1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30HP

Rolls-Royce traditionally offered a model intended mainly to be driven by a chauffeur and a smaller 'owner-driver' model. The first 'small' Rolls-Royce line began in 1922 with the Twenty being powered by a 3,127cc engine. It was replaced in 1929 by the 20/25 HP which was a more-powerful cross-flow version of its predecessor's six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine now displacing 3,699cc. The chassis was identical to the last Twenty's, with right-hand gear change lever, servo-assisted brakes, and Phantom-style radiator shutters. Changes employed on the Phantom II, such as synchromesh gears and centralized chassis lubrication, were implemented to the 20/25.

The Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP the 'owner-driver' driver model, was introduced to the public in 1929 as a stablemate to the larger Phantom II.

During the era of the Phantom III, between 1935 and 1938, the owner-driver model was the 25/30. It was powered by an enlarged, more powerful version of the inline-six-cylinder engine that was used to power the previous 20/25. It displaced 4,257cc and developed approximately 115 brake horsepower at 4,500 rpm and could achieve a top speed of approximately 80 mph. It used a Stromberg carburetor and SU fuel pumps.

The Rolls-Royce 25/30hp were exclusively coach-built automobiles and most were bodied by British coachbuilders, often with unique designs. Production of the Rolls-Royce 25/30 lasted until the introduction of the Wraith in 1939 by which time 1,201 cars had been built.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2020