Rolls-Royce 20/25 Standard

Rolls-Royce 20/25 Standard

The Rolls-Royce 20/25 succeeded the Twenty as the company's smaller chassis, sitting beneath the grand Phantom II in the range. Produced from 1929 to 1936, it became the most commercially successful pre-war Rolls-Royce, with 3,827 chassis built — a remarkable number for a hand-made luxury car during the depths of the Great Depression.

The 20/25 designation referred to the RAC horsepower rating (20) and the estimated actual brake horsepower (25 at the time of introduction, though the engine was progressively developed to produce approximately 70 bhp by the end of production). The engine was a 3.7-litre overhead-valve inline six, a development of the Twenty's unit, noted for its exceptional smoothness, silence, and reliability. Rolls-Royce's legendary attention to engineering quality — every engine was individually run-in and tested before leaving the factory — ensured mechanical refinement that was unmatched by any competitor.

Like all Rolls-Royces of this era, the 20/25 was sold as a rolling chassis only. The buyer would then commission a body from their preferred coachbuilder, resulting in an enormous variety of styles. Saloon bodies by Park Ward, Hooper, and Thrupp & Maberly were most common, but there were also tourers, limousines, sedancas de ville, and even the occasional sports body. The diversity of coachwork means that no two 20/25s are quite alike, and the quality and provenance of the bodywork significantly affects a car's value and desirability.

The 20/25 was conceived as an 'owner-driver' car, smaller and more manageable than the grand Phantom II, which was typically chauffeur-driven. Its compact dimensions (by Rolls-Royce standards) made it practical for private use, while retaining the levels of refinement, build quality, and prestige that defined the marque.

The chassis incorporated Rolls-Royce's servo-assisted mechanical brakes, a four-speed gearbox (with synchromesh on third and fourth gears from 1932), and centralised chassis lubrication. The ride quality, even by modern standards, remains remarkably supple and controlled.

The 20/25 occupies an interesting position in the collector market. It offers genuine Rolls-Royce pre-war ownership at a fraction of the cost of a Phantom, and survival rates have been good thanks to the quality of construction and the devotion of an active and knowledgeable owners' community.