Following the most successful Rolls-Royce small horsepower model produced between the wars, the 25/30 was introduced in 1936. 1203 examples (including two converted 20/25s) were built before introduction of the 25/30 Wraith model in 1938. The latter, much later than similarly sized cars from the other side of the Atlantic, featured independent front suspension for the first time, although this advance had first appeared on the Phantom III introduced 2 years earlier.
Arguably the quietest Rolls-Royce car, production of the Wraith terminated on the outbreak of WW2 and just 492 examples were built. Approximately 380 Wraiths are known to survive with in excess of 150 examples in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Notable purchasers of 25/30 cars included:-
Gerald Walcan-Bright, otherwise known as dance band leader ‘Geraldo’ with GTL66, Ninette de Valois the prima ballerina with GRM20, playwright & author Robert Sherriff with GAN4 (also Wraith WRB9), author of ’One Hundred & One Dalmatians’ Dodie Smith purchased GRO19 and used the car both in the U.K. and for a protracted visit to the United States and George Booth, the music hall musician/comedian who used the stage name George Formby GRP37 (and Wraith WRB2). Customers for the Wraith included George Bernard Shaw with WHC4, H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught with WRB6, H.R.H. Prince George Duke of Kent with WHC2 and Lord Trent, the founder of Boots the Chemists, had WXA19.
CC2 – the completely revised 2nd Edition published June 2014 – Price £34.95 plus p&p
Below: Gurney Nutting sedanca de ville on 25/30 chassis GMP73, was in wedding hire service in Northamptonshire but more recently was sold via The Real Car Co. to an enthusiastic new owner in West Sussex . (Photograph courtesy of the wedding hire operator)
| GMP7 Thrupp & Maberly limousine noted in the National Museum of Tanzania 2002 following formal use by the President. Photograph via Wayne Kennerly. | GWN11 Thrupp & Maberly sports saloon has moved to a new owner in Mexico and is surely the only example of this model in that country. Photograph from owner. |
CC2-2, Updated 270219, new/amended reg’n/chassis cross-index
| Reg’n | Chassis | Remarks |
| 141UYF | WHC33 | Reg’d on return to Vintage & Prestige ex USA |
| 435YUL | GUL50 | Re-reg’d ex CNF1 by Vintage & Prestige ‘14 |
| 590UXO | GUL63 | Iin use by Reid’s Waterside Weddings Glasgow |
| 677YUH | WMB79 | Reported as scrapped USA ’87 but currently reg’d GBR! |
| 711YUU | GAN52 | Reg’d on return ex USA 2012 but see CGX605 below |
| 2000AD | GAN63 | Re-reg’d to celebrate the new millenium |
| “8579PE” | WXA53 | Wears spurious GBR style reg’n in Illinois USA |
| BBB705 | WEC70 | Now known to have work Sam Smith of Northern Coachbuilders personal reg’n transferred ex GBA24 |
| CGX605 | GAN52? | Reported as re-reg’d ex 711YUU |
| CXU989 | GUL16 | Offered by dealer Beverly Hills Car Club 2016 |
| CXW4 | GUL15 | Dismantled body still with this reg’n offered Big Rock IL Jul ’18 |
| CYY880 | GUL52 | Now known to have worn this reg’n for testing purposes prior to delivery new to New Zealand |
| DEL946 | GUN15 | Photographic evidence now to hand; front view with Mrs. Doris Maud Haag’s chauffeur alongside |
| DKF874 | GRO18 | Offered for sale BEL Jul ’17 still with this reg’n in rear box |
| DLA132? | GHL10 | Reg’n recorded in Jack Barclay sales records |
| DLD132? | GHL10 | Reg’n recorded by Tom Clarke |
| DLK609 | GXM10 | Reg’n in rear box when offered by BaT Daily Auctions Roslyn NY Feb ’17 |
| DOK7 | GMO33? | Almost certainly this car reg’d DOK7 that appeared in the 1955 GBR comedy film “A Yank in Ermine” |
| DYR61 | GAN28? | Almost certainly the correct reg’n for this car last recorded with St. Pancras Garage 1953 |
| EON2 | ? | New note – see below |
| “FBF27” | GLP10 | Wore spurious GBR style reg’n “FBF27” when offered RM auction Scottsdale AZ Jan ’14 |
| FGT866 | GUN4 | Reg’n still fitted to car, though resident SWZ |
| FRD444 | WHC1 | Confirmed not FKD444 |
| FXR668 | WRB78 | Clears old note 42 |
| JZ3083 | GWN66 | Saw service in NIR with an undertaker prior to export to USA |
| MVF7 | GRP41 | This later reg’n was noted being worn when car was offered by dealer Hyman Ltd. 2017 |
| NLX777 | GRP26 | Now known to have worn this reg’n between original APM943 and 277LNX prior to export to SWZ |
| ON1 | ? | New note – see below |
| ON1 | ? | New note – see below |
| YXG294 | WHC61 | Reg’d on return GBR ex USA |
| YXG701 | GRO80 | Re-reg’d ex DXV777 prior export toNew Zealand |
| ZV1121 | WRB3 | Car offered for sale by Burns in IRE Sep ‘18 |
…and the revised so-called problem pages!
