2010 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Concept

Ok, low quality photoshop images of future cars are always interesting to look at.

Lets quote Rumsfeld on uncertainty. 'As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know.'



According to winding road this is the 2010 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Maybe.

Bentley Spy Photos

The Lehmann Photo-Syndication is renowned for getting the first spy photos of new cars well before they go into production.

This photograph hit the net well well before the Bentley Continental Flying Spur was released. I recall that is was only a little while after the Bentley Continental GT was sold.

It is now interesting the comparison between the first spy photo and the real thing. The spy shot is oh so similar.

Here is the spy photograph.



Now take a look at the real thing.



The rear door arch has been changed significantly. The door line is on the actual Flying Spur is more rounded and limousine type than sedan type of the spy photo.

Everything else is pretty much the same. My guess is that it was an initial test vehicle. Interesting.

Mulberry vs Phantom

As discussed earlier here, it would have been unbelievable if one was to say that in 25 years time a pair of Lobb shoes are more expensive to buy that the Bentley T2 parked out the front in this Rolls Royce car division press photo.

Believe it. A pair of Lobb shoes are now more expensive to purchase than the Bentley.



It is with surprise that Rolls Royce has done it again. This time they have parked a Rolls Royce Phantom outside the front of Mulberry.



Do I dare predict that in 25 years time a Mulberry handbag will be more expensive than the Rolls Royce Phantom?

It is a maybe. Fossil fuel decline, ban on polluting cars, no car older than 10 years on the road - they are all possible pieces of legislation.

But I really do not think that the Phantom will be worth anywhere near this yacht ever.

The Freestone and Webb Bentley S

Bentley spotting has featured a video of the Freestone and Webb Bentley S, as well as one rusting in a paddock down under.

Now here is the source.

The actual technical drawings from Freestone and Webb. In pencil. Early 1950's.

Design No. 3191/A. The Freestone & Webb Ltd Bentley S. Otherwise known as the Bentley S1 Empress.



Here are a few in the flesh.

A 1955 Model.



A 1956 Model - have a look at its stable- mates, a Silver Shadow and a Turbo R, its in Japan.



A 1957 Model



Now Design No. 3171/A. The Freestone & Webb Ltd Rolls Royce Silver Wraith.



A couple of examples.





Now the one in the paddock from before. This version really emphasises the the design around the headlights.



Most call this car the S1 Empress. However the '1' only came after the Bentley S2. There were further Bentley Empress cars, so this could be called the Bentley S1 Empress I, maybe.
Have a look at the very rare Bentley Empress III by Hooper, it was based on the Turbo R here.

La Malle-Auto de Louis Vuitton

I could go on and on about how Louis Vuitton was the first to attach
his trunks to the back of cars with leather straps all covered in the
iconic LV motive on brown with dull gold lettering.

I could also say that this is why Americans confuse the trunk for the boot.

I trunk is detachable and the porter takes it to your room. It is not part of the car. It's a travel case.

Here are some original advertisements of the period for La Malle-Auto de Louis Vuitton trunk.





It would be cool if one attached a trunk to a modern day car. A future photoshop job? I think so.

Here is a practical example where again an American has mistakenly used incorrect English, and has very much confused someone.

Can I say probably a Mexican? When translating into Spanish there was obviously an error. Place to trunk not in the trunk but on the roof. It's confusing.

What is one to do? How is one to do it? A solution. Take the truck apart and stick it to the roof.



That will work.

AX 147 and AX 148

AX201 is probably the most expensive and most photographed single car ever. It is the original Silver Ghost. Take a look here.



It was not the first Rolls Royce, there were a number before it.

Here is AX147 from 1905.



And AX148

The Bentley Turbo R V8

People are accustomed to seeing engines inside engine bays. It is not like you can buy a Bentley engine, say as you can a Chevy create engine. There is no box and packaging for the beast.

There is the general view on the Bentley Turbo R V8.



Now a closer view of the markings.



Now take a look at this Bentley Turbo R V8 outside the car. Suspended in mid air. The Bentley Turbo R V8.

Bentley Arnage Station Wagon Estate car

The coachbuilder Genaddi Design Group has been featured previously on Bentley Spotting with their Bentley GT/LM race car design here. It is unknown if any examples were built.

But this Bentley designed by Genaddi has definitely been photographed. Photos are all over the internet.

Here is a day in the life of probably the most recognised modern coachbuilt Bentley, the white Bentley Arnage Station Wagon. Or Estate car for proper English speakers.

The start of the day, leaving the house.



Down by the shops.



Loading the shopping.



Checking you have everything in the back.



Leaving the shops.



Going to the local fate.



Having a boe peep at the QE2.



Then going to Mum and Dad's house for tea.



A pleasant day.



But on a more serious note - what the hell is the point of the weird pull out wood platform that comes out of the back?



It's more hearse like than 'soccer mom' to me.

And the QE2 photo. Its a top good idea - but really, they should have turned the car around.

The car should face the stern not the bow.

It actually annoys me that I did it for them. Post production.

Here is the annoying photo.



Firstly, rub out the car.



Flip the estate around, reposition it, make it a little bigger, and vola. Much better.



Pictures courtesy (Genaddi Design Group)

Hyundai Chrome

Lets do some creative writing.

You want a new Bentley Continential GT. Smoke grey with chrome wheels. Real nice.

So you consult your partner. They insist on a cheap reliable Asian import, but reneg slightly and allow you to get a two door sporty model, as they know thats what you want.

Then you do out and buy the Bentley.

You then feel quilty, you should have bought the holiday house. You were meant to buy a car made by some company that also makes washing machines.

What do you do? Got it.

Lets rebadge the Bentley into a Hyundai and call it the Chrome. Done.

Here are the pictures.






Definitely one of those 'only in America' comments - actually 'only in California'.

That is how the story could go.

Dashing Through the Snow

Dashing through the snow,
I a 20 horse open slay,
All the fields we go,
Laughing all the way.



Simple amazing. I am presuming its a 20HP by the way. I'm probably wrong.






-----

Bentley spotting is back - but currently at dial up speeds, so do not expect high resolution Bentley images for the next week or so, till I finally get broadband.

Whilst not having the Internet for a month or so, I did spend some time playing, well painting with photoshop, and I am looking forward to posting Bentleys with modifications by me!

This first post is appropriate, as it is bloody cold in Canberra.