Lot details Registration No: GT 5298 Chassis No: GFT20 Mot Expiry: May 2012
Maintaining its policy of offering one 'Large' and one 'Small' model (the terms being purely relative), Rolls-Royce introduced the 20/25 in 1929 as a successor to the outgoing 20. Though the newcomer was intended to appeal to owner drivers, many examples were in fact sold to customers with chauffeurs. Power came from an enlarged version of the straight-six unit used in the 20. Now of 3699cc, it made for swifter acceleration and a higher top speed - up to 75mph, depending on the chosen body. The four-speed manual gearbox featured the manufacturer's traditional right-hand change and was equipped with synchromesh on the top two ratios from 1932 onwards. The substantial chassis sported rigid axles front and rear suspended on semi-elliptic leaf springs. The four-wheeled braking was mechanically servo-assisted. As ever, bodywork for the 20/25, was to the taste of the customer and Park Ward, Thrupp & Maberly, Mulliner and Hooper were among the many coachbuilders selected to clothe these fine cars. Nearly 4,000 20/25 chassis were produced, making it the company's best-selling model between the wars. The model was immortalised in film on numerous occasions, and 20/25s are to be seen in The League of Gentlemen, Father Came Too!, The Brides of Fu Manchu, To Be or Not To Be, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, The Remains of the Day, Simon Sez, Enigma, etc.
The 1931 20/25 on offer sports a limousine body by Arthur Mulliner, complete with chauffeur division. It has apparently been the property of the vendor for the last eighteen years and was treated to a restoration some three years into his ownership. The refurbishment of the ash woodwork took place more recently. He now regards the bodywork, Blue over Silver paintwork, similarly-coloured interior trim, engine and gearbox to all be in "good" condition. 'GT 5298' is MOT'd into May 2012.
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