BENTLEY SPOTTING

It's the Rolls-Royce of Bentley websites.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Rural 1930's England Bus


There's a rather interesting rural English bus on Ebay.
 
 
 
 
It's a Rolls-Royce, not a Bedford or a Leyland as one may expect.
Not sure of its origin but can you imagine that wealthy rural village's other vehicles?
 
 
 
The local fire engine:
 
 
The local ambulance:
 
 
The village police car (well, there is a police man standing beside it)  :
 
 
The local doctor (the 'Twenty' - known as the Doctors' Car.)
 
 
The local grocer's van:
 
 
 
The local ice cream man:
 
 
The local garage breakdown lorry:
 
 
The local pub parking lot :
 
 
 
 
 
The local army reserve (similar to the police car- only green)  :
 
 
The local automobile club's all weather car:
 
 
 
The local caravan park:
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Town hall:
 
 
 
 
And of course, the undertaker:
 
 
 
 
(posted by David Irvine) 
 

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Rolls-Royce at Crewe in 1995

Here are some very rare videos of inside the Factory at Crewe in 1995.

Rolls-Royce Motors Cars was in its dark days. They had been pumping out the same Silver Spirit car for 15 years and the bean counters had started to count.

Keeping up with the Jones's did not quite seem to happen on the production front, and you can tell in the videos.

Even the commentary mentions the changes to the management style of the production line.

Quite unusual for a promotional video, but quite telling that they mention that there are now 'teams' with no supervisors and areas have collective responsibility with no inspectors.

First video - the production of the engine.



Then the wood and leather. It's pretty funny that in 1995 they still say that sewing is ladies work.



Now the radiator.



I think we all need to thank the Royal Family of Brunei for spending multiple millions of pounds at Crewe that kept the factory going during this period.

Just think, at this time just off camera the Mulliner Park Ward Bespoke Projects division was building four wheels drives and plenty of Estate cars and hard top convertibles all for Brunei.

Thank you Prince Jefri for your unique ways.

Monday, December 26, 2011

My Bentley's New Shoes

So this is how my first car I ever purchased looked like. An 1989 Bentley Turbo R in acrylic larkspur blue.

As it is Christmas, what better thing to do than buy my new Bentley a present!



And what is simply the best and hardest to find present to give to any 1980-90s Bentley?

A set of alloy wheels of course - some new shoes!

I first fished around in the UK from the likes of Flying Spares and Phantom Motors for the exact ones I wanted.

But then to my surprise I managed to purchase my most favourite set of Bentley alloys from my home town of Melbourne!

Here they are. The biggest alloys Bentley ever made in the 1990s, they are 18" by 9.5" rims.



A big thank you to Nick Lang from Ekberg & Lang, Australia's largest pre-owned RR&B specialists, for helping me locate a set - much appreciated Nick.

These wheels are mainly seen on the Bentley Continental T, as well as some very high specification and special cars.



They were also standard on the Bentley RT Mulliner, one of my most favourate cars. That's probably why I like them so much.

Bentley Turbo RT

So here is my Bentley at the cobbler getting some new shoes for Christmas.



Trolley jacks are so much easier than the ratchet jack in my boot!



The wheels currently have black centre caps - I'll have to change them to red to match the Turbo R badges sometime.



First shoe fitted! Onto the second one.



Now to the other side.



To my surprise, there was still some original green paint on the front callipers. You never know, these may end up painted red one day.



Now the finished product!

I really, really do like them.

Down by the beach the car looks great. I quite like this photo, the colours and lines look nice.



The Bentley also looks good in the city of Melbourne, with the obligatory tram in the background and trees and sunshine.




So here is the side by side, before and after pictures.

First with the standard wheels.



Then with the new wheels. I think the composition and colours of the comparison shots are onto it, considering these are just dodgy iPhone pics.



The alloys really do totally change the look of the car.

The car has gone from looking like my Dad's car, to looking like my car. Exactly what I wanted.

I'm still totally amazed that I have the exact Bentley within the VIN number range that I have always wanted, and now with the alloys that I have always dreamed of having.

You can kind of tell that I have not got my first Bentley Service Bill Shock yet can't you. Honeymoon period of Bentley Turbo R ownership continues.

And yes, I still have the standard Turbo R alloys, so I can change back at any time.

Royal Bentley Rendering

Here is the rendering of the Royal Bentley.

I certainly do like this car.



Now the video of the first outing by the Queen in her new Bentley.

Rolls Royce vs Maybach

The Times does a good comparison of the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Maybach 62.



I think they certainly came to the correct conclusion.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

Have a great Christmas!



I hope a few lucky people find a Bentley under the tree.



Or maybe a Rolls-Royce.



Photos by Rolls-Royce Vancouver, Rodd Sala, vf americars models and Rolls-Royce Motors.



