The Rolls-Royce 25/30 & Wraith

rolls25-30Wraithby Bernard L. King

These two 1930s Rolls-Royce models fall into this maker’s “small horsepower” category and while they are conceptually similar, it could be argued that there are enough differences to treat them independent of each other. The reason they are lumped together here in one book has mainly to do with their production numbers being low enough to make one good-sized book. At 288 pages, it is actually among the smaller ones in this series that now comprises 8 of a planned 16 or 17 volumes that one day will encompass the entire Rolls-Royce/Bentley range. Here’s hoping . . . (the project began way back in 1997!)

If you are new to this series, realize that King’s books are not glitzy coffee table books but essential desk or better yet, coat pocket reference tools for owners of the respective models and especially the researcher. If you are looking to buy a car, you’d be a fool not to consult these books first. If you’re writing about a particular car, these books will tell you the core facts about its build and owners, even where in the marque literature it has previously been shown. The books in this series contain the basic car data that the chassis- and coachmaker originally recorded on the chassis card, and every snippet of ownership history that can be ascertained from marque club or private records. If this sounds peculiarly myopic, consider that Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars, due to their relatively exalted position in the automotive universe, are almost alone in having such a data set, started at the company and in time passed on mainly to the UK marque club for archiving. In the RR/B world this is the baseline and it is simply understood that owners are conversant in such matters. Talk to a dyed-in-the wool enthusiast and chances are they won’t know you by name but by your car/s’ chassis number!

So, consider this the definitive inventory of every car in a model run (incl. prototypes), described by series, chassis and registration numbers, engine number, delivery date, coachwork, body number, first owner, and current whereabouts—all in the handy glove-box size European A5 format.

The “registers” of individual chassis are preceded by many pages of fairly comprehensive information about the development of the models including specs, modifications, coachbuilders, prices, sales by market, road tests, show-car info, buying tips and, a new feature in the newer books in this series, references to cars used in movies/TV shows.

If you do know these books already and, in fact, know this particular one, a few more words are in order: this is a revision of the original 1998 version. With books of this nature, it is understood that more information will continue to come to light and that they are never really “done.” Some of the companion volumes have also been revised already, one three times.

Usually when a revision comes out, it’s time to retire older editions. Not this time! No, not because there’s something wrong with the new one but because (a) the first/earlier editions of any “Compete Classics” fetch considerable, and rising, prices and (b) the meat of these books, i.e. the photos are completely new in this edition. In most cases this means that a chassis shown in the earlier book is now omitted in favor of a chassis not previously shown, and in some cases the same chassis may be illustrated but now with a newer or possibly even current photo which is especially relevant in the case of second or subsequent bodies. Considering that both these models have a survival rate of 80% and better and also because both models, certainly in the past, have been used with more “abandon” than their larger, more opulent siblings it is entirely to be expected that worn-out coachwork has been replaced over the decades. King, however, is quick to remind the purist that while re-bodied cars may often not be elegant, “one cannot but marvel at the fortitude of the mostly amateur builders and in the majority of cases, the replacement body has been in use for a longer period than the original.”

Even in the category of original period photos there are many new visuals here, thanks to trawling through the collection of ex-Jack Barclay (the famous London dealership) promo photos once owned by the late Lawrence Dalton’s (of the eponymous publishing company; connected to the current Dalton Watson Fine Books insofar as the new company acquired the assets of the old one) that are now held at the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation in Britain.

On the text side, changes are only detectable when reading both editions side by side. Obviously descriptions of individual chassis, especially in regards to ownership, show or restoration history, have benefited from information come to light only after the first edition had been in circulation for a while. Some text has been tightened or dropped altogether, presumably for reasons of space. The new book is about 30 pages longer, mostly due to additional photos. Quite a bit of tweaking is observable in section 1.1b “Wraith Development and Experimental Cars” and completely new is a section on coachwork terms as well as the list of cars in movies/TV shows.

If you used your 1998 softcover edition as vigorously as intended it’ll probably be pretty worn out so you’ll be glad to know that the new one has a proper, sturdy hardcover. It is also printed on the same glossy coated paper throughout, and tabular material is easier on the eye than before.

If you own or aspire to own a 20/25 or a Wraith, or if you are a vintage car dealer or researcher, you cannot possibly have a plausible reason for not owning this book! Signed copies are available from the author upon request.

 

Copyright 2014, Sabu Advani (speedreaders.info).

The Rolls-Royce 25/30 & Wraith
by Bernard L. King
Complete Classics, 1998, 2014
288 pages, 201 b/w + 3 color illustrations, hardcover
List Price: $49.50 / £27
ISBN 13:978-0-9565671-0-9

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