Rolls-Royce (1945-2002)

Only car immediately post-war. It was given a much more rigid chassis, front coil springs, and the engine from the pre-war Bentley V. As before the war, capacity was raised as bodies got heavier. The last Rolls-Royce sold only as a chassis.

Factory-built body based on Bentley Mk VI (itself based a the pre-war Mk IV), with a detuned engine. 1952 update followed the R-Type Bentley.

Photo: Flickr

Ultra-exclusive – actually restricted to heads of state! Still the choice for the British Royal Family for state occasions. Manual transmission and steering. Engine used by Alvis for military vehicles and the Salamander fire engine (q.v.).

Photo: Wikipedia

New, very rigid welded box section chassis, with ifs coil, rear leaf suspension (LWB option). Almost all had the standard Pressed Steel shell, with alloy doors, boot and bonnet. Power steering aircon available as options from 1956.

Photo: Wikipedia

New Rolls-Royce V8 engine gives much improved torque and acceleraton, albeit more complicated to maintain.

Photo: Wikipedia

Twenty foot long and 2.75 tons. Power steering! Based on the Silver Cloud LWB but a foot and half (46 cm) longer wheelbase and opulent coachbuilt bodies by James Young or by Mulliner and Park Ward (bought by RR and merged).

Photo: Flickr

Lightened by c. 5%. New quad headlamps, and slightly lower grille. Higher compression engine giving c. 7% more power. Remodelled interior.

Most famous of the specials: by Mulliner Park Ward, and derived from their earlier Bentley bodies.

New generation ‘slab-sided’ unitary Rolls-Royce, more compact and modern that the Silver Cloud it replaced. The concept emerged from work with BMC. Self-levelling independent suspension and disc brakes. Bigger engine from 1970.

The last separate-chassis Rolls-Royce, with bodies by MPW and updated engine (bigger from 1978), transmission, brakes, steering, aircon. When used by Queen Elizabeth II, the Spirit of Ecstasy was replaced by a St George slaying the dragon.

Photo: Flickr

Coachbuilt (Mulliner Park Ward or rarely James Young) coupé and convertible models. Became the Corniche in 1971.

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Limited production Pininfarina-styled alternative to Corniche, not to everyone’s taste, and costing half as much again. Struggled to justify its tag as the world’s most expensive production car, although the world’s best aircon helped.

Photo: Flickr

Rack and pinion steering, improved aircon. Facelift including air dam.

Coupé dropped in 1981 after Silver Spirit launch. III had revised fuel injection and interior; IV had improved transmission, suspension and roof automation. Last 25 “S” cars had turbo; model dropped at launch of New Silver Spirit (IV).

Corniche III had colour-coded bumpers and new wheels

10 Silver Shadow MkI “Limousine” cars were made in 1967 with 4″ improved rear leg room, and a LWB MkI was available from 1969. When the MkII was launched the LWB became the Silver Wraith.

Photo: Wikipedia

Longer, lower, heavier Silver Shadow replacement on same basic platform; still with peerless ride and interior craftmanship. Fuel injection from 1986. Silver Spur has 4″ wheelbase extension for rear cabin space.

Silver Spirit/SilverSpur updated with active suspension; III had new auto and more power; Silver Dawn (1996 on) had low-pressure turbo from the Bentley Brooklands; the Flying Spur had the LWB and Turbo R engine.

Almost always alloy wheels now

Silver Spirit-based Phantom replacement, in a various guises: first the approved 4- and 6-dr Robert Jankel cars; then an MPW 42″ stretch; then, from ’91 the 24″ stretched Touring Limo evolving to the Park Ward limo from 1996

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Vickers-financed all-new car with traditionally peerless attention to detail: a brand figurehead, but the Crewe future was now Bentley. The famously smooth BMW M73 engine was used, with BMW drivetrain, electronics, brakes and aircon.

Photo: Flickr

Bentley-Azure-based replacement for the Corniche IV, so actually on the older SZ platform and using the venerable Rolls-Royce V8. Styling brought up-to-date to match the Seraph. First RR with fully retractable soft top.

Photo: Wikipedia