The Rolls-Royce Twenty built between 1922 and 1929 was Rolls-Royce's "small car" for the 1920s and was produced alongside the 40/50 Silver Ghost and Phantom. It was intended to appeal to owner drivers but many were sold to customers with chauffeurs. A new inline-6 cylinder overhead valve engine was designed for the car of 3127 cc with a bore of 76 mm and stroke of 114 mm. Unlike the Silver Ghost engine, the cylinders were cast in one block and the cylinder head was detachable. Both coil and magneto ignition were fitted. The early cars had 3 speed manual gearboxes with the change lever in the centre of the car but this changed in 1925 to a four speed unit with traditional right hand change. A torque tube was used to transmit the power to the rear axle.
The substantial chassis had rigid front and rear axles suspended by half elliptic springs, with braking initially only on the rear wheels. Four wheel brakes with mechanical servo were introduced in 1925. The famous Rolls-Royce radiator with triangular top was fitted and early examples had enamel finished horizontal slats, later changing to a nickel finish and finally becoming vertical.
In 1920 a chassis cost £1100 with, typically, a complete tourer bodied car costing around £1600. With coachwork to the factory recommended weight the car could reach 60 mph but many owners had large limousine bodies fitted with the inevitable detrimental effect on performance.
This car sports many original features and has a patina and honesty that cannot be denied. In the Collection of Earl Townsend, a prominant Indianapolis Attorney with a lovely estate on North Meridian for many years, the car always been well cared for and treated with the respect that it deserved. While it sports most certainly an older respray, and replacement upholstery, the car is largely original otherwise. The lovely Park Ward Coachwork has a very interesting V Windshield, little nickel flaps that cover the windows when lowered, and a great top with just the right look. A good little runner, the car starts right up, runs smoothly, stops, and shifts well. Complete with Tools and Manual, the car is just the thing for the owner driver looking for an unusual car to tour in RROC or CCCA Events. We do have a UTube video of the car running, please call us for the link to that video.
