1920s Luxury Cars: The Complete List

The 1920s reshaped high-end motoring across Europe and North America, when coachbuilt bodies, long chassis and new engine designs defined prestige on city streets and long-distance tours. These cars balanced artisanal craftsmanship with emerging industrial techniques, producing design and engineering choices that still interest collectors and historians.

There are 47 1920s Luxury Cars, ranging from Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 to Voisin C14. For each entry you’ll find below Years (YYYY–YYYY),Engine (L / hp),Country so you can compare production span, power and origin at a glance; the list highlights everything from sporting Italians to experimental French designs, and you’ll find below.

How did luxury cars of the 1920s vary between countries?

Manufacturers reflected local tastes and resources: Italian and British makers often prioritized lighter coachwork and spirited engines, American builders emphasized larger displacement and comfort, and French firms pushed stylistic innovation and engineering quirks—check the Country and Engine columns to see these trends.

What should I check when researching or buying a 1920s luxury car?

Focus on documented provenance, matching numbers for chassis and engine, and overall condition; use the Years (YYYY–YYYY) column to confirm production period, assess restoration needs versus originality, and consult specialists for rarity and value before making decisions.

1920s Luxury Cars

Images and Descriptions

Rolls-Royce Phantom I

Successor to the legendary Silver Ghost, the Phantom I featured a new overhead-valve engine. Available only as a chassis, it was fitted with opulent custom bodies by coachbuilders like Hooper, Barker, and Brewster in the US.

Duesenberg Model J

The pinnacle of American luxury and an icon of the Roaring Twenties. Its powerful twin-cam engine and bespoke bodies by Murphy or Rollston made it the car of choice for movie stars and tycoons. Today, it remains one of the most valuable collector cars.

Hispano-Suiza H6B

A masterpiece of aircraft-inspired engineering, the H6 featured an advanced overhead-cam engine and power-assisted brakes. It was a favorite of European royalty and wealthy industrialists, clothed in elegant bodies by Kellner or Saoutchik.

Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A

Italy’s premier luxury car, famed for its massive straight-eight engine and silent operation. Adorned with extravagant bodies by Castagna, it was the ultimate status symbol, famously appearing in the film “Sunset Boulevard.”

Mercedes-Benz Model S

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the Model S and its variants (SS, SSK) were supercharged monsters. Dominant in racing and breathtaking on the road, these were among the fastest, most powerful, and most exclusive cars money could buy.

Packard Custom Eight

A benchmark for American luxury, the Packard Eight was known for its silent, powerful straight-eight engine and impeccable build quality. It offered refined elegance and reliability, competing directly with Cadillac for discerning buyers.

Cadillac Series 341

A leader in innovation, the Series 341 introduced the Synchro-Mesh gearbox to the luxury market, making driving easier. With stylish bodies by Fisher and Fleetwood, it solidified Cadillac’s reputation for combining luxury with advanced technology.

Bentley 4½ Litre

The quintessential British sports car of the era, the 4½ Litre combined luxury touring with Le Mans-winning performance. Often seen with Vanden Plas tourer bodies, these “Bentley Boys” cars are highly prized for their robust engineering.

Bugatti Type 41 Royale

Perhaps the most extravagant car ever built, designed for royalty but only seven were made. Its colossal size and aircraft-derived engine were unmatched. Surviving examples are priceless museum pieces and the ultimate collector’s item.

Minerva AK

Known as the “Rolls-Royce of Belgium,” Minerva was famous for its use of the silent Knight double sleeve-valve engine. The large AK model was often fitted with stately limousine bodies, representing the height of European luxury.

Pierce-Arrow Model 36

Instantly recognizable by its signature fender-mounted headlights, the Pierce-Arrow was a symbol of old-world quality and status. Its powerful T-head six-cylinder engine and conservative styling appealed to a traditional, wealthy clientele.

