1927 Rolls-Royce 20HP 'Barker' Tourer

The Rolls-Royce 20HP was built between 1922 and 1929 as the British brand’s ‘small car’ primarily intended for owner-drivers. It sold alongside the 40/50 Silver Ghost and the successor to the 40/50, the Phantom. A new inline 6-cylinder 3127cc overhead valve engine was designed for the car but 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. 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. Only the chassis and mechanical parts were made by Rolls-Royce, leaving the body to be made and fitted by a coachbuilder selected by the owner. Some of the most famous coachbuilders who produced bodies for the Rolls Royce 20HP were Barker, Park Ward, Thrupp & Maberly, Mulliner and Hooper.