Rolls-Royce
(1904 - today)
Brand:
Country:
United Kingdom
Founded in 1906 in Manchester as Rolls-Royce Limited by Charles Steward Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce with the intention of building the ‘best motor cars in the world’. 1906 Construction of the first six-cylinder model of the 40/50 hp type, called the ‘Silver Ghost’. Opening of a factory in Derby in 1908. Construction of aircraft engines from 1914. Addition of a smaller Rolls-Royce 20/25hp to the range from 1922, replacement of the 40/50hp by the Phantom in 1925. Takeover of Bentley in 1931. Outsourcing of aircraft engine production to Crewe in 1938. Production resumed in 1946, now in Crewe. 1959 Introduction of new V8 engines. First self-supporting body 1965 (Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow). 1970 Outsourcing of vehicle production from the Group. 1980 Sale of the vehicle division to Vickers. 1998 Takeover of the plant by Volkswagen, but without the rights to the Rolls-Royce name, which remained with the turbine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Plc. Sale of the naming rights for motor vehicles by Rolls-Royce Plc to BMW. 1998 Sale of the rights to the radiator design and the Spirit of Ecstasy by Volkswagen to BMW with a mutual agreement to restart both brands at the end of 2002. New Phantom and restart of production by BMW in a new factory in Goodwood in 2003.
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Hotels are always coming up with something to impress or entertain their guests. In the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel in Doha (Qatar), there is a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that is over 100 years old and has a very special history. This report summarizes the history of the night-black Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from 1911 and shows it in some pictures.
You don't need a DeLorean with a flux compensator to turn back time. A ride in a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost creates the same effect. And the modern motorist is amazed at what the rich and powerful went to almost 100 years ago to get around quickly without horses, unless they employed someone as a chauffeur to take the manual part of getting around. This report sensitively describes what it means to start and drive a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from 1920. The article is illustrated with historical and current photo material.
Between 1926 and 1931, the English company Rolls-Royce built the Phantom I, a luxury-class car with an in-line six-cylinder engine. Conceptually, the Phantom was closely related to its predecessor, the Silver Ghost, and it also adopted its virtues - durability and reliability. The Phantom I was manufactured in England and the USA, with coachwork by Park Ward, Mulliner, Hooper and Brewster, among others. This report portrays a Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer from 1930, which was once built in America, and describes the history of the car's creation and life.
Independent coachbuilders were responsible for Rolls-Royce bodies in the first half of the 20th century, and some chassis were bodied several times. A Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP from 1931 was first born with a Gangloff body and half a decade later Fritz Ramseier and his Carrosserie Worblaufen re-bodied it. The elegant convertible has been preserved to this day and is described and shown in many photos in this report.
Originally, Rolls-Royce only sold chassis and left the bodywork to outside companies. This design also made it possible to body the same vehicle several times and adapt it to his personal requirements. This is exactly what James Scott did when he had a mobile smoking lounge built for himself and his chauffeur. It has survived to this day. This report describes the unique two-seater (with mother-in-law's seat) and shows it in many pictures.
Typically, a chauffeur sat behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I, perhaps a male self-driver. But a woman? You would hardly have expected one there. But they do exist, the female self-driver! She drives the Silver Cloud out of conviction and she also maintains it herself. What a story! This report not only portrays an early SilverCloud I, it also goes into the owner's love for her unusual classic.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was past and future in one, for many enthusiasts it is the last traditional Rolls-Royce. In terms of its engine, however, it established a long line of ancestors. And it was at least as much a driver's car as a chauffeur-driven car. With over 6800 units produced in three series, it was also a successful vehicle for Rolls-Royce. This vehicle report portrays a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III from 1963 and shows it in historical and current pictures.
With the Silver Shadow, Rolls-Royce broke with some traditions and bowed to modernity. While its predecessor, the Silver Ghost, had been enthroned above all other normal motor cars as automotive nobility, the Silver Shadow now had to be compared with "ordinary" cars for the first time. Nevertheless, it still offered traditional luxury virtues such as comfort, smooth running and exceptional build quality - as well as an inimitable aura of nobility, as this historical test report clearly explains.
Many people still remember the world championship boxing matches that attracted media attention in the early 1970s and made millions of television viewers around the world spend the night in front of the screen. The most famous boxer was Muhammed Ali. Everyone knew him. But only a few probably knew that he drove Rolls-Royces. In 1970, he bought a Silver Shadow Drophead Coupé, which he remained loyal to for several years. The car has survived, this vehicle report tells the story and shows the car in many pictures.
