THE ROLLS-ROYCE TWENTY

About this book :
(Taken from fly leaf.)

John Fasal's work on the 20 h.p. Rolls-Royce, which formed the basis of all models up to 1959, is a massive compendium of hitherto unpublished information not only about the car itself but also, in considerable detail, about the Company, its methods and its employees. The book is a `must' for anyone interested in the legend of Rolls-Royce. Describing one of the most important periods of Rolls-Royce history, the work shows the background to the introduction of the 20 h.p. model following the new domestic situation in which Britain found itself after the First World War; covers the design aspects and the staff who worked with Royce at West Wittering in Sussex and at Le Canadel in France; details the experimental work on the early chassis with many of Royce's own memos covering individual components; and shows how the Twenty developed over the years including the introduction of the four-speed gearbox and the four wheel brakes and so the natural progression to the 20/25 h.p. A fascinating chapter describes a walk through the Derby Works at the time and reviews in illustrated detail the machine tools and jigs used to produce the cars. The Sales Department at Conduit Street and the role of the Inspecting Engineers are followed by descriptions of the School of Instruction for owners and chauffeurs and the London and Paris Repair Depots. In the section on coachwork there are over 200 illustrations of Twenties, the vast majority of which have never been published. The pictures are grouped under each bodywork classification so that the reader can compare similar coachwork by different coachbuilders. Intriguing photographs and details are given of `Unusual Twenties' and heartrending pictures of `Neglected Twenties' in barns and breakers' yards. The author is a fund of knowledge on Rolls-Royce cars sent to India. His chapter on that country gives an insight into the personalities and eccentricities of the Indian princes. He also reviews the cars sent at the time to Australia and the U.S.A. The appendices include notes on the publications issued by the Company, the sources of material relating to individual cars, contempory road tests, and, for the technically minded, chassis, body mounting, spares and tools details. Finally the volume contains a definitive list of every Twenty built, relevant chassis, engine and body numbers, details of the coachwork, the original owner and, where known, the name and country of the present owner, together with changes of body or engine. This is one of the finest produced works on Rolls-Royce cars. Using the most modern methods, but to traditional meticulous standards, the book is printed on fine art paper and beautifully bound with a fine cloth over heavy boards, blue and gold head and tail bands, blocked in real gold, and with a bound-in copy of an original Rolls-Royce book-marker printed in red, blue and gold. The Foreword is written by Bill Boddy Esq., and an appreciation is given by Commander Hugh Keller. , fully indexed. Published privately. 1979

Preface

It was in August 1964 that I first recognised the 20 h.p. model that was to change my way of life. At that time I was employed in an antique furniture restoration business in Camden Town, North London. Regular trips to the Portobello Road (in the days when bargains could be found) took me past Ledbury Road where a restorer of paintings had three Rolls-Royce cars parked outside his shop. In front of a 25/30 h.p. Hooper limousine and a 20/25 h.p. shooting-brake stood a sadly neglected 1928 20 h.p. Park Ward saloon with division (chassis no. GBM 38). Captured by the aura of a quality car, despite its sorry state, I bargained with its owner until finally he agreed to accept £100 for it. Through a local Rolls-Royce owner I met Reginald Burlingham. Reg had joined Rolls-Royce Ltd.'s London Repair Depot in 1923 and retired as the outside tester in 1947 to form his own company, Somerton Motors. When Reg saw GBM 38 his first words of encouragement were `burn it'! Not daunted by this, I spent an increasing amount of time under his patient instruction gaining first hand experience of the small horsepower Rolls-Royce cars. The source of inspiration for embarking on this project is due in great part to this accomplished craftsman. To have a keener appreciation of the 20 h.p. model I made an effort to see as many examples as I could. I recorded each one. By late 1965 I had listed some seventy-five. After visiting twenty-three countries and thirteen years later this list now numbers 1040. Searching out so many Twenties from palaces to breakers yards was an enjoyable part of the research, particularly the visits to America, Australia and India. In the seventy or so books on Rolls-Royce there is little to be found relating to the Company, its background and, above all, the people who worked at `Royce's' during the 1920s. It has been a great pleasure to meet over fifty employees who had worked in the Company during the production of the Twenty. What impressed me was the way they spoke with warmth of the comradeship and loyalty, the exacting standards and the stringent testing as well as the discipline that demanded such attention to detail-for them, those were the `good old days'. This book does not only look at the car and its customers, but also at the development of the Company. A large number of photographs and original documentation are included, much of which has not been made available for publication in the past. I hope the reader will share my gratitude to those dedicated people who took such pride in the excellence of a product that bore that magic name ROLLS-ROYCE.
John Fasal,
London,
March 1979.

