The story of the bestcar .intheworld. •

Charles Rolls. . Charles Stuart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce came from very different backgrounds, they had very different educations and, until shortly before they met, their careers were going in very different directions. Yet in 1904, they joined forces to build and sell motor cars. An~ just two years later, the partnership had produced the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost: a car acclaimed as the best in the world. This is the story of those two remarkable men, of the cars they and their successors built and of the range of Rolls-Royce motor cars today. there, at the age of 19, he went to Liver- pool as technical advisor to the Lancashire Maxim and Western Electric Company. And then, just three years later, he and a partner, A. E. Claremont, set up in busi- ness in Cooke Street, , making electric light fittings, dynamos and cranes. Such was Royce's determination that by the turn of the century the order books were full and the business was going from strength to strength. All this.of course, was quite an achieve- ment for someone who had started, almast then late 1800's Henry Royce and literally, with nothing. But the real turning were going through point in Royce's career was yet to came. Iexperiences which, with hindsight, That happened in 1903 when Royce made their meeting and the cars they bought himself a second hand F rench produced almost inevitable. Royce was the Decauville car for the journey between his son of an impoverished miller from Alwal- home and the factory. The car, he found, ton near and he had, by any was difficult to start, it overheated with standards, a difficult start in life. He began depressing regularity, it vibrated, it was work at the age of ten, selling-newspapers unreliable and the ignition system was for W. H. Smith at Bishopsgate and hopelessly inefficient. (This may be the Clapham Junction. But he soon left that to point which annoyed Royce the most. He find his first real job working as an was, after all, quite an expert in e1ectricity allli.entice at the Great Northern Railway in his own right). Royce eventually became ~ in Peterborough. It was while he sa disillusioned with the car that he deci- was there that he learnt most of the basics ded, in characteristic style, that he could of engineering, and it is also obvious that do better himself. And, just a few days even at that age Royce was deterrnined to later, he announced to his calleagues that do weil because he set about teaching he was going to build three 2-cylinder himself foreign languages, algebra and the motor cars of his own design. The first of fundamentals of electricity. Three years these, designed and built almost campletely later, in 1880, he moved to a firm of by Royce himself, rolled out of the factory machine tooI makers in where he gates in the spring of 1904. That first car worked a 54 hour week for just I I shillings was a success in al most every way: it star- (5SP). His next move was to London, ted easily, ran smoothly and quietly and where his self taught knowledge of electri- was very reliable, something which never city enabled him to get a job with one of failed to impress everyone who saw or rode the pioneer electric light companies. From in the car. At about the same time, Charles Rails the firrn, known as C. S. Rails and Co., was also in business for himself (like quickly became a leading motor car Royce, very successfully). But achieving distributor. (A few months after its this had been rather less of a struggle for formation Rails persuaded Claude Rails than it was for his future partner. Johnson to join the firm as a partner. Rails was barn into the aristocracy, being johnson had built up a reputation as a the third son of Lord and Lady brilliant organiser of motoring events and L1angattock. The landed gentry, of course, were never expected to work in those " days and Rails, like most young men in . similar families, was groomed for a life of ease and luxury. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge University where his natural flair for engineering work enabled hirn to gain a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Sciences. It was while he was still at Cambridge that he began to take an interest in the fledgling motor iridustry. He went to France with his father and on his return bought himself a 3i hp Peugeot, a car which soon Clau e Johnson. made a name for itself with Rails at the was the first secretary of what is now the whee!. It was the first car ever seen at RAC. Of ten known as the 'hyphen' in Cambridge and when he drove it to the Rolls-Royce, he was responsible for much family home at , the journey ofthe growth ofthe Rolls-Royce company, taak hirn two days including many hours especially after Rails' death in 1910 and spent working on the car at the roadside to Royce's breakdown shortly afterward. keep it going. By the time