1925' Rolls-Royce 20HP

Once the First World War ended, Rolls Royce decided to continue production with the Silver Ghost as well as the Twenty HP, a lighter car that matched well the marque’s quality craftsmanship with design simplicity and practicability. The 20HP featured an over-head-valve, six-cylinder engine connected to a 3-speed manual transmission with rear brakes and rigid axles on semi elliptic springs. The body was sent by Rolls Royce to be constructed by famous coachbuilders of the era including Mulliner, Park Ward and Hooper & Co.
Chassis GPK38 was manufactured in the spring of 1925 featuring an upgraded 4-speed right hand gearbox, four wheel brakes, polished nickel radiator shutters and side lamps of front wings. The elegant body was built by Hooper & Co Ltd featuring Hooper’s trademark oval rear window and then finished in smart Black over Blue. Once thoroughly tested by Rolls Royce technicians, it was delivered to its 1st owner in London on May of 1925. From that year till 1939 all repairs were meticulously performed and recorded by Rolls Royce Repair Depot in London. Five decades later, the car was discovered by its soon-to-be owner in a barn in Bishop’s Storford. Once acquired, he assigned the restoration of the body to Mr. Trevor Rumsey of Suffolk and the interior to Mr. Max Creasey and his wife, also of Suffolk. The restoration was featured in RREC’s summer Bulletin of 1986 and later inspected by RREC's valuations officer, Mr. Brian Bilton-Sanderson. Notably, Mr. Sanderson was quite impressed with the overall attention to detail as well as the 'quite superb' interior. In 1998, the 3rd owner decided to commission specialists at A. Archer to conduct a total overhaul of the engine and transmission with all parts fitted new. In 2006 the car changed hands only to be sold a few months later to its current owner who requested the services of Fiennes Restorations Ltd for full restoration of the front axle, springs, brakes, steering, spoke wheels and re-manufacturing of the 2 trunks. A year later of carefully recorded and conducted work, the restoration was complete at a cost over 38000 pounds sterling. Since then the car has been driven for maintenance purposes only and remains in an immaculate condition throughout.
Specifications
Year: 1925
Make: Rolls Royce
Model: 20hp
Series: F
Coachbuilder: Hooper & Co Ltd, London
Designer: Sir Henry Royce
Chassis number: GPK38
Body type: 4 door, saloon six light
Works number: 1266
Engine specifications: 3,126cc, 6-cylinder in line, OHV
Engine number: G1350, matching
Transmission: 4 speed manual, right hand
Exterior Color: Black over Blue
Interior color, trim: grey cloth
Factory installed options:
- Hooper coachwork with rear oval window
- Front wheel brakes, servo-assisted
- Polished nickel radiator shutters
- Side lamps of front wings
Additional items: set of tools with jack and spinner
Documents:
- Rolls Royce 20hp Instructions Handbook, original
- Rolls Royce factory built, test and inspection cards, dated 1925, copies
- Rolls Royce factory order and repair notes, dated 1926-1938, copies
- Rolls Royce Repair Depot of London work orders, dated 1939, original
- Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Bulletin, n.157, July/August 1986, copy
- Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club Valuation by Brian Bilton-Sanderson, dated March 1989, copy
- Fiennes Restoration Ltd Survey Report, dated July 2007
- Fiennes Restoration Ltd Restoration Notes, dated 2007-2008
- MoT records, dated 1996-2008

Restoration history:
A. Archer, 1998
- Engine: Total overhaul with all parts replaced
- Transmission: Total overhaul with all parts replaced

Coldwell Engineering, 2001
- Carburettor and magneto overhauled

Fiennes restorations Ltd, 2007-2008
- Engine: service, tune up, distributor, rotor arm, condenser, carburettor and Autovac overhauled
- Front axle: removed, dismantled and restored along with front springs, brakes and steering
- Wheels: respoked and new tyres fitted
- Coach: designed and made one large and one small trunk

Ownership history:
1926-1978: Mr. W. C., London, UK
1978-1997: Mr. J. E. N,, Leiston, UK
1997-2006: Mr. T. E. O., Dunmow, UK
2006-2007: Mr. M. C., Cornwall, UK
2007-2018: Mr. G. M., Athens, Greece

Current registration: British