| No. | Reg’n | Model | Notes |
| 01 | 523ANP | Wraith | 1960 Worcester re-reg’n; Park Ward saloon with division design 13199 |
| 02 | 677YUH | Wraith | Some people have notified this white limousine in wedding hire service as WXA26; DVLA website shows it as reg’d 1st Apr ’12, chassis number –B79 and fitted with a 5100cc engine!; thought to be WMB79 last recorded as scrapped USA ’87! |
| 03 | AGB345 | 25/30 | Glasgow reg’n issued Sep to Nov ‘37; 1936 H. J. Mulliner saloon; Scott-Moncrieff sales list Aug ‘63 |
| 04 | AGD262 | 25/30 | Glasgow reg’n issued Dec ’36; illustrated B231/6: in use by Belfast Co-operative funeral fleet 1950s |
| 05 | AMJ750 | 25/30 | 1937 Barker saloon; offered Scott-Moncrieff sales list Aug ‘63 but almost certainly a typing error for AMJ720 = GAN74 which was fitted with a Barker saloon body |
| 06 | BAM591 | 25/30 | Wiltshire reg’n issued Aug ’37 to Jan ’38; no further information |
| 07 | BLM1 | 25/30? | A 20/25 or 25/30 is illustrated The Motor 6th Jul ‘37/1010; a front view of a saloon or limousine, possibly by H. J. Mulliner, is shown attending a car dealer’s golfing day at Wentworth |
| 08 | BNX376 | 25/30 | Warwickshire reg’n issued Mar to Jun ‘37; 1937 Park Ward straight backed limousine; Scott-Moncrieff sales list Jul ‘72 |
| 09 | BUR46 | 25/30 | Hertfordshire reg’n issued Jun to Aug ‘36; hearse used by T. Howe Hire Ltd. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 1960s |
| 10 | CEU380 | Wraith | Later Brecon reg’n issued Jun ‘53 to Oct ‘54 reported to have been worn by a Wraith |
| 11 | CHV225 | 25/30 | Later East Ham (East London) reg’n issued Sep ‘47 to Jul ‘48; 1936 built car but no further information |
| 12 | CRX541 | Wraith | Has been reported as a 1939 Wraith; note however that CRX581 is chassis WMB37 |
| 13 | CVU180 | 25/30 | 1936 car dismantled by Adams & Oliver, Great Gidding ’63 according to their records; due similar reg’n, possibly they only dismantled the Barker body removed from GTL56/CVR180, later fitted with a Caffyns body ‘49 |
| 14 | CWR250 | 25/30 | Yorkshire (West Riding) reg’n issued Sep ’37; no further information |
| 15 | CYK818 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jun to Sep ’36; rear view only shown J.R. Engineering catalogue ‘39 |
| 16 | CYS703 | Wraith | Glasgow reg’n issued May to Jul ‘39 said to have been worn by a Wraith |
| 17 | CYX527 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jul to Sep ’36; landaulette; this may well be a mistype as CYX526 is a landaulette by Windovers on chassis GHL33 |
| 18 | DAD48 | 25/30 | Gloucester reg’n issued Apr to Aug ’38; hearse used by T. Howe Hire Ltd. of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 1960s |
| 19 | DGF414 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Aug to Oct ’36; 1936 Hooper limousine; on the basis DGF413 = GRM16 and DGF416 = GRM37, probably issued to chassis GRM36 |
| 20 | DGF936 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Aug to Oct ’36; probably a Windovers saloon believed photographed outside the Windovers works; photograph in Hunt House collection |
| 21 | DJK41 | 25/30 | Later Eastbourne reg’n issued May ‘56 to Feb ’57; 1936 Hooper landaulette in use by Meredith’s Taxis, West Hartlepool 1950s |