Contents

Colour Plates
Acknowledgements
Picture Acknowledgements
The Twenty - An Appreciation
Chapter I The Formative Years
Chapter 2 The Twenty Makes Its Debut
Chapter 3 Design
Chapter 4 The Experimental Cars
Chapter 5 The Development of the Twenty
Chapter 6 The Derby Works
Chapter 7 Selling the Twenty
Chapter 8 The School of Instruction and the Repair Depots
Chapter 9 Coachwork on the Twenty
Limousine Coachwork
Saloon Coachwork
Coupe Coachwork
Drophead Coupe Coachwork
Brougham Coachwork
Landaulette Coachwork
Sedanca Coachwork
Cabriolet Coachwork
Two-seater Coachwork
Tourer Coachwork
Chapter 10 Some Unusual Twenties
Chapter 11 The Twenty in India, Australia and the U.S.A.
Chapter 12 Neglected Twenties
Chapter 13 End of an Era
Appendix I The Complete List of the Twenty Chassis
Appendix II 20 h.p. Publications Issued by the Company, 1928-1930
Appendix III Contemporary Road Tests and Reports in the Motoring Press
Appendix IV Sources of Material Relating to Individual Twenty Cars
Appendix V Chassis, Body Mounting and Spares. Details
Appendix VI Derby Development Record 1918-1930
Bibliography,
Index of Cars
Index

l925 GPK 33 a special four seater saloon by C. Wylder & Co. supplied to
H.H. The Maharaja of Bharatpur In April l926.
On a hunting expedition in the Province of Chotonagpur.

The body was polished aluminium throughout and the petrol tank, frame, etc. were painted aluminium.
The body cost was £600 and no front wheel brakes were specified on the order. Features included:

Extra for nickel plating wheels (6) . £11.10.0.
N/plated Bosch horn in addition to Klaxon . £4.12.6.
R.-R. mascot with flagstaff. £4. 0.0.
N/plated chassis instruments .£4.6.0
Near side and off side spare wheel carriers . £9. 9.0.
Supplying a second battery . £8. 0.0.
A special polished aluminium box to hold 2nd battery. £5. 5.0.
Changing steering from `Raked' to `Upright' position . £7. 6.0.
Alterations to body due to changing rake of steering . £7.18.0.
A set of 6 electroplated beakers in leather case . £3. 2.6.
A quart size Thermos flask. £2. 2.0.
Pyrene fire extinguisher .£3. 0.0.
Liberty Bell .£3.13.6.
Blue flag lamp .£1. 5.0.
A Eural horn attachment for Bosch horn .£2. 5.6.
Blue glass to screen and all windows
A spare set of plain glasses for screen
N/plated buffers-rubber faced-triple bar .£21.15.0.
Parsons chains to rear wheels . £4.10.0.
One pair Lucas sidelamps facing backwards . £2. 2.0.
One pair of small Stephen Grebel headlamps . £15. 0.0.
A special bracket for searchlight . £11. 9.0.
Sliding panel to roof for shooting out of
Pull-out cigar lighter with switch on instrument board. £2. 2.0.
A Folberth wiper . £4.12.6.
A 2 gallon silver plated water tank fitted in boot . £15. 0.0.
Filler to petrol tank-vertical . £1. 4.6.
Detachable servants' seat at rear, complete with straps. £20.15.0.
Rear quarter windows to drop and fitted with window lifts . £15.15.0.
Carriage of Stephen Grebel lamps from Paris to London . £5. 3.10
Nickel plated bracket in front of car to accommodate bell,
ftag lamp, Bosch horn and Stephen Grebel lamps . £14.14.0.
An engraved panel for switches . £10.0.0
Collecting, packing and shipping to Bombay from London . £81. 0.0.
Insurance to a value of . £2100.0.0.
15'.3" X 6'.4" X 6'.5" 56 cwt. gross

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