BENTLEY SPOTTING

It's the Rolls-Royce of Bentley websites.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Flying B for the boy and a Flying Lady for the lady.

So I think we all know who got married today, so lets take a look at the ceremonial cars from Crewe.

Well, the boy arrived in a flying B, the Bentley State Limousine.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Here is the video of the boy in his grandmother's Bentley leaving his house, then going to the Abbey to get married.



What is quite rare is that the Bentley State Limousine was appropriately configured for full ceremonial purposes.

Configured you may ask, how?

What is not that well known it that the Bentley State Limousine is actually a glassed Landaulet.

That is, that the rear of the car can be converted to a glass roof by removing external panels.

Lets take a look.

Here is the standard configuration of the Bentley State Limousine, noting the size of the rear window.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Now here is the car as it was configured for the Royal Wedding, in its converted state as a ceremonial Landaulet.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

This car is just so appropriate for this exact function.

If you are going to have millions of people watching you, have a car where you can configure it to have an excellent amount of light let in and great viewing from so many angles.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Like these from above, just look how huge the glass rear window actually is. It is so well designed to preform ceremonial functions like this.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Now to the Flying Lady on the lady's car.

The lucky lady borrowed her grandmother-in-law's 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI chassis # PGH101 for her big day.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Here is a video of her daddy taking her to the Abbey to marry the future King.



Now arriving at the Abbey, it certainly looks very nice.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

And guess what? The grandmother-in-law's older car was also appropriately configured for this ceremony.

That's right, it also is a glassed Landaulet, which gives amazing views of the occupants.



Here is the car in a significantly less ceremonial incident where it was appropriately configured in its standard way.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Very good work to the lads who bought this car back to its proper state for the world wide public to enjoy.

Now back to the Abbey. It is great to see the convertible in action. It is moments like these where it is the peoples turn to have a look and celebrate. The Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars just deliver in enabling people to see what is going on, whilst keeping the occupants protected from the elements, looking good in style and in comfort.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Now the video of the daddy and daughter arriving at the Abbey.



She does look stunning.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

With an appropriate mode of transport in the background of course.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

After the wedding I noticed something that I'm guessing not many people did, or in fact had any interest in what-so-ever - however I did, so I'm going to report it.


On the procession to Buckingham Palace from the Abbey, the principal dignitaries rode again appropriately in the horse drawn State carriages.

Here is the video.



Notice it? The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI was converted back into its standard configuration during the wedding!

The rear compartment external panels are now back in place, appropriately of course, as it does not contain the principal dignitaries.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

Where did they store them? In the boot of course.

Here is a diagram from the manual of Phantom VI chassis # PGH101 on how to store the panels in the boot of this car.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI

It's the details that make the British the best in the world at hosting ceremonies.

Good luck to the happy couple.

Then of course this happened.

The boy borrowed his Dad's car and drove his bride back to his house for presumably some after wedding action.

Bentley State Limousine Prince William and Catherine Royal Wedding Rolls Royce Phantom VI Aston Martin DB6

Here is the video from the Palace.



And from a news provider.



Again, British ceremonies are the best.

To the future King and Queen of Australia. Hopefully. Maybe.

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

In the words of Marinus Rijkers of the excellent site www.rrsilvershadow.com, "There are not many pictures available of the James Young models. The car is too rare for that. The total production was 50 cars, 35 of them being a Rolls-Royce and 15 a Bentley."

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

A previous post of January 17th 2008 on Bentley Spotting stated "In the late 1960's the RR&B dealer Jack Barclay persuaded coachbuilder James Young to make a 2 door Silver Shadow/Bentley T. He did, and a total of 50 cars were produced. There were 35 Silver Shadow and 15 Bentley T variants."

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

"It certainly is one collectible body type, and the rarest of the Silver Shadow Bentley T type cars that were produced in conjunction with the factory."

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

Well this James Young Silver Shadow 2 Door has turned up for sale currently on Ebay, chassis number CRH1264.

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

It has been modified - not distastefully, but not correct for that model. This car now sports 'modern' Silver Shadow II bumpers, vented wheel covers and a deeper Shadow II grille. The one off Pininfarina Bentley T had the same modification in later years, so it's no unheard of - simply upgrading.

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

I wouldn't do such a thing to such a rare car, but whoever did it might as well have gone all the way and given it the late model flared wheel arches. The rubber bumpers don't look right on non-flared cars - as in the 1973 American cars.

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

But I still like it.

Rolls Royce James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

Buy it here if you want to.

(Posted by David Irvine)

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Subtle Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 2 door by Hooper

This is of course a very subtle Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 2 door by Hooper.

It very much is a stealth car where no will notice you at all.



No added hormones, preservative, genetically modified material or artificial colours or elements at all.

Very pure.

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H.J. Mulliner & Co. Ltd Drg. No. 7410

Here is an image of H.J. Mulliner & Co. Ltd Drg. No. 7410.

