Charles Rolls AND Henry Royce / "Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd"

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For any Englishman the history of the British motor industry has begun with Rolls-Royce. Attached to the traditions, inhabitants of foggy Albion very much make thrifty use of everything, that is connected with a birth and development of the legendary stamp.

For any Englishman the history of the British motor industry has begun with Rolls-Royce. Attached to the traditions, inhabitants of foggy Albion very much make thrifty use of everything, that is connected with a birth and development of the legendary stamp.

Legendary company "Rolls-Royce" has been registered on March, 15th, 1906. However the enterprise plan has arisen in hotel «Midland Wanted» in Manchester still on May, 1st, 1904. This day have met CHarlz Rolls - the racer who has begun the business from sale to the British aristocrats of cars from continent, both Henry Rojs - the designer and the manufacturer of electromotors and cranes who was dissatisfied with sold cars and dreamt to develop - «the car above any criticism».

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The joint company on release and sale of cars, has received the name "Rolls-Royce". And Rolls incurred a commercial part, and the technological party has put laid down on the Royce. Ambitions of the young aristocrat were stretched so far, that it has laid down to itself(himself) the aim to let out the best cars in the world.

The original birth of the legendary stamp has occurred in the same 1906 on London «Olympia the Show Motor» when company "Rolls-Royce" has presented the first chassis «the Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP» at factory number 60551. The new model repeated nothing predecessors. Sale 40/50 HP have begun in 1907. And as to the Second World War factory "Rolls-Royce" did not make bodies, they were produced kuzovnymi by workshops by request of the client - generating a large quantity of variants "Rolls-Royce" with the uniform chassis.

The chassis 40/50 HP without a body costed 985 pounds. Approximately in the same price not less magnificent body made by eminent workshops, such as managed to the client: Hooper, Barker, Park Ward, Thrupp and Maberly, H. J. Mulliner, etc.

Soon to this car have given an unusual name - «Silver Ghost» (Silver Spirit). The car is obliged by this name to the silvered external details of one of the first samples and extraordinary silent engine. On a legend, the loudest sound in salon was tikane hours.

The car could accelerate momentum to 150 km/h - an indicator inaccessible to many sports models of that time. «Silver Ghost», became, hardly probable not the most known car in the world. In 1907 founders advertised it as «the best car in the world».

The emblem of company "Rolls-Royce" which have become by one of most prestigious in the world, has appeared in 1907. One legend says, that the Royce has seen emblem RR on a cloth at restaurant and has decided to buy this cloth. First letters RR of an emblem were red, but in 1930 of their steel to carry out the black.

One more integral attribute of cars "Rolls-Royces" is «Spirit of Delight». In 1909 one of cars "Rolls-Royces" is got in a private use by sir John Montegju the lord to Linen. To allocate the car from the general stream, the lord reserves in 1911 to the friend, to sculptor-modernistu Charles Sykes to develop a nasal figure-talisman.

The artist has found the simple and graceful decision: he has created certain rukokryloe a deity-figure, directed forward, with the hands cast away back, in an attire fluttering under a wind. It as though passed spirit of the car - reasonable speed, grace and beauty. Originally official name of a figure was «the Embodiment of speed», but later Sykes has sold the copyrights of company "Rolls-Royce", and it has been renamed in «Spirit of Ecstasy» (Spirit of Delight or Spirit of Inspiration).

In 1921 in America the branch in Springfield has been opened. Nelson Rockefeller became one of the first buyers American Silver Ghost. In States till 1926 have constructed 1703 cars. Silver Ghost belief and the truth served owners as decades. In the USA, for example, in the thirties on "eternal" chassis «Silver Spirit» simply put new fashionable bodies.

Thanks to rather stable market of Britain where well-founded buyers not so have suffered from Great depression, the company and in crisis 1930th years managed to save the positions in the automobile market. And in 1931 Rolls-Royce even gets the competitor who has got to a difficult financial position, - company Bentley having settled reputation of the manufacturer of sound, expensive and reliable sports cars and limousines, on key parametres very similar on Rolls-Royce. Stamp "Bentley" is saved till now. Since 1949 classical cars of a class lux the nostalgia of the name penetrated by spirit «the Silver Phantom» (Silver Wraith) receives, «the Silver Dawn» (Silver Dawn), «the Silver Cloud» (Silver Cloud), in 1965 replaced by "the Silver Shade» (Silver Shadow).

