Coachbuilding the Carmarge

The Rolls Royce Carmarge is an interesting car, where it was designed a Bentley and out of 530 ever made, only one was actually a Bentley. All the others were Rolls Royce cars.

This one is a bit different however.




Yes they have chopped off the roof. See another convertible and the only Bentley Carmargue in a previous post here.



The wheels are been updated. These are reproduction plastic hubcaps, but they do look good. They occasionally appear on ebay.



The front headlights have also been modified. Instead of the Bentley twin round headlights, the car has been fitted with more Rolls Royce like square headlights. They look very similar to Silver Spirit lamps.



This is the same car a number of years before sporting different wheels.



I think Pininfarina would approve of a convertible Carmargue.

Bentley Hooper Empress II

A picture has popped up again.

It is the Bentley Hooper Empress II. VIN SCBZSOT00FCH13832. One of only six built.

For an updated indepth market wrap on the Bentley Hooper Empress II and the three that are currently for sale, have a look at the link here.



For more on Hooper & Co (Coachbuilders) Ltd click here.

Spotted again in Monaco. Modern coachbuilding at its most brutal.

Picture courtesy (YO)

Richard Straman Convertible

Richard Straman Coachworks in Costa Mesa, California is best known for its Ferrari convertible conversions. Over the last few decades they have been taking the can opener to all sorts of cars.



The 70's and 80's saw R Straman cutting Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona's and even more recently with the Ferrari 456 GT.



In 1983 Straman also coachbuilt this Silver Spirit.



Straman hoped to build about five cars a year at $225,000 dollars, but it is unknown just how mant were manufactured.



It is a proper conversion with subframe rigidity additions, extended front doors, rear quarter windows and a fully electric roof.



Hopefully some newer pictures of this car or others converted by Straman will appear.



For a 1983 Autocar article take a look here.

Pictures and info (Bram Corts of 1980extremetuning)

Rolls Royce Phantom V State Landaulette

Here is something very special.

Between the 16 to the 18 of February 1975 Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth triangulated around Bermuda. Yes Bermuda. I'm not been a galah. It happened, and its recorded at her website here.

What is a bit exciting is that she rode around in VIN 5LVF113. That translates to a 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom V State Landaulette. I would thumb a lift.

Here is video footage from a Rolls Royce spotter. Sadly its not a talkie.

Now disembarking from the plane and entering the Rolls Royce Phantom V State Landaulette.

The car in itself is an occasion.

Flying Brown Spur by Mansory

The cliché is that you can tell a person by their customised car.

This one is a hard one to judge. Call they psychologist.



It is a Bentley Continental Flying Spur Mansory FS 63 well, in brown. Different.



This car certainly flies around the continent as it should, and have been spotted in Germany and France plenty of times.

The following photos were taken by a www.autogespot.com user Emil in France in August 2007.



Nice Bentley Spotting Emil.

The company Mansory virtually do a complete rebuild of the car and customise most aspects and the interior and exterior, as well as souping up the engine. Not that it needs it.



This time spotted at a different location.





It certainly would be a surprising sight. I would grab the camera.





And again.



At dusk the colour takes on a more menacing look.



I do think it is a winner. Very risky, but so Bentley. I sound like a marketing guy.



The car does ooze confidence.



Pictures (Emil from www.Autogespot.com, webfinds)

Continential Bentley Badge

I do like looking a pictures of Bentley Continentals. 208 were made in total.

One can find out so much information about these beautiful cars at The Continental Register.

Here is a classic example. It is registration number NYF 575. Lets see what they have in the database.



Registration Number: NYF 575
Chassis Number: BC15B
Present Owner: Jane Clark
Acquisition Date: 01 October 1999
Country: GB
Engine No: BCB 14
Type: 4.5
Gearbox: Manual
Coachwork: H J Mulliner
Body Type: Fastback
No: 5561
Original Colour/Trim: Smoke Green / Grey Green
Current Colour/Trim: Smoke Green / Grey Green



Road Test Date: 10 July 1953
Weight: 3934 Lbs
Delivered: 28 July 1953
Selling Agent: Jack Barclay Ltd.
Previous Owners :
Clark, Hon. Alan England
01 January 1982
Silcock, D. G. England
01 September 1961
White, S. B. England
15 July 1958
Riley, W. G. England
28 July 1953
Miscellaneous Information:
R-R kneeling Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. Bluemel steering wheel. Instrument board with centre speaker, 2 cup holders, altimeter and stop watch. Small tools in o/s door. Thermos flasks and tumblers in n/s door. Pocket in rear seat for umbrella.



What I like is the badge. I never knew that there was a special Bentley Continental badge.



Change the B to a T and you have a new car!

Picture courtesy (djanvers) Info (The Continental Register)

Rolls Royce or Bentley Ragtop

So you are in the market for a convertible.

A new one, you want that new car smell.

Two considerations are on the market.



A Rolls Royce or Bentley.

Picture courtesy (Autocar)

Bentley State Limousine Interior

The Bentley State Limousine is a very special car.

These are very high resolution pictures that show great detail. Click to enlarge.



Two were made, as well as a clay model. More can be read about the car here.



What is a treat is to have a bow peep at the interior. Where the Queen actually sits. Notice that the colour of the front and rear interior are different. Very interesting. The top of the door sill is very large, part of the security measures on the car.



Now for the cockpit. Worn leather gloves included. I have never seen a Bentley interior like it!



Pictures (wiki)

Rusty Shadow

Only on ebay. Item number: 270207348929

Ad reads "E-BAY'S CHEAPEST ROLLS ROYCE!"



You can kind of tell why. The condition is just not quite pristine.



Got some rust around wheel arches, pretty standard for the year.



Interior is shabby chic. 1970's style.





Features angular boot.



Held down by rope.



Nice. Seller wants 500 quid for it.

The New Rolls Royce

Last week the first spy shots of the new Rolls Royce that Goodwood calls the Rolls Royce 4 were spotted, and reported on along with other Experimental cars here.

This week the world oldest car magazine Autocar has much better spy shots of a full bodied new Rolls Royce that was caught testing in Munich.



The story about the car from Autocar can be found here.



The full gallery of photos of the car at Autocar is here.

What I have done is given you a bit of a treat of what the car will actually look like when you buy it.

How you say? Photoshop. I have taken this image and analysed it a bit.



So yes, the grill is in the style of the Phantom DHC, slightly more angular than the Phantom, most likely due to crash regulations with pedestrians. The rear doors are rear hinged with some added plastic bits trying to hide it, the third window is a bit of a guess, but I think something is hidden and a third window makes the car more balanced.

The headlights are the tricky bit. What is exposed it too large to be the LED style Phantom Coupe lights, so I have added the standard Phantom lights to the car.

A little bit of chrome and some proper Rolls Royce wheels finished off the visual additions to this experimental car.

Here is visually what I have added to the Autocar photo. It looks a bit spooky.



Now here is the final result of what the new Rolls Royce could look like.

Click to enlarge.



I was going to add a coach line down the side, but the rear wheels arch gets in the way. Lets see how that turns out in 2010 when the car is released.

Pictures courtesy (Autocar)