1,850 cost of a Silver Ghost. Built to the same high standards as the big 40/50 hp cars, they had a similar parallel girder frame with tubular cross-members and full-floating rear axle (albeit a bit smaller and lighter). The suspension was different for Rolls-Royce and employed semi-elliptic leaf springs in both the front and rear.

This Rolls-Royce 20HP Cabriolet with coachwork by Barker & Co. was ordered by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1923. The Prince of Wales is believed to have owned 11 examples of the marque in his lifetime, and that's not counting the Rolls-Royces others have claimed Edward owned over the years. This example was given dual-windscreen coachwork by Barker. The car was regularly serviced until 1933; the subsequent history is unclear but it is believed that the car remained in the United Kingdom. As some point in the late 1960s or early 1970s, the car joined the exodus of pre-war Rolls-Royces crossing the Atlantic and is believed to have been part of the MGM movie fleet before passing into the long-term ownership of kept it stored away in Brentwood, California for three decades.

This car has been with the current California owners since March of 2000. It is currently in unrestored condition and substantially complete. It wears its original Barker coachwork and has features like a speedo and a clock mounted in the rear compartment, Lucas lighting and the coachbuilders plates.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Quail Lodge Sale in Carmel, CA presented by Bonhams Auction. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $48,300, including buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2012