| 22 | DLF5 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Nov ’36 to Jan ’37; 1936 Park Ward limousine? converted to ambulance; to Kenny of Stockport who fitted another Park Ward limousine body obtained from Meredith’s Taxis, West Hartlepool |
| 23 | DLP561 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Dec ’36 to Mar ’37; listed by Thrupp & Maberly as 25/30 chassis GRM6 but this received a H. J. Mulliner body and was reg’d DGT484; the original reg’n for Thrupp bodied car GAN6 is unknown and DLP561 may well be this car |
| 24 | DLW648 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jan to Feb ’37; unknown builder limousine; author’s photograph collection |
| 25 | DXA96 | 25/30 | Reported as a 1937 Gurney Nutting sedanca de ville when owned GBR.71/Livingstone; probably refers to DXA967/GAN73, a Gurney Nutting sedanca coupé |
| 26 | DYE720 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Apr to May ’37; 1937 Thrupp & Maberly saloon; photographs offered eBay Jun ‘06 |
| 27 | DYL5 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued May to Jun ’37; Hooper limousine with chauffeur alongside; BK picture collection |
| 28 | DYR61 | 25/30 | Windovers limousine; photograph received from Tom Clarke Dec ’15; GAN28 or GUN12 are strong possibility |
| 29 | EGJ46 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jul to Nov ’37; 1937 Barker limousine; no further information; note EGJ45 = Derby Bentley B163HM Oct ’37 & EGJ48 = PIII 3CP178 Aug ’37; probably GMP79 |
| 30 | EGN469 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jul to Sep ’37; 1937 Windovers sedanca de ville; offered Scott-Moncrieff sales list; probably a mistype and refers to EGN969/GHO64 with similar colour scheme |
| 31 | EGP90 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Aug to Sep ’37; 1937 Hooper saloon – identical to GXM58 according to a Scott-Moncrieff sales list and therefore design 6529; possibly therefore GTL79 |
| 32 | EGT5 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Aug to Nov ’37 used on many cars owned by Sir Robert Lyall-Grant and later by Hector Laing of McVitie & Price biscuits; an unidentified limousine, probably by Hooper, wears this reg’n in the 1957 GBR film ‘The Smallest Show on Earth’ but a 25/30 was not owned by either of the aforementioned gentlemen |
| 33 | ELP476 | 25/30 | Issued London Nov ’37 to Jan ‘38; no further information |
| 34 | EON2 | 25/30? | Limousine in use by Birmingham Corporation when HRH Princess Elizabeth visited Birmingham ‘52 |
| 35 | EOX900 | Wraith | Birmingham reg’n issued Mar ’39; 1939 Thrupp & Maberly touring limousine; shown Scott-Moncrieff sales list; note this is not WMB44 which photographic evidence confirms as EOX100 |
| 36 | ETA360 | 25/30 | Devon reg’n issued Jan to Apr ’37; 1937 Unknown builder 4d6l saloon with Basingstoke Autos; note reg’n ETA620 = 25/30 GUN14 which was fitted with an Arthur Mulliner limousine body |
| 37 | EYH404 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued May to Jun ‘38; chassis number previously quoted as GGR54 which is incoRRECt; no further information; note EYH406 = PIII 3CM167 Dec ‘37 |
| 38 | EYP776 | 25/30 | London reg’n issued Jun to Jul ‘38; 1936 Barker limousine reported in use by Meredith’s Taxis West Hartlepool; note EYP778 = 25/30 GGR47 which is a Barker limousine |