So, the firm prospered, but the base which has been put in pawn by founders, has sufficed only for 30 years after death of the Royce in 1933. In 60 recession, and financial position Rolls-Royce, occupied in that time has begun creation of the new aviation engine and model Rolls-Royce-Corniche, became very shaky, and on February, 4th, 1971 the company has been officially declared by the bankrupt.

Rolls-Royce As the national property has rescued the British government, having enclosed in business about $250 million But thus company Rolls-Royce Motor Holding has been divided into the automobile company Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd which is letting out cars, completing for the automobile and aviation industry, diesel engines, locomotives, easy planes, and on Rolls-Royce Ltd - the aviation division on release of jet engines which with 1971 for 1987 was under control of the state and has been privatised in 1987 then has replaced the name on Rolls-Royce Plc.

Military-industrial concern Vickers - is no time naikrupnejshy in the Great Britain syndicate of manufacturers of the military technics, carrying out orders of the Ministry of Defence of the Great Britain - in 1980 has got Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd for 38 million pounds sterling when the company, in connection with the worsened financial indicators and working out of new model Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, has once again appeared on the verge of crisis.

Vickers has made for Rolls-Royce during possession of this legendary stamp much: having enclosed about 40 million pounds sterling, the concern has spent upgrade of becoming outdated factories in Crewe. At factories in Crewe the present conveyor with speed of movement of 0,01 miles at an o'clock has been established also. But rationalisation has concerned only nekvalifitsirovannogo, in the rest Rolls-Royce remained Rolls-Royce - cars were made manually and only under orders. Nevertheless thanks to the accepted measures more than twice - with 65 till 28 days - the full cycle of manufacturing of one car was reduced. And in the beginning 90 company began to make again profit. So, in 1997 the company profit, despite a small amount of the sold cars (1380 cars Bentley and 538 cars Rolls-Royce), has made 45 million dollars at a turn in 500 million dollars.

However position remains astable: at an unsuccessful economic conjuncture such volume could fall without ceremony twice. And happens - by the end of 90 further existence, development and conformity of production Rolls-Royce to high quality demanded new capital investments - according to the chairman of board Vickers, sir Kolin Chandler, more than 200 million pounds sterling which at military-industrial concern was not: «We have made for Rolls-Royce all that could. We have rescued it, we have returned it„ health “and the good form, but time …» has come to leave - he has told.

In October, 1997 negotiations with interested parties about sale Rolls-Royce have begun. For the control over the company some groups, including two British financial and industrial groups, German autoindustrial grandees fought: Daimler-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW and organisation RRAG consisting of group of patriotically adjusted and well-founded owners of cars Rolls-Royce and Bentley led by lawyer Michael Shripmptonom.

Struggle result for a legend of the British motor industry was the agreement on which Volkswagen has got factories Bentley and Rolls-Royce, and BMW has bought name Rolls-Royce. Estimating sale Rolls-Royce won struggle for the stamp in 1998 to German motorcar giant BMW, Berlin newspaper Welt wrote: «Now the oldest British motor-car manufacturer will receive force which is necessary for the future». Soon BMW has begun manufacture of cars under the well-known brand at new factory in Gudvude (Southern England).

There the concern has constructed «the most exclusive in the world factory» for manufacture of new family of cars of prestigious British stamp Rolls-Royce. The enterprise has taken places in small town Chichester in a county Western Sasseks. It is remarkable, that nearby therefrom, in small town West-Uittering, veins with 1917 for 1933 and sir Henry Rojs has died. Here there was also its design office. Except picturesque vicinities, Southern England possesses the developed infrastructure and possibility to involve the additional personnel from the yacht industry to manual job habitual by it.

    * company Cars never differed cheapness, and the price policy formulated by the Royce, remains actual and today: «Quality remains, when about the price for a long time already have forgotten».

