In 1904, Henry Royce built his first motor car. When he met Charles Rolls, whose company sold quality cars in London, the new label was established. Together with Claude Johnson, who was responsible for sales and business organisation, a new way of understanding cars has been introduced.
The best Car that Money can buy
The Rolls-Royce brand has been in use since 1906. At the beginning, the launch of the six-cylinder Silver Ghost was hailed as “the best car that money can buy”, demonstrating its reliability to the buying public. Later, it became “the best car in the world”. During the First World War, Henry Royce designed his first aero engine. The Eagle powered the first direct transatlantic flight as well as the first flight from England to Australia.
The glory and distinction of the brand lie in their beautiful design and durable construction. They use only the finest materials, and craftsmanship goes into every detail. According to the National Geographic documentary, over 60% of all Rolls-Royce cars ever constructed are still on the road, a true testament to their build quality.
From six Cylinders to an electric Car
From 1906 to 2003, motor cars were manufactured and marketed under the Rolls-Royce brand by Rolls-Royce Motors. In 1998, the parent company, Vickers, decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. The most likely buyer was the German manufacturer BMW AG, which already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. BMW’s final offer of GBP 340 million was beaten by Volkswagen’s GBP 430 million (USD 703 million).
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The company’s line of vehicles includes the Phantom, a four-door saloon first offered in 2003, as well as its extended wheelbase two-door coupé and convertible variants; the smaller Ghost four-door saloon; the Wraith two-door coupé; the Dawn convertible; the Cullinan SUV; and the forthcoming 2023 Spectre, the first all-electric Rolls-Royce. In September 2014, the company announced that a new technology and logistics centre would be built, which opened in 2016, eight miles away from the main headquarters, in the seaside resort town of Bognor Regis in West Sussex, England.
RR for Royalty and Rock Stars
The brand has unveiled one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive cars, with a price tag exceeding USD 30 million. The company has named this one-of-a-kind masterpiece ‘La Rose Noire Droptail,’ which means black rose and represents the first of four distinct Rolls-Royce Droptail commissions.
In the early 1950s, Rolls-Royce replaced Daimler as the preferred motor car supplier to the British monarchy. Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth took delivery of the first Phantom IV in 1950. Phantom IV is one of the rarest Rolls-Royce motor cars in the world, with only 18 ever built, and was designed exclusively for royalty and heads of state. By the late 1950s, the Rolls-Royce Phantom V had arrived, which was powered by a V8 engine. It was a huge success. In the 1960s, Rolls-Royce began to appeal to a new breed of owners. Actors, rock stars, and celebrities chose the Rolls-Royce marque as a symbol of their success and wealth. Famously, John Lennon bought a Phantom V, which left their factory with a plain white finish. Lennon, though, had it repainted in matte black before opting for an outlandish, colourful design. Today, Lennon’s Phantom V is one of the most valuable pieces of pop memorabilia ever.
At least as famous as the car itself is its emblem. The ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ is used as a bonnet ornament. It is a sculpture of a woman leaning forward with her arms stretched back, meaning grace, beauty, and energy are present in the cars.
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