Rolls-Royce, the design, the history

We cannot talk about Rolls-Royce without a glimpse of its long history. It began in May 1904 : more than a century ago, Charles Rolls, a car dealership owner and and Sir Henry Royce an engineer, had lunch together and decided to create Rolls-Royce Limited.... they may not have expected to create such a legendary brand.

Their very first car they created was the Silver Ghost in 1907. Its original design will influence their creation through time. Indeed, the strength of Rolls-Royce is their consistency through years : consistency in their design, in their values and in their conception.

The original Silver Ghost put the basis of Rolls-Royce's design. The Spirit of Ecstasy (the little silver mascot) evolved through time and became more pure in its lines but stayed the same in a way. The radiator grill definitely represents Rolls-Royce's cars and will be found in every model for more than hundred years. The spare wheels at the front of the car was kept in the design of the new Phantom series in the 1930s. 

The Phantom II

In the 1940s, the brand came back to the Silver series with the Wraiths and the Dawn. The new designer H.J. Mulliner made the spare wheel disappear but the influence of the Phantom series lines was still easily recognizable. This testifies the consistency will of Rolls-Royce. 

The Silver Dawn

Rolls-Royce takes also a special care to the engine improvements. In 1955, the Silver Cloud was capable of a maximum speed of 170 km/h using a 6-cylinder engine. It was designed by J.P. Blatchley : longer, less square, responding to the 1950s trend. 

The Silver Cloud

The end of the 1950s decade saw the revival of the Phantom series, and the beginning of the "Rolls-Royce phenomena" with a new category of buyers in the 1960s : celebrities. Omar Sharif, Ingrid Bergman, Rex Harrisson and John Lennon were seen with their Phantom. 

The Camargue in 1970s and the Silver Spirit in 1980s are representing the trends of their decades while trying to keep the Rolls-Royce design and special characteristics. The Camargue was the first Rolls-Royce designed to fit metric dimensions which would help its exportation abroad. 

The Camargue

The 1990s decade was really important in Rolls-Royce history as it is in this decade that the brand was bought by BMW. The models to come would clearly translate the influence of the German brand over the British one even if special efforts were made to keep some key characteristics of Rolls-Royce.

The Corniche : the influence of BMW

The 2000s showed a focus on the engine in order to create "the best car in the world" and they came back to the Phantom Series. However, Rolls-Royce would never leave aside their customer-centered value in the creation of a new model. As an example, the Drophead Coupé's high performances were coupled to an amazing silence of the engine in order to never disturb the discussion that would take place inside the car.

The Drophead Coupé

Rolls-Royce also takes an extreme care in the conception of the car's inside features. Exotic materials, pure lines, simplicity and high technology... Every characteristics of a high luxury good. 

Ghost's interior focus

The Rolls-Royce brand created its legend through both evolution and consistency. Few brand can brag about the fact that they managed to stay at a top level for more than a hundred years. They did. And they stayed humble about it, keeping their customer happy and proud.

Please visit : http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/history/