The name Rolls-Royce is synonymous with luxury, performance, aesthetic appeal and style. The first car by the British luxury automaker debuted in 1904 and its famous Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament made its debut in 1911. For decades, Rolls-Royce has set new standards in the world of luxury automobiles. From its high-performance engine to masterfully crafted interiors, every element is the epitome of luxury. Let’s go through some other interesting facts about Rolls-Royce in detail.
Fascinating Facts about Rolls-Royce Cars
In 1884, Henry Royce planted the seeds of the company with his own business focusing on mechanical and electrical engineering. Several machines were manufactured including electric cranes. But the first vehicle created by Royce was two decades after in 1904. Below, we discuss some interesting and some little-known facts about Rolls-Royce.
1. The first Rolls-Royce was a 10 hp car
The very first Rolls-Royce was hand-built by Henry Rolls-Royce in 1904. The car named Royce 10 was powered by a 1.8 litre two-cylinder engine that churned just 10 horsepower. The 1.3 litre Royce 10 featured a three-bearing crank with twin camshafts activating the side exhaust and overhead valves. The car was mated to a 3-speed manual transmission.
2. Most Rolls-Royce Products Are Made in Indianapolis, USA
Rolls-Royce had its base in London but then it shifted to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Today, the US factory is the leading industry supplier for Rolls-Royce products in the world. An interesting fact about Rolls-Royce is that the Indianapolis factory is 4,000 workforces strong. These employees work manufacturing, assembly, test and engineering tasks among other roles.
3. Rolls-Royce Did Not Sell Cars till 1946
As mentioned earlier, the first Rolls-Royce car debuted in 1946. However, a lesser-known fact about Rolls-Royce is that the company sold chassis and motors before it developed its own car. The company used to recommend customers to Barker & Co Ltd (a known big coachbuilding company based in London) to build a customised body and coach.
4. The Spirit of Ecstasy Hood Ornament Cannot Be Flicked
Among other Rolls-Royce facts, this one is pretty interesting. The Spirit of Ecstasy Hood ornament that made its debut in 1911 was commissioned by Baron John Edward Scott-Montague. He was a renowned car collector. As Rolls-Royce history has it, the ornament was made as an ode to the figure of his secretary who then became his mistress.
The special thing about this logo is that no one can ever break or steal it. Case in point: The Spirit of Ecstasy Logo automatically hides inside the bonnet when someone tries to mishandle it. Even in case of an accident, the logo goes down in the front grille automatically.
5. About 65% of Rolls-Royce Cars are Still on the Road
When talking about fascinating facts about Rolls-Royce, this fact cannot be undermined. About 65% of Rolls-Royce cars ever produced are still on the road. They are still in service, naturally, this is a reason of great pride for the automaker. It also goes to show how sturdy the luxurious Rolls-Royce cars are.
6. The Coach Line of Rolls-Royce Can Only Be Painted by One Man
It is no surprise that Rolls-Royce cars have a penchant for detailing. It wouldn’t be wrong to call the cars manufactured by the luxury automaker as the epitome of meticulousness and exclusivity. But there’s more! Did you know that the coach lines or pinstripes are painted freehand by one man only – Mark Court.
Court is a former Village sign painter who is responsible for painting the Rolls-Royce Coach line. No robots or machines are used to paint these vehicles, signifying the uncompromising craftsmanship of the company.
7. Rolls-Royce Upholstery is All Bull Skin
Upholstery made of bull skin adds to the list of interesting facts about Rolls-Royce. The automaker only makes use of bull hides. The upholstery is designed with impeccable detailing. It takes 8 bulls to upholster a Rolls-Royce.
The bulls whose skin is used for the upholstery are raised in the region of Europe where the climate is too cold for mosquitoes to survive – as a result, Rolls-Royce buyers get blemish-free, cottony-soft seats.
8. Rolls-Royce was Featured in a Bond’s Movie
Did you know that Rolls-Royce is among the popular James Bond movie cars? Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II was featured in the famous James Bond movie, A View to Kill.
9. Rolls-Royce Has a Driver’s Training Program
A luxury premium car calls for a premium driving experience. Rolls-Royce is well-aware of this fact and came up with an appropriate training program that helps to hone the skills of the chauffeurs driving these premium cars. This training program is called the “Rolls-Royce White Glove experience”.
Among other etiquettes, some things trained in the program include never greeting a guest with sunglasses on, never propping up the sunglasses on the head or the back of the neck when the guest is around. This and many other etiquettes that chauffeurs generally tend to neglect are taught in this program.
10. Rolls-Royce Phantom IV is Exclusive for Royals and Head of States
The Rolls-Royce Phantom IV was produced exclusively for and sold only to royalty or heads of state. Only seventeen of Rolls-Royce Phantom cars were sold. Sixteen of them are preserved in museums or collections. The car itself was powered by a 5.7L or 6.5L straight-eight engine with a 4-speed transmission (the automatic version was introduced after 1956).
Each Phantom IV was made to specification. For example, the Phantom IV made for His Highness Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah, Aga Khan III consisted of a custom body, it included a Dictaphone, cigarette lighters, telescoping ashtrays and Aga Khan’s crest embossed on many of the car’s surfaces.
This brings an end to the interesting facts about Rolls-Royce. We are sure you’ve discovered some new facts about the luxury car brand. If you wish to learn about the carmaker’s history in detail, go through this blog on the journey of Rolls Royce.
Besides, if you are looking forward to a Rolls-Royce driving experience, explore these used Rolls-Royces for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top cars blog for more on other car brands and their interesting facts.
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