| Rolls Royce was conceived in 1904, over lunch in a | | | | vehicles being produce at this time would not have |
| Manchester Hotel. The meeting involved Henry | | | | been able to manage such a journey. It was in 1907 |
| Edmunds, who was an engineer, Charles Rolls a | | | | that the publication Autocar, described the Rolls Royce |
| founder member of the RAC and keen car enthusiast | | | | Silver Ghost as the “best car in the world”, |
| and Henry Royce, who was also a successful | | | | which is a term that has been associated with Rolls |
| engineer, who had been making plans for a prototype | | | | Royce even to this day. |
| car. Henry Edmunds had decided to introduce Rolls to | | | | Over the years Rolls Royce has continued to build |
| Royce, as he knew that the two men would benefit | | | | luxury vehicles, many of which have gone on to |
| from a meeting with one another. | | | | become famous, such as John Lennon's Phantom V. |
| At the conclusion of the meeting it was agreed that | | | | The car was originally delivered in 1965 in black, |
| C.S Rolls and Co, would be the sole dealership selling | | | | however, during the making of Sergeant Pepper, John |
| as many vehicles that Royce could be produced. | | | | decided to have the car painted in scrolls and flowers |
| Royce was known to be a man who would pay great | | | | by a team of barge designers, which happened to |
| attention to detail and was already an accomplished | | | | upset a lot of Rolls Royce fans. Another famous Rolls |
| engineer, who had registered his first patent, a bayonet | | | | Royce car, can be seen in the James Bond movie |
| lamp socket in 1887. In typical Royce fashion, he | | | | Goldfinger. In the movie, where the bad guy Auric |
| decided to improve upon his first car, a decauville and | | | | Goldfinger, employs Odd Job to drive him around in a |
| decided that he would go on to build some of the best | | | | 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom III. |
| cars in the world. By 1904 Royce had designed and | | | | The modern fleet of Rolls Royce vehicles are still |
| built his first prototype motor car engine, which took to | | | | associated with reliability and prestige and have |
| the road. | | | | remained a firm favourite with rock stars, business |
| Royce went on to design the 40/50 HP motorcar, | | | | tycoons or for use as wedding cars. The latest |
| which was introduced in 1907. The Commercial | | | | vehicles to roll off the production line are the Rolls |
| Managing Director for Rolls Royce, Claude Johnson, | | | | Royce Ghost and Rolls Royce Phantom. Although |
| decided to use a 40/50 HP as a demonstrator vehicle. | | | | they share the same pedigree as the earlier Rolls |
| The vehicle ended up being the 12th 40/50HP to roll | | | | Royce models, the technology behind the modern |
| off the production line and was painted aluminium silver, | | | | vehicles is light years apart from the early Silver Ghost. |
| with silver-plated fittings. Due to the quietness of the | | | | Despite the current economic climate Rolls Royce |
| vehicle it was named the “Silver Ghost”. The | | | | vehicle sales have soared in the United States by an |
| name stuck and it was during this year that the vehicle | | | | amazing 67% over the last year. Due to the fact that |
| proved time and time again, that it really was an | | | | so few vehicles are produced in the UK, it is possible |
| incredibly reliable motorcar. During this year the Silver | | | | to practically get a Rolls Royce made to order. |
| Ghost completed a return, London to Glasgow journey | | | | Perhaps it is this exclusivity, that is the companies |
| 27 times, which was quite a feat, as most motor | | | | secret to success. |