| 39 | FFY1 | 25/30 | Swept tail limousine, probably by Hooper, in use as Mayoral transport, Southport Lancashire |
| 40 | FGH409 | Wraith | London reg’n issued Sep to Dec ‘38; 1938 sweptback landaulette de ville; 1939 Deauville concours entrant; note FGH410 was on Wraith WXA31 Aug ’38 (a limousine de ville) |
| 41 | FGP595 | Wraith | London reg’n issued Oct to Nov ‘38; 1938 Thrupp & Maberly limousine; WXA27 or WXA77 are likely candidates; offered Scott-Moncrieff sales list 1960s |
| 42 | FPA222 | 25/30 | Surrey reg’n issued Feb to Mar ’37; 1936 Thrupp & Maberly limousine; reported with Meredith’s Taxis, West Hartlepool 1950s; note FPA119 = 25/30 GWN40 Dec ‘36 |
| 43 | FTU528 | Wraith | Chester reg’n issued Apr to Jul ’39; 1939 Thrupp & Maberly saloon; offered Scott-Moncrieff sales list Sep ‘67; either WHC15, WHC28 or WKC3 |
| 44 | FXE869 | Wraith | London reg’n issued May to Jun ’39; no further information |
| 45 | GPE88 | 25/30 | Surrey reg’n issued Feb ’38; Barker sports saloon; photograph in AndréBlaize collection; possibly GMP68 and now reg’d NLG462 |
| 46 | JR6817 | 25/30 | Illustrated J.R. Engineering catalogue ’39; rear view of swept tail saloon or limousine; probably a fictitious reg’n |
| 47 | JVD607 | Wraith | Later Lanarkshire reg’n issued Jan to Jun ’54; 1939 Park Ward limousine and poss one of the ex-ambassadorial cars; offered Scott-Moncrieff sales list mid 1960s; sold to Donald McLaren Coatbridge for limousine hire use |
| 48 | LRE888 | 25/30 | Traded in to Scott-Moncrieff 1960s by Mosscrop in exchange for 20/25 GBA11 – see B231/9 for more |
| 49 | MAN155 | 25/30 | 1936 Park Ward saloon (note that MAN144 was worn by 20/25 chassis GLG72 – which was also a Park Ward saloon), so maybe a memory failure here! |
| 50 | MN3199 | 25/30 | Unknown builder saloon with division; Frank Dale photograph collection |
| 51 | OC7229 | 25/30 | Believed to be a Binder drophead coupé in use by Hermann Goering in Paris during the war; chassis GMP74 would seem to be a possible candidate |
| 52 | ON1 | 25/30? | Limousine in use by Birmingham Corporation when HRH Princess Elizabeth visited Birmingham ‘52 |
| 53 | ON1 | 25/30? | A different car to that above, believed to be a 25/30, in use when the Birmingham Mayor reviewed troops |
| 54 | R10 | Wraith | 1938 Windovers saloon; no further information |
| 55 | RC5826 | Wraith | A 1938 4d6l touring limousine reg’d as such appears in R-R sales material; believed to be WXA3 with actual reg’n RC5328 altered by an artist |
| 56 | SSV810 | Wraith | 1937 Park Ward limousine; possibly actually refers to Wraith SSV850 = WMB49 |
| 57 | TLM1 | 25/30 | Razor-edged Park Ward sports saloon offered by Scott-Moncrieff; ¾ front picture in late Peter Brockes collection |
| 58 | TZ8562 | Wraith | Park Ward limousine; no further information |
| 59 | UD6893? | 25/30 | Illustrated B231/6 – a photograph of the Belfast Co-operative funeral fleet 1950s |
| 60 | UD9361 | 25/30 | Oxford reg’n issued Jan-Oct ’38; 1936 Hooper saloon; no further information |
| 61 | WZ6971 | 25/30 | Illustrated B231/6 – a photograph of the Belfast Co-operative funeral fleet 1950s |
| 62 | YSU596 | 25/30 | 1937 chassis; GBR.92/Angell; possibly refers to YSU255 = GGM9 with replica vintage Bentley type body; in Sussex |