A couple of things caught my eye and led to this 1936 Rolls-Royce 25/30 (click on the link to view the advertisement) becoming the Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
One was the car’s stunning light blue and white 2-tone paint, which I think gives this vintage classic an almost hot-rod appearance. The other was the fact that a Rolls-Royce is being advertised on the marketplace for $32,500 — the price of a typical new but dully designed compact crossover vehicle — by the dealership in Hilton, New York.
In the advertisement, the dealership notes that between 1936 and 1938, Rolls-Royce produced around 1,200 examples of its 25/30 model. The 25/30 was one of the best-selling vehicles ever produced by the company and was sold alongside Rolls’ larger Phantom II model.
While an older restoration, the car has a recently done interior of tan Connelly leather. It has a 4.3-liter inline 6-cylinder engine linked to a 4-speed manual transmission and, the dealer notes, “Stopping power provided by the famous, mechanically assisted drum brakes, licensed by Rolls-Royce from Hispanos-Suiza for the 25/30.”
The car also has a manual sunroof, rides on wire wheels but comes with optional solid wheel covers, has Lucas P100 “flamethrower” headlamps, and a {unique boot-mounted spare.”
In the advertisement we learn that the 25/30 was the replacement for Rolls’ 20/25 model. “The inspiration and impetus for the 25/30 was the need and desire for increased power to carry the large (heavy), elegant, and custom coachwork. The 3,669cc inline-6 cylinder engine was bored out to 4,257cc, while the stroke remained the same. It used a 6:1 compression ratio, the magneto ignition was dropped (a standby coil was provided), and a single proprietary Stromberg downdraught carburetor replaced the Rolls-Royce unit.”
Not only is there a quartet of gears, but the third and fourth gear come with factory synchromesh.
“Coachwork was left to independent coachbuilders including Park Ward, Hooper, Thrupp & Maberly, Arthur Mulliner, and H.J. Mulliner & Co.,” the dealer notes.
We are not informed in the advertisement which coachbuilder is responsible for the sheetmetal on this example, nor does the ad include any photos of the vehicle’s interior or engine, but we do learn that the odometer shows 94,953 miles.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
That’s a brilliant car. Could I afford the chauffeur/mechanic, it would be mine today.
“One drives his Bentley, is driven in his Rolls, and provides his mistress with a Delahaye”.