Rails left Rails, however, still had two major Cam bridge University, he was probably ambitions. First, he wanted his name to be the most skilful driver in the country. And associated with cars in the same way as he proved his skill by winning the first Chubb's was with safes and Steinway's was 1000 mile (I 600km) reliability trial with pianos. And, sècondly, he wanted to promoted by Sir [ohn Harmsworth sa find a British car as good as or preferably convincingly that a special gold medal was better than the foreign cars he was then struck in his honour. Later, in 1903, Rails selling. But he very nearly missed his set ~ new world land speed record of chance to achieve both these aims at once, Isokmjh(93mph) driving an Sohp Mors at because when Henry Edmunds, a director Phoenix Park in Dublin. of Royce Limited, told Rails about Henry In the next year, 1904, Rol!s went into Royce's new 2-cylinder car, Rails business for himself selling motor cars and assumed that it would be as noisy and c. S. Rolls in a aohp Rolls-Royce at the start ofthc 1(}06 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. inefficient as all the other 2-cylinder cars were all exhibited at the Paris Salon in on the road. He was, of course, wrong and early December 1904. And then, on Henry Edmunds persuaded Rolls to make December 23rd, a contract between the the trip up to Manchester to see the car. two companies was signed, including a Rolls, Edmunds and Royce met at the c1ause stipulating that all the cars should Grand Central (now the Midland) Hotel be called 'Rolls-Royce'. The company in Manchester and the meeting was an which would soon be building the best immediate success. Rolls tried the car and cars in the world was in business. became a wholehearted enthusiast and he Unfortunately, Rolls was only to enjoy said afterwards that Royce 'was the man I the success of the company which bore his have been looking for for years'. An name for a few more years because on agreement was quickly reached giving July 11, rç ro he tragically met his death in a Rolls exclusive sales rights for all the cars Ayingaccident at . In contrast, Royce could produce and the two men Royce was to spend many more years then really got down to work. A rohp car, at the head of the company stamping his a 1ohp chassis and engine, a I Shp chassis, unique personality on Rolls-Royce motor a•20hp car and a johp 6-cylinder engine cars right up to his death on 22 April 1933. regarded as milestones in the development of the best car in the world. The 4O/50hp (The SiIver Ghost). 1906-1925- The 40/sohp, which Royce himself con side red to be the best car he had ever made, was the first Rolls-Royce to be • known as the 'best car in the world'. An extract of the first reference to the 40/sohp in The Autocar dated 20 April 1907, reads "the motor beneath the bonnet might be a silent sewing machine ... there theday in 1904 when Henry is no realisation of driving propulsion ; the ssRoyce's first car left the factory, a feeling as the passenger sits either at the total of 34 different models have front or back of the vehicle is one of being been built by the company. wafted through the landscape". Included amongst these are the various But silence, reliability and quality were Bentleys produced since the acquisition of not the only things that impressed the Motors by Rolls-Royce in 1931. press and public alike in that year. From 1906 to 1939, the company Soon after covering 3,218km (2,000 produced chassis only and it was left to miles) in the Scottish Reliability Trial, the specialist coachbuilders to construct same car covered 23,l2okm (14,371 miles) coachwork to the individual requirements without a single involuntary stop, beating of customers. After the Second World War, the existing long distance record of it was decided to produce a complete car I I,4ookm (7,089 miles). with Rolls- Royce becoming responsible 1913 saw further success for the Ghost when four cars were entered inS.the for the coachwork of the newly introduced standard steel saloons.To do this required Austrian Alpine Trials and took virtually more extensive factory space for paint shop every prize awarded. and assembly areas and so the motor car During the First World War, production line was re-established at Rolls-Royce 40/sohp motor cars were Crewe in a factory which had built aero commissioned as ambulances. staff cars and engines throughout the war. The Mulliner armoured cars. Later, armoured cars earned Park Ward Division of Rolls-Royce fame under the legendary Lawrence of Motors is today the only organisation main- Arabia. Even with heavilyarmoured bodies taining the traditional crafts and skilIs of weighing up to 4 tons they still managed English coachbuilding. Sokmjh (somph). In th is publication, the emphasis is on The car actually received itsname from the Rolls- Royce models which can be a 40/sohp which ClaudeJohnson had built The 40/sohp (The Silver Ghost).