    * First cars Rolls-Royce in 10 h.p. were on sale at the price of 395 pounds sterling. Today any aesthete for $250000 can get these antiquarian models.

    * About six of ten constructed cars Rolls-Royce all ever till now "on the move".

    * In 1907 one of «Silver phantoms» establishes a record - passes without a stop of 24 thousand in km. What Huge on those times the car has overcome distance with unique malfunction - has failed fuel kranik.

    * At factories Rolls-Royce in Crewe and London cars name "rojsami". Them never name "rollsami".

    * the radiator Lattice in car Rolls-Royce becomes manually with the help … an eye estimation. Simply "vprikidku", without any tools.

    * For manufacturing of radiator Rolls-Royce one is required chelovekoden. And more five chelovekochasov on its polishing.

    * Having opened an ashtray in modern Rolls-Royce, you never will find there a cigarette stub - ashtrays are emptied automatically.

    * Anybody from members of the factory personnel never will tell: «Rolls-Royce has broken». Instead you will hear: «Rolls-Royce refuses to continue to function».

    * At old factories Rolls-Royce (in Crewe and London) it is possible to see inscriptions: «Be protected the silent car!»

    * Cooling ñïîcîñîáíîñòü the conditioner in modern «Silver Spirit» it is equal to productivity of 30 household refrigerators.

    * Each glass detail in «Silver Spirit» is polished manually with special pumice which usually use at polishing of optical lenses.

    * Somehow time after vospevanija laudatory hymns in honour of cars Rolls-Royce one aristocrat, having thought, has asked: «But, sir Henry and what would be if your factory has let out the bad car?» The Royce has responded: «the Madam, the security guard on the central collars would not let out it from territory».

    * the dying Henry Rojsa's Last words were: «I regret only that did not devote to job of more time».

    * the Prototype of "Spirit of Delight» became the personal secretary of the lord to Linen - Eleonor Tornton in which the sculptor has been hopelessly enamoured.

    * Most elite of "Rolls-Royces" are considered representatives of a series «Park Ward», named still as "royal Rolls-Royces». These it is underlined conservative cars monarchs prefer. To buy or reserve in expensive motor show such car it is impossible, after all «Park Ward» - a child of that branch of the company where cars are not going to at all, and are made completely manually, under special orders, and each of them only under the certain client.

    * Style of "Rolls-Royces", without exaggeration, is unique. Amazes value which the firm gives to trifles. Comparable delicate aroma which was exhaled by the best grades of a natural skin and the valuable breeds of a tree used for internal furnish of cars was always inherent in salons "Rolls-Royces" special, with what not. And suddenly customers of new exclusive model - «Silver serafim» - have felt, that a smell in salon not that. Began to find out - and have found out, that instead of a former black rosewood and mahogany wooden details of furnish of salon some before have replaced with plastic. By sight and to the touch it from a tree not to distinguish, but that has begun to smell any more. And manufacturers seriously were engaged in the decision of this problem. They have developed structure of aromatic butters for processing of salons of all "Rolls-Royces" which began to smell again as expensive skin and a tree.

"Rolls-Royce" is a car-palace, the car-status, the car-symbol. It is attribute of the highest position in a society.

It is not necessary to forget and that on a planet is a lot of millionaires, and "Rolls-Royces" - it is essential less, therefore among interested persons to pay some hundreds thousand dollars for means of transportation there is a turn - all circulation of cars is painted for some years forward.

Among happy owners of a Rolls-Royce there were both Charli Chaplin, and Benitos Mussolinis, both Mohammed Ali, and emperor Nikolay II, and Elizabeth Taylor, and Redjard Kipling, and Gulelmo Marconi, and Alfred Nobel. On a Rolls-Royce prince Jusupov and its accomplices carried to throw in an ice-hole half-dead Rasputina. Thanks to that the Japanese emperor has decided to buy a Rolls-Royce in 1920th years, in Japan till now link sided movement.

