Update: Garage Find! 1927 Rolls-Royce Twenty Cabriolet

UPDATE: This 1927 Rolls-Royce Twenty cabriolet is now at auction here on eBay, with bidding at $12,121, reserve met. Considering that no one was interested three weeks ago when the seller advertised the car on craigslist for $8000, he must be feeling pretty chipper right about now. This majestic old lady will head off to an enthusiastic new owner, and the seller will pocket more than planned. Have you ever sold a car for more than you expected? Let us know in the comments section.

FROM 8/2/2024: Rolls-Royce had a slight problem in the early 1900s: chauffeurs were becoming obsolete. Over in America, Henry Ford had produced the mechanically simple Model T – and folks from farmers to vacationers were driving them all over the country – without chauffeurs. Meanwhile, WWI would make finding personnel to take up driving and mechanical duties more difficult and expensive. Henry Royce sensed these trends, so in 1922 he introduced what would become known as the Baby Rolls – the Twenty. Utilizing a brand new detachable-head engine and constructed to a smaller scale than the contemporary Silver Ghost, the Baby Rolls was designed for owner/drivers.

It was simpler to drive and maintain, and despite an engine displacement half that of its sibling, it was capable of performing well. As was typical for prestige cars – Rolls, Bentley, Daimler – the customer received a chassis and chose a coachbuilder. We’ll see how despite the promise of the Twenty, the coachbuild process led Royce to build the 20/25 – a car that became a best-seller and saved Rolls-Royce from the worst effects of the Great Depression. Today’s Rolls Twenty is located in Oviedo, Florida, and the tip is courtesy of T.J.

The engine – along with the car’s steering, brakes, and suspension – were technologically advanced for the times. Coming in at 3.1 liters, the inline six-cylinder is estimated at 40 hp and top speed was at least 60 mph. The gearbox began as a three-speed manual with the gear lever in the center of the car, but by 1925, the new gearbox offered four speeds and the lever was situated on the right side – its traditional position. This car was partially restored by the seller’s late father, then parked for over thirty years. The engine received attention in the 1990s and was running then.

The interior was bypassed during the restoration process. The speedometer is missing from the gauge cluster, and the backs of the front seats are not shown in any of the photos provided. Someone has made a start on the wood trim, and the tan canvas top may be salvageable, but there’s still plenty to do in here. On the other hand, the underside is spiffier than I expected and shows evidence of renovation.

While Henry Royce produced a masterpiece in the Twenty, he was stymied by customers’ coachbuilders who could not give up building large, heavy bodies for the lithe chassis. Consequently, its performance attributes were stifled. This car’s body was built by Barker and Company, one of Rolls-Royce’s first and favorite builders – an alliance that began in 1905. However, Barker’s tendency to solve questions of strength by making its bodies heavier soured Rolls on Barker; they parted ways in the 1930s. If you’re not picky about coachbuilders, this 1927 Twenty is advertised here on craigslist for $8000. What’s the right price for a pre-war luxury cabriolet?