Lincoln Model L

After Ford’s acquisition, the Model L was transformed by Edsel Ford into a premier luxury car. It became a canvas for America’s finest coachbuilders like Brunn and Judkins, famed for its quality V8 and elegant custom bodies.

Voisin C14

Designed by the eccentric aircraft pioneer Gabriel Voisin, these cars were avant-garde and unorthodox. The C14 featured lightweight construction and a silent sleeve-valve engine, appealing to intellectuals and artists who appreciated its unique design.

Maybach W5

An engineering powerhouse, Maybach built cars for Germany’s elite. The W5 featured a huge six-cylinder engine and an innovative two-speed planetary transmission. They were among the most expensive and exclusive cars of the period.

Daimler Double-Six 50

The epitome of British establishment luxury, the Double-Six featured a complex and silky-smooth V12 Knight sleeve-valve engine. Favored by the Royal Family, these massive cars were often bodied as opulent limousines by Hooper.

Stutz Vertical Eight

Stutz repositioned itself as a luxury-performance brand with the “Safety Stutz.” Its advanced overhead cam straight-eight and low-slung chassis offered both speed and safety, often with striking bodies by Weymann or LeBaron.

Cord L-29

A sensation upon its debut, the L-29 was America’s first production front-wheel-drive car. This innovation allowed for an incredibly long, low, and beautiful profile unmatched by its rivals. A stylistic masterpiece, though complex.

Delage D8

A legend of French automotive art, the D8 combined a powerful straight-eight engine with a graceful, low-slung chassis. It was the preferred platform for France’s most flamboyant coachbuilders, including Figoni & Falaschi and Chapron.

Locomobile Model 48

A holdover from the Brass Era, the Model 48 was an astonishingly expensive and over-engineered machine. Its conservative design and massive six-cylinder engine represented durable, old-money luxury in a rapidly changing world.

Horch 8 Type 303

The car that established Horch as a major luxury player, the Type 303 was the first German car with a production eight-cylinder engine. It was praised for its refinement and quality, setting the stage for the brand’s 1930s dominance.

Rolls-Royce 20 HP

The “Baby Rolls” was introduced as a smaller, owner-driver alternative to the massive Silver Ghost. It offered the same legendary quality and silence in a more manageable package, often with charming saloon or tourer bodies by Park Ward.

Lancia Lambda

A revolutionary car, the Lambda introduced the world’s first monocoque (unitary) body and independent front suspension. Though not as opulent as an Isotta, its advanced engineering and quality made it a choice for discerning connoisseurs.

Chrysler Imperial 80

Walter P. Chrysler’s successful challenge to the luxury establishment. The Imperial offered high performance, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and elegant styling at a competitive price, quickly becoming a favorite for its speed and value.

Franklin Series 11

Unique among American luxury cars for its air-cooled engine, the Franklin appealed to engineers and doctors who valued its reliability in all weather. The Series 11 adopted more conventional styling to broaden its appeal.

Vauxhall 30-98

One of the greatest vintage sports cars, the 30-98 was a direct competitor to Bentley. Known for its brute force and high performance, it was a minimalist luxury car for the enthusiast who valued speed above all else.

Marmon Model 78

A well-engineered and stylish car, the Marmon 78 used a straight-eight engine and was known for its extensive use of aluminum. It offered a sophisticated and smooth driving experience, competing with Packard and Cadillac.

Austro-Daimler ADM

Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the ADM was a high-quality sporting car with an advanced overhead-cam six-cylinder engine. It was well-regarded for its performance and handling, a true “driver’s car” among luxury tourers.

Panhard et Levassor X59

A respected French marque, Panhard specialized in large, durable cars using quiet Knight sleeve-valve engines. The X59 was a flagship model, offering conservative but high-quality coachwork for the French upper class.

Farman A6B

Built by aircraft pioneers, Farmans were incredibly expensive and exclusive. The A6B featured an advanced overhead camshaft engine and meticulous construction. Its high price ensured extreme rarity and appeal to only the wealthiest clients.