The era of special bodies was actually over in the 1970s, but there were still discerning customers who liked to treat themselves to something special. For one of them, Pietro Frua spent 13,500 hours building a convertible based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI, which the first owner drove 400,000 kilometers in. This report describes the problematic construction of the special body and its history, illustrated with contemporary and current pictures.
In 1965, Rolls-Royce presented the Silver Shadow, paving the way into the modern era. A self-supporting body, hydraulic level control, four-wheel disc brakes and electric assistants throughout the car were "state of the art" at the time. With over 30,000 vehicles sold, this model series was the luxury car manufacturer's biggest success to date in terms of volume. This report describes the development history of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, its characteristics and driving impressions of today, supplemented with many pictures and sales brochures.
Rolls-Royce built the Camargue between 1975 and 1986. For once, the car was not designed in the company's own design center but by Pininfarina, and its straight lines and sweeping bodywork were met with corresponding controversy. Only 526 vehicles were built and today they are seen as a significant milestone in the Crewe-based company's oeuvre. This report describes the history of the Rolls-Royce Camargue, provides driving impressions and presents extensive photographic and archive material.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and the Bentley Corniche, which were both launched in 1965, were followed by a coupé and a convertible version in 1967/1968, originally called the Drophead Coupé, but renamed Corniche in 1971. The elegant convertible and its closed sister were built for almost thirty years, in each case as a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. The report looks at the history of these vehicles, design aspects and market acceptance and shows many historical photos, original brochures and press information alongside current images.
No other open-top car can convey more comfort, more luxury and more prestige than a Rolls-Royce Corniche. Anyone who tries to explain the essence of a Rolls with numbers will inevitably fail. You have to feel it, smell it, hear it and enjoy it to understand it. This vehicle report is dedicated to the Rolls-Royce Corniche II, which was only built for a short time and has retained its special flair to this day.
If there are cars that are already born classics, then the Rolls-Royce Corniche Cabriolet (Series V) is certainly one of them. Timelessly elegant and breathtaking, it resembles its ancestors. Equipped with classic technology, dressed by Pininfarina and fitted with the finest materials, there was hardly any more luxury 20 years ago. This driving report is dedicated to an early example from the year 2000 and shows the youngtimer in many photographs.
Current market prices for Rolls-Royce
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4257 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4566 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4887 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6750 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4257 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4566 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 4887 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
4-Door Convertible, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
2-Door Convertible, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
Coupe, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
Coupe, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
Convertible, 0 PS, 6230 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Rolls-Royce
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls-Royce 20/25hp 'Top Hat' Hooper 1929 Sold Bonhams Great Yorkshire Showground (November 13, 2013) |
20/25hp 'Top Hat' Hooper | 1929 | Sold | Bonhams Great Yorkshire Showground (November 13, 2013) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud 1957 Sold Aguttes Automobiles de Prestige et de Collection Automobilia (November 7, 2015) |
Silver Cloud | 1957 | Sold | Aguttes Automobiles de Prestige et de Collection Automobilia (November 7, 2015) | |
| Rolls-Royce 20 hp 1927 Sold Brightwells Classic & Vintage Sale (March 2, 2016) |
20 hp | 1927 | Sold | Brightwells Classic & Vintage Sale (March 2, 2016) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Saloon 1959 Sold RM/Sotheby's Arizona (January 17, 2019) |
Silver Cloud I Saloon | 1959 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Arizona (January 17, 2019) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II 1993 Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Klassische Automobile und Motorräder (Frühlingsauktion) (March 23, 2024) |
Silver Spur II | 1993 | Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Klassische Automobile und Motorräder (Frühlingsauktion) (March 23, 2024) | |
| Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III 1965 Withdrawn Artcurial Sur Les Champs 14 (November 4, 2018) |
Silver Cloud III | 1965 | Withdrawn | Artcurial Sur Les Champs 14 (November 4, 2018) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Saloon 1963 Sold Bonhams Scottsdale (June 5, 2018) |
Silver Cloud III Saloon | 1963 | Sold | Bonhams Scottsdale (June 5, 2018) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II 1980 Not Sold Barons Sandown Park Sale (April 21, 2015) |
Silver Shadow II | 1980 | Not Sold | Barons Sandown Park Sale (April 21, 2015) | |
| Rolls-Royce Phantom III Four-Door Cabriolet 1939 Sold RM/Sotheby's Auburn Fall 2021 (September 2, 2021) |
Phantom III Four-Door Cabriolet | 1939 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Auburn Fall 2021 (September 2, 2021) | |
| Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé 1965 Sold Bonhams Bonmont (June 20, 2021) |
Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé | 1965 | Sold | Bonhams Bonmont (June 20, 2021) |
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