The prestige of stamp Rolls-Royce was so great, that in the fifties the company becomes the supplier of cars for the British royal house and many ruling and aristocratic families of the world. So, for example, princess Elizabeth and the duke Edinburgh have reserved in 1950 for private use Rolls-Royce of model Phantom-IV with a body of job of firm Mulliner-Park-Ward. Since then the garage (so-called Royal stables) is completed any more with cars "dejmler", and Rolls-Royce. In the last summer, during the celebratings devoted to the fiftieth anniversary of Elizabeth XI on an English throne, the queen drove about on one of last models of limousine Rolls-Royce-Bentley.

By request of Indian magaradzhi Naby English engineers have created for «the Silver phantom» a body in the form of the swan figure, turned of a massive piece of a tree and covered gilt tsvetkami a lotus.

To increase smoothness of a course, the suspension bracket with an additional longitudinal spring has been used. In this version of "Rolls-Royce" there were even brushes from a horsehair, called to clean off a dirt from rotating wheels. «To fairy tales 1000 and one night», than the car, and now it is possible to see this masterpiece of design and design thought more reminding an illustration to at exhibitions of automobile curiosities.

Not smaller originality - the truth, in a little bit other style - John Lennon's painted with psychodelic vignettes of absolutely improbable colours the "Rolls-Royce" differed. To indignation of the patriots offended by so scandalous violation of a legend of the British car industry, there was no limit. However, some time podrazniv the most respectable public, on July, 5th, 1968 Lennon "Rolls-Royce" has sold.

Vladimir Ilich Lenin was the happy owner "tjuningovannogo" "Rolls-Royce" also. As a matter of fact, the leader of world proletariat served at once two "Rolls-Royces", but one of them, «Elpajn Needles» with an open body, for anything especial it is not well-known. And here the second, stamps "Kontinental", have been bought for 4 thousand pounds sterling at intermediary of the Soviet sales representative of the Lion of Krasin, then is delivered to Petrograd and there is altered in … semicaterpillar autosledge. The handsome man "Rolls-Royce" has been equipped so-called dvizhitelem Kegressa, named by name the founder, the chief of imperial garage Adolf Kegressa. Instead of the back bridge have established the cart with prorezinennymi cotton tapes. For the best controllability wide skis were put on forward wheels. This design weighed more than 500 kg. On nakatannomu to snow the car with "kegressom" confidently went with a speed of 60 km at an o'clock. The weight of the car has reached 2700 kg. The fuel expense has made 37 litres on 100 km. Caterpillar "Rolls-Royce" also has been equipped by the warmed cabin, a heater, the thermostat, advanced system of ignition.

In general, "Rolls-Royces" enjoyed the deserved love of the Soviet nomenclature. With 1922 for 1925 - notice, a ruin and hunger epoch - in England 73 cars, basically with open bodies have been bought. Czech writer Gofmejster those years wrote: «I still never saw such congestion„ Rolls-Royces “which observed once in the evening on quay of the Moskva River …»

There was personal "Rolls-Royce" and at Brezhnev. That is interesting, «the Silver phantom» never belonged personally to Brezhnev, as well as many other things cars from mythical "collection". However the car was created with the account komplektsii the secretary general and its desire sometimes to sit down a wheel most.

Of it till now reminds the switch located on the instrument panel with two positions: one "arranges" a driver's armchair under Brezhnev's figure, another - under dimensions of its driver. The car has been reserved by 9th Management of KGB for «service of members of the Central Committee» in 1971 and less than a year later has entered Russia. In general, the cars similar to these, at factory became five: one - for the Arabian sheikh, capable freely to move on sand with the cage built in in salon for a jaguar liked by the sheikh, another was reserved by the gold miner from Alaska to which, on the contrary, needed to move on snow.

The order of two other cars proceeded from coast of Amazon and assumed special stability of cars to a tropical climate. The fifth car should combine requirements of all other four orders - though and without a cage for a jaguar. It also intended for Brezhnev. Practically the case entirely made of aluminium, "proklepannye" as in aircraft, the longerons executed in the single copy rubber and plastic details, hydroaccumulators on all four wheels, twelve paint coats - of course, a masterpiece … it is interesting, that the unique car is actively maintained and today: by him there goes Edward Tenjakov, the vice-president of the Moscow central stock exchange.