The Sunshine State

So the sun does in fact shine in Florida....

This Regency Bronze Silver Shadow II appears to be only Silver Shadow/T at the Orlando meet today.

(Posted by David Irvine - thanks to Rodd for the shots)

Take the Blue Train...

 Ahhh, the famous 'Blue Train' race from Calais to the French Riviera in which 'Bentley Boy' Woolf Barnato beat the train in his Bentley Speed 6. 

Barnato actually used a formal bodied Speed 6 for the journey but when he took delivery of a fastback model the same year, that car was named the 'Blue Train' car.

But the fastback makes the story more glamorous....

In 2006 there was a special edition of thirty six Bentley Arnages to commemorate that trip. Thirty LHD & six RHD.

Nineteen inch alloys, chrome grille shell, chrome mirror caps, sunroof, picnic tables, special badging...to name a few features.

A wet one is at the Orlando meet.

Interesting, indeed.

Oh, my...

The PERFECT number plate.....

"Only those in the know will understand..." (David Irvine's famous comment his own 1800TU number plate)

Impress the owner. Tell him you understand his plate.

(Posted by that same David Irvine - the last three photos by Rodd Sala)

The Big Box

Remember buying your first die cast Rolls-Royce? You walked out of Hamley's and everyone could see what you had picked up just by seeing the box.

Yeah, I still pick up the odd one.

In Orlando yesterday this big box appeared.

Not hard to guess what's in this one....

A 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, perhaps?

And two very happy owners.

And their cat.

I think this is the unboxed car (forgive me if I am wrong) :

Very cool....

(Posted by avid Irvine and thanks to Rodd for the photos)

Wet, Wet, Wet....

Live from Orlando.

Oh yeah, "Love is all around us..."

But it's wet in Orlando!

Cary Grant's former Cloud III and a splendid velvet green Camargue are getting rained on in Florida.

Does it really rain in Florida?

Here's the Cary Grant car on Ebay. Read the story. Very interesting...

Rolls-Royce : Other - Silver Cloud III : Left Hand Drive

				Rolls-Royce : Other - Silver Cloud III : Left Hand Drive US $235,000.00 Used in eBay Motors, Cars & Trucks, Rolls-Royce
				View on www.ebay.com	Preview by Yahoo

(Posted by David Irvine)

Hooper Phantom V and Friends

My spy is at the RROC National meet in Orlando, Florida this week sending me photos.

This is an interesting car.

It's a one- off 1959 Rolls-Royce Phantom V limousine designed by Osmond Rivers and built by Hooper & Co.

It was the 1959 Earl's Court Motor Show car and became Sierra Leone's London Embassy car.

I really don't think she should be wearing the 'FLYING B' plate, though....

Sighhhh...I wish I was there....

(Posted by David Irvine - thanks to Rodd for the photos)

ZebRRa

A very cool 'flickr' photo by Autoscaph.

What more can I say...?

Here's the same Silver Cloud III in a normal view.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Bentley Golf

A  Bentley Turbo R  that Flying Spares is dismantling.

In their words:

Pictured as it arrived, what can we say about this example? Originally a Turbo R, we believe it to be an abandoned project with suggestions that it was once intended to convert it into a two door coupe, amongst other things. It is said that the rear end was removed to create a piece of furniture and yet parts of the engine appear to have been finely detailed. We plan to salvage what we can, then throw the rest of it away.

I'm thinking it was to be a four door hatchback, not a two door coupe.

Can you imagine the finished project...?

Interesting.

"Anyone wanna finish it...?"

Bentley Turbo R - FSD249

				Bentley Turbo R - FSD249 Home > Bentley Turbo R - FSD249 Bentley Turbo R - FSD 249 Right hand drive Bentley Turbo R in Light Blue.
				View on www.flyingspares.com	Preview by Yahoo

(Posted by David Irvine)

XCar on the Bentley Continental GT: W12

I really like the production quality of XCAR videos. They do such a good job.

Here is a great review of the W12 engine, including a bit of history.



Yes, people need to get over that VW owns Bentley and BMW owns Rolls-Royce and these cars are 'brands' in their stables.

Smile and smell the SUV and 2 seater coming in the Bentley range, and that Rolls-Royce is making a 4x4.

