Lot 128: 1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Drophead Coupe with Dickey Seat by Park Ward

By the late 1920s the trend for ever-heavier coachwork on the Rolls-Royce 20 HP had inevitably had a detrimental effect on performance. Rolls-Royce's solution was to increase the comparatively small six cylinder engine's capacity from just over three litres to 3,699cc which, together with a stronger crankshaft allowing increased rpm, raised its output to 25hp. As with the 20 HP, the 20/25 was warmly received and proved immensely popular, soon more than doubling sales of the big Phantom II. Various detail improvements were made to the 20/25 during its seven year production life including rises in compression ratio in 1930 and 1932; the latter year also saw the introduction of synchromesh for the third and fourth gear ratios, thermostatically controlled radiator grille shutters, a one-shot centralised lubrication system, an electric fuel gauge and shock absorbers adjusted automatically according to the car's speed. Replacing the 20/25 in 1936 was the 4,250cc 25/30, with a 15% increase in power allowing comfortable 70mph cruising and an 80mph top speed; integral mechanical jacks were also fitted to all four chassis corners. Production ended in 1938 with 1,200 chassis having been produced. Mentioned in Lawrence Dalton's eponymous book, Coachwork on Rolls-Royce 1906-1939, this extremely rare and desirably bodied 25/30 was imported into Germany in 1991 by a long term Rolls-Royce enthusiast and collector. Definitely a sporting model, built by renowned coachbuilder Park Ward in February 1937, GRO 40 in unusual in having cutaway doors on the left and right as well as incorporating lifting glass windows on both sides. Originally delivered to John Croall and Sons of Edinburgh as detailed in the accompanying build sheet, and presented as excellent in almost every respect, this Rolls-Royce is especially unusual in sidestepping a popular complaint of 25/30 owners, that of an inadequate power to weight ratio. This is achieved by incorporating a much lighter body than usual, thus making best use of the power available. An elegant and well proportioned motor car in all respects.Dieser elegante offene Rools-Royce wurde bei Park Ward in London mit der offenen Karrosserie versehen, die er bis zum heutigen Tage besitzt. Die Karrosserie ist so bemerkenswert, dass dieser Wagen in einem der Standardwerke uber Rolls-Royce dieser ra Erwaehung findet, dem Buch von Lawrence Dalton "Coachwork on Rolls-Royce 1906 - 1939", nicht zuletzt da sie ber ausgeschnittene Tren an beiden Seiten und trotzdem Kurbelfenster verfgt. Mit dieser relativ leichten Karrosserie kann dieser 25/30 auch adquate Fahrleistungen erreichen, ein Punkt der bei vielen schwereren Karrosserien dieses Modells oft bemngelt wurde. Ein seltener und historisch bedeutender Rolls-Royce mit einer sehr attraktiven Karrosserie.