1930 Rolls-Royce 20/25HP Shooting Brake

3,699cc OHV Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
Est. 55-65bhp at 3,000rpm
4-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Fascinating History
*Used as a WW2 ambulance
*Has travelled over 500,000 miles
*Wonderful classic for the farmers market or country picnic

THE ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25HP

The 20/25 Rolls Royce, built from 1929 through 1936, became the company's most popular design prior to the Second World War, with some 3,827 examples delivered. The 20/25 succeeded the smaller-displacement 20 hp model. Initially built on a 128.7-inch chassis, the 20/25 was later offered on a "long" chassis of 131.9 inches, which was introduced in 1931. Later 20/25s featured a four-speed fully synchronized gearbox and a centralized chassis lubrication system.

The 20/25 was powered by a 3.7-liter inline, overhead-valve six with a cast-iron block. The engine had a separate aluminum crankcase containing a robust seven-main bearing crankshaft with vibration damper and a detachable cast iron cylinder head. The engine was lubricated by a pressurized system that also fed the rocker shaft and timing gears. Ignition was by independent coil, a centrifugal-advance distributor, and a backup magneto. An engine-driven water pump with fan cooled the engine, and a thermostatically-controlled system opened and closed the radiator shutters as required. Fuel was delivered via one single-jet carburetor. While the 20/25's engine produced an estimated 65 horsepower, Rolls Royce never publicly advertised such numbers, stating only that it was "adequate". In order to ensure reliability, the company carefully ran in every new engine on a dynamometer and kept careful records of each test and every part that went into the chassis. The transmission with its single dry-plate clutch was bolted to the rear of the engine block, with a floor shift installed to the right of the driver's seat. The rear axle was of the full-floating type. Large four-wheel drum brakes were servo-assisted.

As was standard practice for the period, the completed chassis would be delivered after testing to a coachbuilder selected by the customer from catalog illustrations, where a new body would be either installed from inventory, or constructed and finished to the buyer's specific wishes.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The chassis had initially been purchased as a demonstrator by Rippon Brothers Ltd, St Johns Road, Hudersfield, Yorkshire, England. It was sold to its first owner, Mr. Frank Broadhead, Esq. Doe Royd, Almondbury, managing director of Kirkheaton Mills in Huddersfield, on May 23rd 1930.

At the time of delivery, the car was a Rippon-bodied, all-window limousine on a "long type chassis". The only known picture of the car with this body was taken on March 11, 1932 when it was being used to chauffer the future King George VI, then the Duke of York, during a state visit to the Mills.

At the start of World War II, Mr. Broadhead turned the limousine over to the British government to be used for the war effort. It was quickly converted into an ambulance by removing the limousine body from the rear half of the car, substituting it with a huge cube-shaped, dull brown-colored metal box. During the war, the ambulance's principal purpose was to transport sick and wounded troops who had been evacuated back to England for treatment.

After the war, the ambulance was converted into a high-end delivery van for the mill. The current owners have a picture postcard that seems to show the GSR4 leaving Buckingham Palace after making a delivery there.

Mr. LaViale brought it to the U.S. aboard the Cunard Line's "SS Scythia," arriving in New York on April 30, 1966. He would retain the car until 1972, when it was purchased by Robert T. Sessions, MD of Marietta, GA.

A few years after purchasing the car, Dr. Sessions discovered a leak in the radiator. What he thought would be a quick repair became the start of a complete restoration that took the next 21 years and became a family affair. Dr. Sessions' wife, all four of their children and, later, most of their grandchildren contributed a lot of time to working on the car.

The project was declared complete in 2003 when Dr. Sessions and his son Rob ceremoniously re-installed the final piece of hardware and the entire family traveled to Newport, RI to exhibit the Shooting Brake at an annual RROC meeting being held there. At that meet, the car won the Guerrero Award for best personal restoration.

Today the car presents extremely well, having been in the care of its current family since 1972. The opportunity to acquire this unique Rolls Royce shooting brake should not be missed.