Lagonda 3-Litre

A high-quality tourer designed to compete with the 4½ Litre Bentley, the 3-Litre Lagonda offered strong performance from its six-cylinder engine. It was a robust and well-engineered car for the wealthy sporting motorist.

Alfa Romeo 6C 1750

A jewel of a car, Vittorio Jano’s 6C 1750 was a dominant force in racing but also a sublime road car. With supercharging and elegant bodies by Zagato or Touring, it was the ultimate Italian sporting luxury machine.

Peerless Model 66

One of the “Three P’s” of American fine cars, Peerless built this powerful V8 model. Known for robust construction and a comfortable ride, it was a prestige automobile for the conservative buyer before the brand faded in the late 20s.

Excelsior Adex C

A Belgian rival to Minerva and Hispano-Suiza, Excelsior built high-performance luxury cars. The Adex C was a fast and powerful six-cylinder model that found success in racing, appealing to the sporting enthusiast.

Sunbeam 3-Litre Super Sports

Britain’s first production twin-cam car, this was a direct competitor to the 3 Litre Bentley. A high-performance thoroughbred, it was a complex and expensive car that achieved considerable success in motorsport.

Duesenberg Model A

The first production car with a straight-eight engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Though overshadowed by the later Model J, the Model A was a technological marvel and a truly advanced luxury car for its time.

Auburn 8-115 Speedster

A flamboyant and stylish car that offered impressive performance for its price. The boattail speedster, designed by Al Leamy, became an icon of Jazz Age style, appealing to a younger, more adventurous luxury buyer.

Lancia Dilambda

Lancia’s flagship model, designed to compete with the likes of Rolls-Royce. The Dilambda featured a powerful V8 engine and a separate chassis to accommodate grand coachbuilt bodies, a departure from the Lambda’s unitary design.

Bentley 6½ Litre

Developed to carry heavy, luxurious saloon bodies at high speed, the “Big Six” was a powerful and refined tourer. It provided the basis for the legendary Le Mans-winning Speed Six, combining comfort with immense torque.

Steyr VI Klausen Sport

An impressive Austrian sports-luxury car. The supercharged Type VI was a powerful and well-engineered machine, achieving fame through its competition successes and high-quality construction, rivaling Mercedes-Benz.

Armstrong Siddeley 30hp

A large, high-quality British car known for its refinement and durability. It featured a large six-cylinder engine and often came with formal saloon or limousine coachwork, appealing to the professional class and civic dignitaries.

Lanchester 40 hp

An engineering-led company, Lanchester produced cars of exceptional quality. The 40 hp was their flagship, featuring an advanced overhead-cam engine and build quality on par with Rolls-Royce, though with more understated styling.

Bentley 3 Litre

The car that built Bentley’s reputation. It combined sports car performance with touring car durability, famously winning Le Mans in 1924 and 1927. It was an expensive and exclusive car for the gentleman driver.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Though its design originated before the 1920s, the Silver Ghost was still the benchmark for luxury and silence well into the decade. Often called “the best car in the world,” it was a symbol of unmatched quality and refinement.

Talbot 14/45

Designed by the brilliant Georges Roesch, this was a small, high-quality car. While not a massive limousine, its advanced engineering, six-cylinder engine, and refinement made it a “small luxury” car prized for its quality.

Bugatti Type 46

Nicknamed the “Petit Royale,” the Type 46 brought the engineering concepts of the massive Royale to a smaller (but still very large) scale. It was a fast, luxurious, and beautiful grand tourer for the very wealthy.

Renault 40CV

The massive 40CV was Renault’s flagship and a direct competitor to Hispano-Suiza. With its huge six-cylinder engine, it served as the official transport for French presidents and was bodied by France’s finest coachbuilders.

Peugeot Type 176

Peugeot’s top-of-the-line model during the mid-20s. The Type 176 was a large, luxurious car featuring a silent sleeve-valve six-cylinder engine, offering a taste of French refinement and quality for the upper class.

Luxury Cars in Other Decades