1932 Rolls-Royce 20/25
2022.0004.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 224 cu. in. (3.7L)
Output: 25 HP
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Weight: 3,500 lbs.
Top Speed: 50 MPH
No. Produced: 3,827 (1929-1936)
Manufacturer: Rolls-Royce Ltd.
At the 1929 Olympia Motor Show, the Rolls Royce 20/25 debuted receiving immense praise and becoming the greatest of the inter-war successes. It was intended to appeal to owners who drove their cars rather than those who employed chauffeurs. This popular model helped save Rolls-Royce Limited during the economically difficult pre-war years. This particular 20/25 was originally purchased by “Bentley Boy” Woolf Barnato, a top driver for Bentley during the 20’s.
Barnato achieved three consecutive wins out of three entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in Bentleys. He purchased the Bentley Company from W.O. Bentley in 1927 and sold it to Rolls-Royce in a sealed bid auction in 1931. Barnato commissioned this car from coachbuilder Gurney Nutting in 1932. It featured a low roofline and no bumpers, a style found in most of his cars. It was used by the British government during WWII in North Africa where it was damaged by shell fire. Restoration was completed in 2015.