The aohp.

• imself. He took the thirteenth chassis established in 1921. Production in the USA b-:::it and fitted it with a 4/5 seat touring ceased in 193 I because American customers body which was finished in aluminium preferred to buy Rolls- Royce motor cars paint and adorned with silver plated lamps built in Britain. and fittings. A handsome silver plated brass plaque mounted on the car bore the The 2Ohp.1922-1929. name "The Silver Ghost" and this car is The zohp, or the 'baby Rolls-Royce' as still owned by Rolls- Royce Motors and is it became known, sacrificed none of the in perfect running order af ter over Rolls-Royce standards of silence, comfort Soo.oookrn (500,000 miles), and ease of control but its excellent perfor- The Silver Ghost stayed in production mance for its size, with a top speed of for nineteen years and 7,870 were built. rookm/h (özmph) made it very popular 1,700 of these were produced in Springfield, with the owner driver. In the seven years America, where a factory had been of its production, 2,940 were built. The New Phantom (Phantorn I).

The Phantom 11.

The New Phantom (Phantom 1). The Phantom 11.1929-1935. 1925-1929 at . • 1926-1931 at Springneld, USA. The Phantom II was evolved from the The New Phantom was a development Phantom I with an engine of the same of the Silver Ghost fitted with an overhead capacity but with an improved suspension valve engine giving it superior performance system. This model was often fitted with and this model was the first Rolls-Royce very rakish coachwork, a fact which makes to be fitted with servo-assisted brakes. it a much sought after motor car today. Of the 3,450 Phantom I cars built, 1,240 A Phantom Il Continental model was also were produced inAmerica where they we re produced which had a shorter chassis and usually fitted with coachwork by Brewster a different axle ratio. In all, 1,767 and Co. In England most of the bodies Phantom Il's were produced befare were by Hooper, Barker and Windover. production ceased in 1935. The ao/açhp.

The Phantom lil .

The 20!25hp.1929-1936. Rolls-Royce to be fitted with independent • front suspension and this, combined with The 20/2Shp was a natural progression from the zohp but it had an increased many other new features, made the cylinder bore which made it considerably Phantom III one ofthe most advanced cars faster, with a top speed of around I24km/h in the world at the time. 710 were built. (77mph). The 2O/2Shp was alsocapableof The Wraith.1938-1939. carrying much heavier coachwork. A total of },827 were built. The Wraith was an entirely new model introduced to bring the zohp range in line The Phantom 111. 1936-1939. with its bigger brothers by fitting indepen- The Phantom III had a 7340CCVI2 dent suspension. It had a modified 42S7CC engine and was capable of more than engine, an irnproved carburation system r óokm/h (roomph). The car was the first and an improved engine mounting wl1ich The Wraith.

The Silver Dawn. resulted in probably the quietest of all market. A few of the 760 produced were Rolls- Royce motor cars built between the fitted with bodies built by specialist • wars. All told, 491 Wraiths were produced. coachbuilders. The Silver Dawn.1949-1955. The Silver CIoud.1955-1959. The Silver Dawn was the first The Silver Cloud was the last in the line Rolls-Royce with coachwork built by the of 6-cylinder engined Rolls-Royce motor company, the first Rolls-Royce produced cars, as the ultimate in development was wholly at the Crewe factory and also the considered to have been reached. lts long first produced mainly for export. The car streamlined coachwork was an instant was initially fitred with a 4257CCengine but success throughout the world and this, com- later the engine capacity was increased and bined with many mechanical and coach- the car was made available on the home work improvements, made the Silver Cloud •

The Silver Cloud In Coachbuilt Convertible.

