For most of Rolls-Royce’s company history, it was tradition to offer two models. One was a Ghost, or Phantom, which was a large, powerful model that was intended to be driven by the owner’s chauffeur. The second was a smaller car, essentially a scaled-down version of the first, which was intended for the increasing number of buyers who preferred to drive themselves. In Rolls-Royce tradition, both cars were sold as rolling chassis, and the coachwork on the “owner–driver” cars was very often as striking as that on the Phantoms.

The 20/25 offered here is an example of the “little brother” to the Phantom II, of which 4,000 were built between 1929 and 1936, making this one of Rolls-Royce’s best-selling models of the era. Chassis GAU 66 is recorded on its build sheet, a copy of which is on file, as having been first bodied by London coachbuilders Hooper & Co. as a limousine. Its original owner was William Tatem, 1st Baron Glanely, a prominent ship owner and industrialist in Wales, and a significant figure in British thoroughbred horse racing between the wars.

In the modern era, prior to 1970, the car was re-bodied with its present sporting Roadster body and has remained in the Quattroruote Collection since. Finished in a lively and sporting black and yellow colour scheme with tan upholstery, it appears well preserved and largely complete, with the exception of some modern replacement gauges, and the finishes inside and out have held up well for driving enjoyment. Despite its public display in the collection, it has remained a quiet car in Rolls-Royce circles yet appears in the chassis listing for the model in Tom C. Clarke’s reference work, The Rolls-Royce 20/25 H.P.

Ideal for sporting drives in the country, this lively little Rolls-Royce would be a most entertaining acquisition.