1929 Rolls-Royce 20/25

The 20/25’s goal was simply to succeed the highly successful Rolls-Royce 20. To do this Rolls-Royce decided that both power and performance had to increase. Bore size was increased from 3 to 3.25 inches, and the stroke remained unchanged. These changes resulted in a 17% increase in cubic capacity, going from 3128cc to 3675cc and subsequently brought horsepower figures up to 25.4 hp.

The exterior to this 20/25 appears clean, but in reality, the exterior is far from perfect. Maroon paint around the body has its fair share of chips but nothing out of the ordinary. The black fenders over the wheels are very clean, and likely the most presentable are of the exterior. The running boards are in good condition, although some bumps seem to have risen underneath the rubber in some areas. It must be made clear that the leather roof has completely disintegrated leaving the wood beneath completely exposed. This bit of damage is easily the most jarring when looking at the car, but not the toughest fix by any means.

The interior is in great condition for a 100-year-old vehicle. There are only minor signs of weathering, and nothing looks particularly haggard inside. The black leather front seats are in good condition. The seats have their fair share of creases, but there are no holes or tears to be seen. Carpets all fit in to their proper location without issue. The wooden dashboard has no chips, but healthy coat of polish would really help to liven things up. All of the gauges inside the car are clean and easily readable. The cloth bench seat in the back is in great condition. No holes or tears, but also no stains and really no signs of aging either. The carpet that rests in front of the rear bench has seen better days, but it could likely be fixed with a simple deep clean. No part of the headliner is sagging whatsoever, and all of the curtain sunshades are in working order.

We are pleased to report that the underside of this 20/25 is clean. The frame is tidy, and all of the suspension components are in proper order. Under the hood, the trend continues. The straight-six motor runs and drives, but the engine bay itself is not spotless. There are minor cases of surface corrosion popping up around some of the bolts but not all of them by any means.

This Rolls-Royce comes with extensive documentation. Among the documents included we have: notes on the car from the original owner, numerous maintenance records, documentation of the car’s shipment overseas to the United States, registration documents from the 1950s and much more. The original owner was a pastor in England. Sometime prior to 1960, the Rolls was purchased by the seller’s father and brought to Whittier, California, where it has remained in garage storage ever since. The seller told us that the car was left outside in the weather one time, but it was enough to begin the process that destroyed the roof, which ultimately fell apart over a long period of time.

The 20/25 is a hugely important car for Rolls-Royce’s history. The 20/25 was the most popular pre-war car those Brits ever built, and the incredible sales that resulted from its success were what ultimately allowed Rolls-Royce to survive the Great Depression. This specific example has some wear and tear, there is no debating that, but when you look at other areas of the car; interior in particular, it’s hard not to be impressed. Most if not all of the car is original aside from the battery. Furthermore, the documentation included with the vehicle is sure to pique the interest of any history buffs out there.

The Market by Bonhams is thrilled to offer this Rolls-Royce 20/25 for online auction with No Reserve.