1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP
The Rolls-Royce 25/30 built between 1936 and 1938 is an updated version of the 20/25 with larger engine to provide more power, as over-large bodies had often been fitted to the earlier model leading to complaints about its performance.
For about the first half of Rolls-Royce’s 100 plus years, the marque was inextricably linked to the great coachbuilders of the day, whose skills complemented the chassis of Rolls-Royce with a quality and elegance that became world famous.
Latest in the line of ‘small’ Rolls-Royces that had begun with the ‘Twenty’ back in 1922, the much revised 25/30hp arrived in 1936. The newcomer was a development of the immediately preceding 20/25hp model that had been introduced in 1929 featuring an enlarged (from 3,127 to 3,699cc) and more-powerful cross-flow version of its predecessor’s six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine. Apart from the latter, early 20/25 chassis were identical to those of the last 20s, both models being produced during 1929. Thus the 20/25 inherited the right-hand gearchange lever and servo-assisted brakes introduced on its predecessor, as well as Phantom-style radiator shutters. Produced contemporaneously with the Phantom II, the 20/25 benefited from many of the features – such as synchromesh gears and centralised chassis lubrication – developed for the larger model. Eventually the trend towards increasingly weighty coachwork prompted Rolls-Royce to revise the 20/25 for 1936.
This 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP was powered 6 cylinder in-line engine; cast iron cylinder block, aluminium alloy crankcase; bore stroke 88.9 x 114.3 mm (3 1/2 x 4 1/2 in), capacity 4,257 cc; push-rod operated valves located in detachable cylinder head; single coil ignition, stand-by coil; Borg & Beck dry plate type clutch, 4 speed gearbox in unit with engine.
The interior boasts beautiful walnut woodwork with particularly fine figuring, featuring very delicate fillets round the window frames. The interior leather has been replaced in some areas but the seats themselves appear original, albeit re-Connollised. New leather-bound black carpets are fitted throughout.
Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP is a very elegant Sedanca de Ville. It is the known remaining example of the Sedanca de Ville 25/30HPs. It sports many striking features. It has highly unusual pontoon wings, extravagently decorated rear wheel spats, a canted B-post, desirable Lucas R100 headlamps, ‘Owl-Eye’ tail lamps, an electric division.
