Coach Styles

Pre-war, Rolls-Royce produced what were called a running chassis. Independent coach builders produced the actual body, usually to the custom specifications of the buyer. In combination with continuous improvements in engine and chassis engineering, virtually every small horsepower car and the contemporaneous Silver Ghost and Phantoms were a unique creation. These are examples of the various coach style mounted on small horsepower chassis. Over time, we may add information and statistics on coach builders.

Open Body Styles

These were popular for owner-drivers and touring, particularly in the earlier years of the 20hp.

• Open Tourer: A four-door car with a folding fabric top and removable side curtains. These were often favored for their lighter weight on the smaller chassis.

• Drophead Coupé (DHC): A more sophisticated convertible with a lined, padded top that folded down. It featured roll-up glass windows, providing much better weather protection than a standard tourer.

• Doctor’s Coupé: A compact, two-door fixed-head body, often with a "dickery" (rumble) seat in the rear, designed for professionals who drove themselves.

Enclosed Formal Styles

As the 20/25 and 25/30 gained more power, heavier enclosed bodies became more common.

• Saloon (Sedan): The standard four-door enclosed body. "Six-light" saloons had three windows per side, while "four-light" versions had two, often appearing more sporting.

• Limousine: Designed for chauffeur-driven use, featuring a glass partition between the driver and the rear passengers.

• Sedanca de Ville: A prestigious style where the rear compartment was fully enclosed, but the driver’s compartment had a removable or sliding roof.

Design Evolution

• The 1920s: Bodies were characterized by horizontal radiator slats (on the 20hp) and more vertical, "boxy" silhouettes reminiscent of horse-drawn carriages.

• The 1930s: As aerodynamics became trendy, the "small" cars adopted vertical radiator shutters (standardized after 1928) and "razor-edge" or "swept-tail" styling, where the trunk (boot) was integrated into the body line rather than being a separate box.

Key Coachbuilders

While Rolls-Royce eventually acquired Park Ward in 1939, many independent firms specialized in these smaller chassis:

• Barker & Co.: The "official" coachbuilder; known for classic, conservative elegance.

• Hooper & Co.:Renowned for "Royal" quality and very formal limousines.

• H.J. Mulliner: Balanced lightweight construction with very refined, sporting lines.

• Gurney Nutting: Famous for the "Weymann" patent (fabric-covered) bodies and streamlined 1930s designs.

• Albany: Often produced sturdy, well-proportioned open and closed bodies for early 20hp models.