1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25

This 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 was fitted with wooden shooting brake bodywork sometime in the 1940s and was purchased by musician Neil Young in London in 1974 shortly after a concert at Wembley Stadium. Young then embarked on a Continental road trip but only got as far as Belgium before the car suffered a mechanical failure. It was subsequently shipped to the US, where it remained in Young’s possession until 2009. The car then spent the next 12 years in the UK, finally returning to the US upon the seller’s purchase in 2021. Power is provided by a 3.7-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and equipment includes burgundy leather upholstery, a black vinyl roof, 19″ wire wheels, trafficators, a rear-facing bench seat, and a Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. A 2022 cosmetic refresh included refinishing the wheels, replacing the lighting and hardware, touching up the wood body and paint, and fabricating new brackets for the bumpers and horns. This 20/25 shooting brake is now offered with historical records and photos, a Rolls-Royce owner’s club handbook, recent service records, and a Pennsylvania title in the seller’s name. The car was reportedly originally a Hooper-bodied limousine and the wooden shooting brake bodywork is said to have been fitted in the 1940s. The sheet metal was repaired and refinished in beige during Neil Young’s ownership, along with renewing the wood body. Equipment includes a chrome grille with a Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, a pop-out windshield, chrome bumpers and trim, trafficators, and a single exhaust outlet. Beginning in April 2022, Prueitt Automotive Restoration of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania performed touch-up work on the wood and trim, repainted the mounting brackets for the bumpers, horns, and lighting, replaced the hardware, refinishing the horns, and installed reproduction period-correct headlight lenses supplied by Genius of the Lamp in Birmingham, England. The seller notes the thermostatically controlled radiator louvers are inoperable and the Bijur centralized chassis lubrication system is missing fittings. The 19” wire wheels were also refinished by Prueitt Automotive Restoration and then mounted with Blockley tires and re-chromed wheel nuts. A spare is mounted on the left side bodywork. Stopping power is provided by drum brakes at all four corners. The front and rear bench seats were retrimmed in burgundy supple leather under ownership in the UK, and the door panels have also been reupholstered to match. Additional equipment includes tan carpets, rear seat pockets, and a floor-mounted shifter. Prueitt Automotive fabricated a replacement second-row seat base and adjusters in 2022. The four-spoke steering wheel features controls for the throttle, starting carburetor, and ignition advance/retard. The wood instrument panel houses an 80-mph speedometer as well as gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 4,800 miles, though total mileage is unknown. The 20/25’s OHV inline-six displaces 3.7 liters and is equipped with a single carburetor. The engine was said to be overhauled under Young’s ownership and records corroborating the work are included in the sale. The seller notes that service in 2021 included replacing the spark plugs and adjusting the valves. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual gearbox. Additional underside photos can be viewed in the gallery. The rear compartment features a rear-facing bench seat with period-style adjustment mechanisms. Historical records and photos are included in the sale along with a Rolls-Royce owner’s club handbook, a Rolls-Royce wheel spanner hub extractor, and recent service records. The Pennsylvania title carries “Antique Vehicle” and “Out of Country” brands.