(Posted by David Irvine)

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Bentley Continental GT V8 launch in Japan

Here is the launch of the Bentley Continental GT V8 in Japan.

It's 14 minutes that you will never get back if you watch it all.

The joy of a South African accent followed by a Japanese translation going into way, way too much detail.

But suppose that is a little Japanese.

The presenter tries to stay awake, but his iPad goes to sleep a few times probably from boredom.



You were warned.

Early W.O. Bentley Meet

This is indeed an early W.O. Bentley meet up.

What are you thinking? A weekend cruise ending in a show and shine competition? Maybe.

This photo was taken on the 25 March 1927 in Cannes.



I'm sure the Bentley boys are having fun!

This photo was published in Autocar.

Ghost Extended Wheelbase launch in Mumbai

Rolls-Royce is also quite good with their light shows.

I presume that this is a high power projector playing a movie and they use the car as the screen.



It is quite affective.

Pity about the journalists getting in front of the shot.

Rolls-Royce at Santa Pod

Never mind Santa Claus

From Autoblog:

"As much as we wish Santa was bringing us the world's fastest Rolls-Royce this Christmas, it's actually the slightly less popular Santa, Santa Pod, that's doing the providing.

The famous drag strip hosted the certified world's fastest Rolls-Royce, at its Flame and Thunder Event.



Built by British company WG Racing and driven by Matthew Wright, it's based on a 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow and took ten months to build from the stock car.

In that time, its value has accelerated beyond belief, and it's now worth £120,000.



Acceleration, of course, is its particular strength: it will hit 60mph in 1.5 seconds, and on a recent run at Santa Pod hit 175mph during a quarter-mile run, whizzing past the line in 7.94 seconds."



(Posted by David Irvine)

Friday, December 23, 2011

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud entering Afghanistan

It is always fun to go on a driving adventure.

Like this photo of a good looking Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud entering Afghanistan.



Not quite sure if it would be recommended to do this today. Or maybe you do want to go on an adventure!

Russian Rolls-Royce advertisement

Not that I can read it, but here is a period Russian Rolls-Royce advertisement.



Buy one!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Tron Bentley Continental GT

This is the lunch of the new Bentley Continental GT in Dubai.

Quite an amazing light show. Especially if you have seen the film Tron.



Music by Daft Punk.

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Jay Leno's Bentley Mulsanne

Here is Jay Lemo talking about the Bentley Mulsanne.

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Rolls-Royce Phantom Hearse

Take a look at this sneak peek.

Yep, it is an upcoming Rolls-Royce Phantom Hearse. I think the first to be made in the world.



This special car is soon to be released by Italian coachbuilder Biemme Special Cars.

A big thank you and merry Christmas to Nicola for sending in the sneak peek.

Top Gear Christmas Special - To India!

On the 28 December BBC2 will broadcast the Top Gear Christmas Special, where the boys go to India!

Can't wait to how James May's 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow holds up.



They look like truck tyres!



"...and bless this heavenly Roller with fully-functioning self-levelling suspension and an adequate cooling system..."



Wow.



Sneak peek here.

Lennon's Rolls-Royce

John Lennon's Rolls-Royce Phantom is a popular car. But quite expensive.

I think it used to be the highest priced car ever paid for at an auction for quite some time.

These photographs were taken at Expo '86 in Vancouver B.C. Canada.

John Lennon's Rolls Royce

I do like period photos.

John Lennon's Rolls Royce

So what do you do if you want the same experience?

Well you can always paint your own Rolls-Royce in the same style.

These gentleman did it to their Silver Spirit.

They Must Be British

I do like that none of them are wearing and tops and mostly likely are very drunk.

Keep up the good work chaps.

Some in car deportment tips

I have been driving a few mates around over the last few days.

Nothing like brushing up on your in car deportment.



Especially going through Maccas drive through.

This is probably a re-post but I'm not fussed.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Stretched

There are not too many of these home made jobs around.

But I expect to see a lot more privateer American style stretch limos of the Rolls-Royce Phantom as prices drop towards $100K.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Stretched limo

I like the effort, but would have suggested with a slightly raised roof in the extention. And the colour?

Review of the Rolls-Royce Phantom in French

Here is a nice review of the Rolls-Royce Phantom in French.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph Stretched

There is something that you do not see everyday.

A Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph stretched limousine.

Rolls Royce Limo

I dont't really think this one is approved by Crewe, but I like it any way.

Thank you America.

Lord Mayor of London's Phantom

I very much appreciate it when office holders do not get rid of ceremonial cars.

Like the Lord Mayor of London's Phantom. How great it is that it is kept and used.

Lord Mayor's [of London] Office

It's always an event too see cars like this, and they are an asset to the community. People do appreciate them.

LMO

Just like in 1977 when David Irvine spotted that same car.



There is always the argument that it is better for the environment to keep an older car going, not even mentioning the heritage value.

I like it.

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