Driving a Rolls 20/25 in China

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After the Tiangjin disaster in August the chinese custom regulations for all imported goods (including cars) became even more strict than usual. This lead to the 'second Tianjin disaster'. The majority of participating cars from outside China were kept at the customs and despite the energetic efforts of organisation, embassies and many others never made it to the 4C Rally. A fine Aston Martin LeMans and two Model A Fords being the only exceptions. Very sad, and it led to loads of stress for everybody involved. Nevertheless the 4C organisers showed to be very good hosts and succeeded in making available a number of classic cars to relieve some of the pain. The cars were borrowed from a local museum and several chinese collectors. (Semi) classic cars are incredibly rare in China.  To relieve the tension we received a first lesson in fettling chinese style during the opening ceremony.

Decided was to share and exchange the available rolling material. The only pre-war car available was a 1929 Rolls Royce 20-25 Chauffeur Limousine by Thrupp & Maberley. Most were not interested at all in the superficially scruffy looking city roller, yet after a successful test drive by Lancia afficionado Robert Ely and your scribe the atmosphere changed and some even tried to claim the car for life... Anyway the image of Rolls Royce peaked to a non repeated all time high after our 400 km drive from the wonderful mountain area near Yesanpo to the quiet village of Shijiazhuang also depicted above. Chinese chauffeurs love their cars and hate standing still, so if you hesitate during a nano-second they will use all available tarmac left and right of you in order to get home in time for dinner or make a short stop for a roadside snack.

We never drove a 20/25 for more than two minutes and always took the cliche stories more or less for granted that cars like this drive like a truck. Huge mistake! The Best Car in the World may not be The Fastest Car in the World yet it stole my heart.  This '29 chauffeur limousine is so much more car than the sluggish shape suggests. It will cruise at 55-60 mph effortless . The feel and perform as if it thye are seventies hydraulic stuffhad.  Steering is light and precise as if it is a two seater and the short handled gearchange is a dream. Only setback is the somewhat bulky coachwork which in combination with poor maintained shockabsorbers gives a dancing-rattling ride on poor surfaces.

Anyway, no matter what you think of it, the appearance of the greek temple radiator always attracts crowds. Even this new generation boy of the 1,5 billion inhabitant nation loves it. And so do the girls. Ask all of the 4C drivers who 'owned' the Rolls for a day and they without exception they will brag about their China 20/25 experience. What a car, what a country!

For a great atmosphere sketch be sure to check Andy Bearsley's video report.
 

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