!Pbest selling Rolls- Royce up to that provements to the technical specification time. Almost 6,000 were built - including and coachwork including four headlamps Bentley counterparts. were also introduced. Just over 2,700 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud li's were built The Silver Cloud 11and liL and 4,000 Silver Cloud IIl's. 1959-1966. The Silver Cloud was re-engined in It is an interesting fact that weil over 1959 with a new aluminium 6230CCV8 half of tlie 70,000 cars produced by engine and was known as the Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce since 1904 are still on the road I!. The Silver Cloud 111,introduced in today. 1962,had an updated version ofthis engine and the bonnet line of the car was lew- ered for improved visibility. Further im- L tester listens for unnatural variations in noise with a stethoscope. The independent suspension has a sensitive self-levelling system which even compensates for the gradual emptying of the fuel tank. The multiple braking system is designed to en- sure that braking remains on all four wheels in the cverit of the failure of on. circuit. The automatic three speed torque converter transmission. operated by a unique electric gear selecter, gives the car almost irnperceptible gear changes. And the air conditioning system has the cooling capacity of 60 domestic refrigerators and pours out as much heat as tour domestic radiators. The interiorof every Rolls-Royce motor 1906,n the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost car reAects the same fastidious care. was hailed as "the best car in the world" The door locks, windows, front seats, the Iand today Rolls-Royce Motors still retractable aerial and the petrol filler flap, maintain standards of design and construct- for instanee. are all electrically operated ion which justify the conti nuance of this and they can all be controlled from the accolade. But how have these standards driving seat. Stereo radio and quadraphonic been maintained? How has this reputation tape playing equipment are fÎtted as been carried over such a long period of standard equipment. Italian burr walnut production ? The answer undoubtedly lies veneers are used for the facia panels anc;!...,. in the care with which every car is built door trims and they are coated with • and the fact that the company has moved lacquer, hand polished and joined down a with the times. Rolls-Royce has never centre line to produce a perfect mirror stood still. image on either side of the car. The seats The current Rolls-Royce range of and door panels are covered in the finest motor cars is built with meticulous attent- English leather and the forty five skilled ion to detail. The bodyshelI, for instance, coach trimmers take great pains to ensure receives at least twelve applications of that the hides for each seat are perfectly primer and paint,each rubbed and polished matched for colour and texture. And, until the highest possible standard of finish finally, the famous Rolls- Royce radiator is is obtained. The 6750CCV8 engine fitted made entirely by hand. The columns may to all cars except the Phantom VI is run for look straight but they are in fact slightly the equivalent of 240km (150 miles) on bowed, an effect the Greeks called 'entasis' natural gas on the test bed, during which a and built into the Parthenon. All this, The Silver Shadow 11.

The Silver Wraith It. naturally, makes the building of a by the Mulliner Park Ward Division of Rolls- Royce motor car a very long and in- Rolls-Royce Motors. volved process, with the result that only The Corniche incorporates the ten cars are produced each day. A fact which Rolls-Royce Motors automatic air- makes the 'best car in the world'also one of conditioning system and, to match its more the most exclusive. sporting character, it is fitted with an uprated The SiIver Shadow 11. version ofthe 6,750 cc V8 engine. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II has The Camargue. evolved from the familiar and highly The Rolls-Royce Camargue is designed• successful original Silver Shadow. to satisfy the requirements for a Built wholly at the Crewe factory, the production car offering the highest levels fout-door Silver Shadow II is fitred with a ofluxury. 6,750 cc VB engine, rack and pinion steering, It is based upon the highly developed self-Ievelling suspension, an electronic mechanical components from bath the speedometer. an air dam and the unique fully Silver Shadow and Corniche and was the /irst automatic split-level air-conditioning system Rolls-Royce car to be fitted with the designed by Rolls-Royce Motors. This Rolls-Royce automatic air-conditioning system allows the driver to select completely system. separate upper and lower level interror The two-door coachwork was designed temperatures and, once set, the unit will by Pininfarina ofTurin. autornatically maintain those temperatures regardless of any change in climatic The Phantom VI. conditions. The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI has style The Silver Wraith IL and elegance in the classic Rolls-Royce tradition. The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II is built side-by-side with the Silver Shadow II and The 604 cm (rçft. roin.) long coach. is hand-built by the Mulliner Park War;r-" shares the same engine, mechanical Division and offers exceptional comfort for refinements and air-conditioning system. seven passengers. In the rear compartment, As the langer of the Rolls- Royce provision is made for both television and four-door saloons, it has an exceptionally radio-telephone installations and a cocktail spacious passenger compartment which, as cabinet is fitted as standard. weIl as having a smalt rear window, can be The Phantom VI is also available as a fitted with an electrically operated glass division for complete privacy. Special Laundaulette. This model is designed specifically for state occasions and has an The Corniche. electrically operated folding hood over the The two-door Rolls-Royce Corniche is rear compartment. The Phantom VI Special available as a saloon or convertible, with the Laundaulette is built only to special order coachwork for both models being hand-built and production is strictly limited. I·

The Corniche Saloon.

r The Corniche Convertible. • The Silver Shadow II facie • L The Phantom VI Special Landauleue. •

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ID>OLLS- If'\OYCE MOTORS Car Division

Rolls-Royce Motors Lirnited, Crewe, Cheshire CWI 3PL, England. Telephone (0270) 551SS. Telex 3612I. Printed in England. MGW/C. TSO 4IJZ/40M. 6/77,