1926 Rolls-Royce 20HP Doctor’s Coupe

In the postwar years, in the early twenties, Sir Henry Royce decided to produce a mid-to-high-range model to meet the growing market of professionals with sufficient financial means to enjoy quality and comfortable cars without resorting to the enormous 40/50 Silver Ghost or Phantom models.

Acquired in 2001, the Charlesworth 20 HP “Twenty” coupe, named after the tax valuation of the horsepower, is easily recognizable by the horizontal arrangement of the radiator design, whose blades control the airflow and engine temperature, which could be either manual or with a thermostat. It was later modified for aesthetic reasons. “Doctor’s Coupé” refers to a particular body style that includes an optional rear bench located outside the cabin so that when it was not in use, an integrated flap as a backrest would cover the space. Known in our country as the “there you rot” or “mother-in-law seat,” it is accessed by a footrest located on the rear fender.

The first 20 HP model of the so-called “Baby Rolls,” half the size of the 7.5-liter Silver Ghost and 30% lighter, fascinated with the lightness of its controls and the performance of its steering, braking, and suspension systems. The model had a profound influence on the brand long after production ceased in 1929. In particular, the six-cylinder inline engine with a removable cylinder head and overhead valves would provide the template for Rolls-Royce engines for the next 30 years.

Like all Rolls-Royce models of the time, the ‘Twenty’ was manufactured as a “rolling chassis,” on which owners would commission a custom body from an independent coachbuilder. Royce intended it primarily to be a car with an owner-driver, and he expected coachbuilders to keep the size and weight of their creations as low as possible. However, he did not manage to change the lifelong habits of some clients. Many ‘Twenty’ owners persisted in specifying their preferred solid and formal body style, which was much heavier than necessary and produced greater wind resistance. Always pragmatic, Royce knew that there was only one way to improve the weight-performance ratio. Therefore, in 1929, the ‘Twenty’ was replaced by the 20/25 HP, powered by a larger engine.

In October 2022, the centenary of this model was celebrated in grand style at Rolls-Royce, which has been recognized as one of the most influential models in the brand’s history.

• Chasis: GUK29
• Carrocería: Charlesworth
• Motor: S6/3127 cc
• Velocidad Punta: 99 kmh
• Producción: 2.903 uds
• Período: 1922-1929