Any enthusiast (and, if you’re reading this, that probably includes you) approaches a drive behind the wheel of a vintage Rolls-Royce with an equal degree of excitement and trepidation. When the car in question is unique and closely connected with Sir Henry Royce himself, those sentiments are doubly heightened.
GGP8 was designated by the factory as the ‘Riviera’ trials car. Trials cars were either what would today be described as press demonstrators or were used by staff for evaluation and development purposes. This car was sent to the south of France for the personal appraisal of Sir Henry who, exhausted through years of over-work by the late ‘20s, was living there for the sake of his health. A small staff of trusted engineers and draftsmen worked with him. Back in Derby, the directors and engineers no doubt anxiously awaited the verdict of the great man.
In the case of GGP8, the key criterion was weight reduction. Royce was obsessed with reducing the weight of his cars wherever possible, realising the benefits this would bring to performance and economy. The company’s 20hp engine was not renowned for its power output, which was never publicly quoted, of course. The later 20/25hp engine found
