C'est tres jolie

I've just found this photograph of a Phantom Coupe Series II on the web and though it worth sharing:

The satellite dish on the side of the building spoils the composition a little, but its still very nice....

C'est tres jolie!

(Posted by Andy)

Car and Driver Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Here is Car and Driver magazine's test of the 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible.

This is a little harsh. What is coming out his mouth is very good, but this is video - you need to get the look right as well!

Please take off the baseball cap and sun glasses when filming, it projects limited credibility like you are trying to hide from someone at the airport, or hanging around a high school.

Please pull down those jeans a little bit Harry high pants, don't tuck your shirt in so tight and don't wear socks with loafer driving shoes.

I was hoping that his interior presentation would be better - thankfully that sun glasses and hat left the building, but in came a pullover jumper straight from Accountants R Us!

Then when he is in the back seat, you cop a eyeful of Jerry Sienfield style 1990's old sneakers! Should have stuck with those loafers.

Wow, I am being harsh. It's actually a very good informative review!



I just don't see this guy as a Bentley GTC Speed driver, looks more like a Corvette man to me, especially with the reference to the American football players girly pads in a Bentley review.

Should watch Aussies rules mate. They don't use soft pads when they tackle. They're tough Australians.

Hurricane Force

Hurricane Sandy was a powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States during late October 2012....

It is currently the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with winds spanning 1,100 miles or 1,800 kms. In the United States, Hurricane Sandy affected 24 states, including the entire eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. Damage was particularly severe in New Jersey and New York with flooding to streets, tunnels and subway lines and power outages across both cities.

This 2001 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, chassis 1CX65857, suffered water damage in the New Jersey floods and is currently on offer through Insurance Auto Auctions.

The exterior looks a little dirty…

But a bucket, chamois leather, some car shampoo, some car wax and a lot of elbow grease could fix that!

The interior doesn't look so bad either...

But repair costs are estimated at US $122,920….

Here's why…

"INOP"…or inoperable. The keys are available, but it won't start.

Who knows the extent of damage to the electrics and engine…

So its currently bid to just US $5,100 with 2 days and 23 hours to go…

They also have a Phantom available.

Photos from Insurance Auto Auctions and web finds.

(Posted by Andy)

Wraith. And the world stood still.

The new Rolls-Royce Wraith.

Wraith. And the world stood still.



Wraith: Drama



Wraith: Power



Wraith: Style



I like the new fastback.

Taking (yet) Another Leak

Well, someone leaked the Bentley Flying Spur shots before they were to come out.

I've just found the new Rolls-Royce Wraith leaked shots:

 

 

I like it.

 

 

 

I love all the wood trim inside.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi tech as we would expect.

 

 

Not so sure about the 'starry' headliner though...

 

 

But here it is. A Goodwood rendition of the Conti GT:

 

 

But that's okay to me.

 

 

Here's what AutoEXPRESS said:

 

 

"This two-door coupe version of the Ghost is the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever, with 624bhp from its 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12.

 

That eclipses the Ghost's 563bhp, while the Wraith also has 20Nm more torque than the saloon, with the staggering 800Nm output available from only 1,500rpm. The result is 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds – that's three-tenths up on the Ghost.

To make the Wraith more agile than the saloon, the company has also tweaked the suspension, widened the rear track and shortened the wheelbase. Rolls says the new suspension will "discreetly amplify feedback", while the steering will weight up at high speeds.

The Wraith also debuts a new Satellite Aided Transmission system. This uses satellite maps and data to help the eight-speed automatic gearbox predict corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts, and select the most appropriate gear.

Rear-hinged doors open to reveal a Ghost-inspired interior featuring new matt Canadel wood panelling. There's also the option of Starlight headlining, with 1,340 handwoven fibre optic lights – this is the first time it's been offered outside the Phantom.

A new voice command system allows drivers to tell the sat-nav where they want to be navigated to, while the new infotainment controller has a smartphone-style pinch to zoom facility. It even lets users draw letters for postcodes.

The Wraith is priced from 245,000 Euros, which should translate to around £220,000 when the first cars are delivered here towards the end of the year. "

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/rolls-royce/62969/rolls-royce-wraith#ixzz2McHg1NvV

 

 

 

The end:

 

 

(Posted by David Irvine)

 

The Silver Wraith

  

The Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith was the first post war Rolls-Royce and the last to be supplied as a rolling chassis to coachbuilders to be fitted with a bodywork to an owner's specification.

Many owners chose a "formal limousine" design. Here is a 1953 Touring Limousine by HJ Mulliner: 

This slightly less formal coachwork is also by HJ Mulliner:

This example dates from 1957 and has coachwork by Freestone & Webb. For the less ceremonial millionaire:

 

Launched in 1946, production spanned 12 years and totaled 1,883 examples. Approximately 2/3rds of the total were made with a 3,225.8 mm (127 inch) wheelbase, while a longer 3,378.2 mm (133 inch) wheelbase, available from 1951, accounts for the remainder.

 

Originally fitted with a 4,257cc, inline 6-cylinder engine, capacity was increased to 4,566 cc in 1951 and 4,887cc in 1954. Initially only a four-speed manual gearbox was offered, but from 1952 an automatic option was also made available.

 

Here are some photos of another HJ Mulliner Touring Limousine, this time a 1951 example, chassis #WOF7:

Complete with lucky horse shoe!

Original photos and web finds. 

(Posted by Andy)

Heading back to CBR

I'm driving the Bentley back to Canberra.

I've turned back on location tracking using Google Latitude..

March

The Calendar:

 

March...

 

 

(Posted by David Irvine)

 

Follow the road trip...

 

 

Google Latitude Location. Hello world.

Now this is a little creepy.

I'm now broadcasting my exact location to the world.

Here I am. Hello world.

Hello please remember to turn off privacy settings when I don't feel like doing this anymore.




I have not used it before, and I'm not sure of the refresh rate, but I'm giving it a go.

Press play on the 'Cover it Live' interface in the below post to join me on my Bentley road trip.

Melbourne here we come

Well I have decided that I'm going to drive from Canberra to Melbourne. Today.

I was meant to fly down, but never got around to buying a ticket.

Bentley driving is much more exciting than flying anyway.

The Turbo R has been freshly serviced, so it should be good to go. Just need to fill'm up and check the tyre pressure.

I've kicked off the live blogging software to keep me amused.

Press Play to join in.



Google Maps says it's 663 km, 6 hours 41 mins on the Hume Hwy/National Highway 31 and National Highway M31.


View Larger Map

I probably should leave soon, considering I want to go out for drinks tonight.