Rolls-Royce 20/25 hp, Hooper Touring Saloon (Sportsman Saloon) – Chassis GXK36

“Harriet”

Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP – “Goshawk” and the End of an Era

The Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP was built from 1929 to 1936 and became the most successful model of the marque in the interwar years. It succeeded the 20 HP and was aimed at a wealthy clientele who increasingly valued a car to drive themselves – less imposing and representative than the large Phantom models, yet equally luxurious.

At the factory, the model was given the internal code name “Goshawk.” Technically, it represented a significant development: the six-cylinder engine was enlarged to 3.7 litres by increasing the bore, which noticeably improved both power and flexibility. Even heavy coachwork could now be moved with ease. The four-speed gearbox – with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th gears from mid-production – made handling far easier. As always with Rolls-Royce, the focus was on smoothness and reliability – qualities that made the 20/25 famous.

The factory supplied only the chassis and mechanicals; the coachwork was created by renowned builders such as Barker, Mulliner, Hooper, or Thrupp & Maberly. This resulted in an enormous variety of unique cars – from sporting drophead coupés to representative landaulets – each reflecting the taste and status of its owner.

With 3,827 examples produced, the 20/25 became a financial lifeline for Rolls-Royce in the difficult 1930s. Production ended in 1936, replaced by the 25/30 HP with an enlarged engine and further technical refinements. Shortly afterwards came the Rolls-Royce Wraith, with an entirely new chassis featuring independent front suspension. This period also marked the death of Sir Henry Royce, co-founder and guiding spirit of the marque – a symbolic close to the 20/25 era. The model thus remains a milestone, bridging tradition and progress, and playing a decisive role in securing the survival of Rolls-Royce.

History

On 7 December 1935, chassis number GXK36 was completed and fitted with a Touring Saloon body by Hooper & Co. – London-based coachbuilders to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, and arguably the most prestigious British coachbuilder of all. Factory records and chassis cards indicate its presence at the Amsterdam and Geneva motor shows in 1936. When it failed to find a buyer on the continent, Rolls-Royce replaced the “metric” speedometer and fuel gauge on 23 April 1936, once the car had returned to England.

The first private owner was F. J. Shoobridge of Craigweil, Sussex. Three further owners are recorded, the last of whom – A. M. Jenkins & Sons Ltd. of London – acquired the Rolls-Royce in 1963. The next documented owner was David Baldock of Cranbrook, Kent, who sold the car in 1984 to the Bennett family, who kept it for more than 30 years. The last owner in England was Nigel Parrot, a highly respected specialist in veteran and pre-war cars from the county of Kent. He eventually sold the car to the Motorremise.

Today, the car carries the registration LH-RR 36H and the English given name “Harriet.” It regularly undertakes long journeys, for example to Spain, England, and the German coasts, proving itself to be a reliable touring car with excellent comfort.

Technical Data

Manufacturer:      Rolls-Royce (UK, Derby)
Model:             20/25
Chassis#:          GXK36
Coachwork:         Touring Saloon (Sportsman Saloon) by Hooper
Engine:            6-cylinder in-line, magneto and coil ignition
Displacement:        3,631 cc
Output:            approx. 85 hp
Transmission:         4-speed + reverse, 3rd and 4th with synchromesh, 2nd partly synchronized
Other features:        Sliding roof, overdrive, and central lubrication