Dead Cat

WARNING: This post may not be suitable for cat lovers! 

 

Anglia Car Auctions has a low mileage Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II on offer at their 4th April sale.

 

 

Supplied new by Jack Barclay in July 1977, it has covered just 28,000 miles from new and is finished in a very seventies combination of willow. gold paint with a tan savoy velvet interior. 

 

 

 

Within the comprehensive history file is a letter from Jack Barclay to Rolls-Royce Motors explaining their client had refused to accept delivery of the car.

 

The reason? It seems the originally fitted honey gold lambs wool rugs reminded him of a a "dead moggy"! Certaintly preferable to smelling like a dead moggy....

 

It seems the customer (was as always) right as it was subsequently resupplied with brown rugs.

 

 

More details of the car can be found here: http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/en/classic-auctions/latest-classic-car-catalogue/saturday-4th-april-2015/1977-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-ii/

 

Happy bidding!

 

 

Bentley at the Australian Grand Prix

A lot of Australians today will be checking out some W.O. Bentleys.

Why? Well the annual Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix drivers parade will feature classic Bentley and Delage automobiles.

So what's the local boys car going to be?

Well Australian Daniel Riccardo will be driven around in this.

Good to go for the @ausgp @danielricciardo! #AusGP #F1DownUnder #Bentley #Driversparade #RaceDay

A photo posted by Greg Rust (@thrusta1) on Mar 14, 2015 at 1:29pm PDT

It's a 1924 3 Litre Chassis number 668 engine number 677.

For those who want to check them out "These cars are on display for you to photograph in Legends Lane near Gate 1 and the Fangio Grandstand when these are not on track."

I might have to go down for a look.

Interesting enough Bentley is a sponsor of the GP this year and have set up a Bentley Studio.

Working for The Bentley studio this weekend at the Melbourne Grand Prix ! #ausgp #F1 #bentley

A photo posted by Emma Victoria Lane (@emmavictorialane) on Mar 13, 2015 at 11:35pm PDT

I might try and find that this afternoon. Off to catch a Tram to Albert Park.

Time Travel Spots

Team Bentley Spotting has been Rolls-Royce Spotting in the 1960s…

 

1966 and 1967 to be precise.

 

And no, we have not discovered the secret to travel in time.

 

But searching eBay does sometimes yield interesting finds from bygone years.

 

Most of the photos have brief details…

 

This first car was photographed in Hove, Sussex in 1966:

 

 

The rest were photographed at Oulton Park, Hampshire in 1967:

 

No other information given for this one:

 

  

Registration KW2084, which according to Rick Ford is a 1927 Rolls-Royce 20HP Maddox Coupe, chassis # GAJ27: http://www.rick-ford.co.uk/cgi-bin/easysys.pl?prc=dbpage&usr=~GUEST&sig=78&arg0=220

 

 

Registration EOE800, a 1938 Rolls-Royce 25/30HP:

 

 

Registration PP8442, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost described as being painted in yellow

 

 

And finally, for now, registration 4257CO, a Rolls-Royce 25/30HP:

 

 

Let us know if you have more information.

Granny's Phantom

Oh dear me.....

I don't like this.

My Granny loved needlepoint.

Pretty doilies....

Pretty tea cups.

"More tea Vicar?"

Yes, Messrs. Rolls and Royce did supply chassis for cars that would indeed end up with interesting interiors.

But that was a hundred years ago.

That stuff does NOT work on a modern car...

I guess Goodwood got somebody's Granny into the styling department for the day.....

Sorry, I don't like the new 'Serenity' edition Phantom.

My Granny would've...

RRMC quotes : "Serenity sets a new benchmark for luxury individualization in the motor industry"

"Embodying tranquility and offering sanctuary for reflection, the Serenity Phantom takes its inspiration from the idyllic and artistic gardens of Japan....."

"...Complete with blossom motif to signify the the position of the owner and the chauffeur...."

"...continuing the theme of ultimate luxury, hand painted intricately weaved silks, smoked cherrywood with bamboo cross banding and laser cut hand applied mother of pearl inlays combine to reinforce the rear compartment of the Phantom as the most tranquil place to be, a place where time and the outside world will simply slip past....."

Just like my Granny's house.

No thanks.

Posted by David Irvine)

Sorry, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, that's a first for me....