Rolls-Royce began as a manufacturer of the famous Rolls-Royces automobiles and is meanwhile more consisting of several companies an internationally active company.

• The Rolls-Royces engine Cars Ltd. a part BMW of the company is since 2000.
• The Rolls-Royces PLC, after conversion the by far largest part, manufactures engines and components for civilian and military aviation, the navigation and energy engineering.

History

Already in the spring 1904 engineer Henry Royce and the buyer Charles of roll united. They wanted to build cars together. To 15. They created March 1906 in Manchester the company Rolls-Royce Limited. As the first model the Silver Ghost (1906-1925) on a public automobile fair in London was introduced. It cost at that time 305 Pound. The vehicle provided the call for the enterprise to build the best automobile of the world. The Silver Ghost worked satisfactorily also in the military employment. Since 1911 it carried the legendary "Spirit OF Ecstasy as radiator figure ", a winged woman shape. During the world economic crisis Rolls-Royce 1931 took over the competitor Bentley, which was in economic difficulties. From now on Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles were identical in many details. Since 1914 Rolls-Royce built also aircraft engines, which constituted the largest part of the business activity with models like the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine soon. During the Second World War were approx. 50 per cent of the airplanes of the allied ones with Rolls-Royce engines equipped. After the war also jet and turbo-props were manufactured. With the assumption of Bristol Siddeley in the year 1966 had Rolls-Royce the most comprehensive engine program of the world.

1946 were shifted automobile production after Crewe and it developed the models:

• Silver Dawn (1949-1955)
• Silver Cloud (1955-1966)
• Phantom VI (1968-1994)
• Silver Shadow (1965-1976 and/or 1980 as Silver Shadow II), to a large extent identically to the Bentley T. the Silver Shadow was with 29,025 copies the usually-sold Rolls-Royce. The Silver Shadow was built until 1976 also in one around 10cm extended version and offered with the additive "Long Wheel cousin". Starting from 1977 the extended version "Silver Wraith II" was called.
• Corniche (1970-1994) the Corniche was offered as Coupe and as Cabrio ("Corniche Convertible").
• Camargue (1975-1991)
• Silver Shadow II (1977-1980)
• Silver Wraith II (1977-1980), those around 10cm extended version of the Silver Shadow II.
• Silver Spirit (1980-1994), to a large extent identically to the Bentley Mulsanne.
• Silver trace (1981-1994), those around 10cm extended version of the Silver Spirit.

Were used V8-Maschinen with 6,2 and 6,75 litres capacity.

Until 1998 Rolls-Royce refused making PS-Angaben and was content with the reference, it is "sufficient" achievement available, so at least in England. In Germany indication of HP was since a jeher component of the vehicle letter.

Often the cars with failed special equipments were wished, for example to a bath tub or a piano.

1971 announced Rolls-Royce bankruptcy, since the development of a three-wave engine for the Lockheed L-1011 tri star fell her into financial difficulties. The British government prevented the collapse at a large expenditure of tax fundses, i.e. Rolls-Royce was put under state control, and separated 1973 the engine manufacturer from the car manufacturer. The car manufacturer firmierte now under the name Rolls-Royce engine Cars and the engine manufacturer after the denationalization 1987 as Rolls-Royce PLC. 1980 were taken over Rolls-Royce engine Cars by the arms company Vickers. 1998 wanted to sell Vickers Rolls-Royce engine Cars and everything spoke for an addition for BMW, since BMW already supplied engines for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. However BMW von Volkswagen was over-bid; Volkswagen took over Rolls-Royces. Now however Rolls-Royce PLC, which still possessed the rights at the label name Rolls-Royce, wanted to pass these on not at Volkswagen, but at BMW, since they manufactured airplane engines with BMW together (BMW Rolls-Royces). Volkswagen did not possess now the work and the rights at "the Spirit OF Ecstasy "however at the name the Rolls-Royces. Therefore it was agreed upon that starting from 2003 Rolls-Royces and Bentley should be separated, and Volkswagen Bentley kept, BMW however Rolls-Royces to take over should.

Piston engines

Roll Royce was also one of the most important aircraft engine manufacturers. In a whole set of engines the line of development was continued over 30 years.

• Rolls-Royce Buzzard
• Rolls-Royce CONDOR
• Rolls-Royce Crecy
• Rolls-Royce Eagle
• Rolls-Royce Falcon
• Rolls-Royce Goshawk
• Rolls-Royce Griffon
• Rolls-Royce Hawk
• Rolls-Royce Kestrel
• Rolls-Royce Merlin
• Rolls-Royce Peregrine
• Rolls-Royce R
• Rolls-Royce Vulture

Rolls-Royce engine Cars

Current model

Rolls-Royce phantom (2003)

In the year 2003 BMW presented first self-developed Rolls-Royces after the assumption. The model phantom possesses a likewise again-developed 6.75 litre of V12 engine. The body from aluminum is welded together by hand in most modern space Frame building method. In the large Bentleymodellen use finds and comes 8 cylinders with same capacity size, blocked up to then, today with two turbochargers still equipped in the origin from the 50's.

Different building groups phantom develop in German locations BMW Group, so for example the entire body in the aluminum authority center BMW of the work Dingolfing or the V12 in the work Munich. The entire assembly and individualizing take place however in the new work in the British Goodwood.

While 2003 approx. 300 cars for at least 320,000 euro the way to their customers found, there was 2005 of accurately 796 copies. One had calculated original with 1.000 sales per year.

The interior equipment was revised 2005 and supplemented among other things by "division the barrier Package". Apart from the already sumptuous characteristics like an umbrella in the door now also a DVD and a TV-Entertainmentsystem swinging out from the roof sky are in series available. Besides the driving, if it orders the optional friction disk, can converse by means of a folding module with the driver. Still most vehicles leave the work with very individual extras beyond the standard.

Radiator figure "The Spirit OF Ecstasy"

Since 1911 the grill each Rolls-Royce a winged radiator figure ziert.

Lord John walter Edward Scott Montagu, at that time publishers of "The Car", left itself from his friend, who sculptors Charles Sykes, for its private Rolls-Royce a radiator figure to arrange. Mental model may have been a statue of the goddess Nike von Samothrake. In the real life however its secretary (and probably loving) stood for Eleanor "Emily" Velasco Thornton for the sculpture model, which the artist "The Whisper" (whispering) called. The idea of the lord hit; each driver wanted to have now a radiator figure.

Lord Montagu arranged the order of Rolls-Royces for Sykes to arrange a radiator figure. The result resembled "The Whisper" much, which does not surprise particularly, since again "Emily" Thornton model stood. The figure "Spirit OF speed" should be called original, but this name appeared Rolls-Royce as un-English Prahlerei. Therefore one called the radiator figure "Spirit OF Ecstasy".

Henry Royce did not like radiator figures. They were in its eyes of fashionable Schnick Schnack, which disturbed the lines of its cars. The order for organization had been assigned, when it was not illness for the sake of in the company. At its personal Rolls-Royce no radiator figure was normally installed.

Eleanor Thornton should not experience the success of the figure any longer. Lord Montagu had transferred a command to India and accompanied her him. Their ship was torpediert on 30 December 1915 in close proximity to Crete and sank. Eleanor Thornton did not survive the shipwreck. Lord Montagu was likewise considered dead, but saved some days later.

Each radiator figure is manufactured individually in the lost-wax process, therefore the copies exhibit minimum differences.

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