That is the coachbuilders drawing of a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud Drop Head Coupe.



I have pulled out photoshop and tidied the image up a bit, and separated them for more clarity.

Side view.Now from above.And the three quarter angle.Go on, make your own now that you have the plans.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone

I do get excited when photos are the Royal Family of Brunei cars come to life.

Let's take a look at this car.

It is a Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone. This is the front of the car, taken from a Bertone catelogue a while ago.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone Sultan of Brunei

Now take a look at these shots. They look like Bertone imagery taken by the coachbuilder themselves.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone Sultan of Brunei

Two Rolls Royce Majestic cars were built, both in 1995. One carries the Brunei registration number plate BQ 7032 the other does not have a number plate.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone Sultan of Brunei

The cars are:

1995 Rolls-Royce Majestic SCAZH04A6SCH00023
1995 Rolls-Royce Majestic SCAZH04A8SCH00024

Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone Sultan of Brunei

The cars were built on the special ZH chassis like many of the other Sultan of Brunei coachbuilt cars, and both had 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbocharger, cross-bolted crankshaft, non catalyst engines, with active seat belts, were built in Crewe and were right hand drive.

I think that the chassis would have been built in Crewe, but this car would have been constructed by the coachbuilder.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Majestic by Bertone Sultan of Brunei

More on the Royce Family of Brunei or the Sultan of Brunei Rolls-Royce cars here.

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Gaines Wood Rolls-Royce Phantom

I really do appreciate people like Robert Gaines-Cooper who commissions body modifications to his new Phantom because presumably he likes the old ones better.
Rolls Royce Phantom Saloon modified for Gaines Cooper

Why not I say. Just look at the results. More details here.

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Rolls-Royce Camargue Limited

Here is the Rolls Royce Camargue Limited.

Rolls Royce Camargue Limited

It is limited, not only because it says it on the badge, but it is a limited or special edition run of just 12 cars.

Rolls Royce Camargue Limited

Why you may ask? Well luckily the plaque tells me so.

"The Camargue Limited Edition is one of 12 special motor cars built ro celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first sale of a Rolls-Royce in the United States."

Rolls Royce Camargue Limited

It actually does say 'Limited' on the badge which is slightly unusual.

Usually limited or special cars have a different coloured badge, not something else written on them.

Rolls Royce Camargue Limited

All 12 cars are to the same specification. White with red and white interior, colour coded bumpers and alloys.

Of the 12, not all have ended up staying in the United States. One has been spotted in Monaco here, one has come up for sale in Japan, and is pictured below.

Rolls Royce Camargue Limited

One was even made into a hard top convertible, but that is another story.

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Rolls-Royce 102EX

Here is a video from the Wall St Journal talking quite interestingly about the Rolls-Royce 201EX electric Phantom.



Electric Phantoms can made sense.

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Bentley Continental GT Heritage by Carface

Carface is a French car tuner that also has some involvement with yachts.

Here is some of their design sketches.

Bentley GT Carface Heritage - Bentley Spotting

With some more development.

Bentley GT Carface Heritage - Bentley Spotting

Now to the final product.

Bentley GT Carface Heritage - Bentley Spotting

They have only built one, and called it the Bentley Continental GT Heritage by Carface.

Bentley GT Carface Heritage - Bentley Spotting

Here is quite a good video of the details of the car. It has Kahn wheels with its bodykit, with the most interesting part being the centre mounted exhausts.



Now I like this. In the last scene in the video above you see a guy in a blue jumper videoing the car as it goes buy.

Want to see the guy again? Well you can, in the video below it was taken at the same time at the same place from a person standing next to the guy above.



Notice it? Same same.

Now if you ever wanted to see it in the snow, take a look at this video.

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Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

This interesting coachbuilt car has popped up for sale in Kiwiland on Trade Me, New Zealand's style of Ebay.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

After one has seen a few Rolls-Royce Silver Spur hearse's, straight away one knows the origin of this one. Take a look at some previously posted here if you have not.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

Yes, it is in the style of a Japanese hearse. Probably made by Moji.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

The seller says that it "apparently was built by Rolls Royce themselves rather than a coachbuilder outside the factory, This would make it a very very rare car."

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

Which of course made me laugh. I do like used car salesmen.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

But it gets better. "This information has not been confirmed so if its important to you then you would need to do some homework yourself."

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

Which even puts a bigger smile on my face.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

So the seller does not know something, claims something, then tells the prospective buyer to do some homework themselves. Right on.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

It is a sure fire way to want me to buy the car. How much?

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

He wants NZD$50000. Come on mate, you are never going to be able to sell it. And it's left hand drive!

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Hearse

I value it at about $12000 as a parts car. Nothing more. That is probably too much.

If you want it, buy it here.

Thanks to Jotesh for sending in the link.

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