BENTLEY SPOTTING

Drive By Shooting

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:18:00 +0000

Our newest Bentleyspotter friend Brian in Belfast, Northern Ireland shot this one especially for us.

A GTC in Belfast. A convertible in Belfast. I'm sure the roof is rarely down.

Thanks Brian, we need more Belfast RR & B shots like I did years ago.

But what happened to the 'Benz in front?

Here's an old one of mine from 1980 just off the Lisburn Road to set the tone:

(Posted by David Irvine)

Full Grid Walk for the 2013 Gumball 3000

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:51:00 +0000

Here we go!

Gumball 3000 is on again. Here is Tim at the grid giving us a run down on this year's cars.

Just cool! Thanks Tim for sharing.

Vorsteiner Ghost

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:13:00 +0000

Vorsteiner.

Rolls-Royce and Bentley mods.

Here's their Ghost modification.

Quite subtle.

Nice...

http://www.vorsteiner.com/rolls-royce/

I'd do it to a Ghost if I had one.

There's one on Ebay with a bit more:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VORSTEINER-ONE-OWNER-CA-CAR-2K-MILES-HEAD-UP-REAR-THEATRE-REAR-POWER-SEATS-/360656924841?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item53f8d3f0a9#ht_10454wt_1165

Verrry coool...

A boot lid spoiler on a Rolls-Royce?

It works.

It may ride horribly on the 24 inchers, but does look good...

(Posted by David Irvine)

Live from London....

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:44:00 +0000

Well, our Ken was out in 'The Square' today and shot these:

A Mulsanne:

Conti GT:

Arnage:

Conti Flying Spur:

Silver Seraph:

Another:

A Ghost:

A Phantom FHC:

And the heavy machinery, the Nigerian embassy's Phantom VI:

Nice shots, as always Ken.

(Posted by David Irvine)

"Nice One Cyril , but..."

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:38:00 +0000

This 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II presents very well on Ebay but there is just one somewhat major issue.

She looks like a very decent Silver Wraith II .

But some things just ain't proper...

The wonky headlamp doesn't help.

Nor the funny RR emblems on the hub caps:

Here's the major issue:

An ugly GM engine.

It'll start easily every morning.

But that's boring.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-Rolls-Royce-Silver-Wraith-II-Professional-GM-350-Conversion-TH-400-Automatic-/261212995953?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cd1820171#ht_32233wt_1165

It's just no fun that way.

No FTPs.

It should look like this:

By the way for those out there who don't know, 'F.T.P' means Fail To Proceed.

Rolls-Royces do not break down. They just sometimes 'Fail To Proceed'.

RR speak there. (Nothing to do with Northern Irish graffiti).

Oh, and by the way, nice one Wigan.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Wet,Wet, Wet..

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:30:00 +0000

It rained in Trafalgar Square this Thursday:

Wet Mulsanne:

But the fact that all you need is a half hour wash afterwards means you can drive it in the rain. Maybe.

I hate driving in rain. It still makes a mess. Here's mine in the rain - I cringed all the way:

But in London rain is frequent...

THE RR behind a different RR:

Good shots by Kenjonbro.

(Posted by David Irvine - Thanks again to Ken)

1800 Posts

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:36:00 +0000

We have just surpassed the 1,800th post on Bentley Spotting.

'TH' not 'TU'.

Yet a significant number.

The most famous Crewe registration number.

Still used by Bentley Motors.

And a few others around the world:

Including me, of course:

Onto the 2,000th...

(Posted by David Irvine)

Off for a Walk

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:37:00 +0000

I saw some good stuff in Toronto today:

A GTC

Phantom DHC:

Something blocked the view...

"Yaawn....!"

I saw some odd things too.

(Posted by David Irvine)

May the Fourth Be With You

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 04 May 2013 10:17:00 +0000

May the forthe be with you.

"Star Wars Day...."

Also the day F.H.Royce first met C.S. Rolls.

"Rolls was introduced to Henry Royce by a friend at the Automobile Club, Henry Edmunds, who was also a director of Royce Ltd. Edmunds showed him Royce's car and arranged the historic meeting between Rolls and Royce at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, on 4 May 1904." - a quote from wikipedia.

waynep1957 's shots from a few years ago. Brilliant.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/waynepettyt/sets/72157627485425566/with/6037639041/

As on the old BBC Edwardians video/DVD

Get your hands on it.

They are out there on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Edwardians-DVD-2008-2-Disc-Set-/200919635043?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2ec7be5463

It's a good one. Old 1970s BBC drama at it's best..

One hundred and nine years ago.

Today:

This IS an important date

Start you car up in honour of Messrs. R & R. - If you can.

I can't. My car's a thousand Kms away. Give me a couple of weeks.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Outta Da Way

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:46:00 +0000

A very imposing shot by Kenjonbro of an Arnage in Trafalgar Square today:

(Posted by David Irvine - Thanks Ken)

May

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:33:00 +0000

From the official Bentley calendar:

(Posted by David Irvine)

Trafalgar Square Today

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:16:00 +0000

Kenjonbro's update from London.

An EWB Ghost:

A 2006 Flying Spur:

And a another Flying Spur showing off it's silver mesh lower grille:

This amused me, though:

Okay, so it's just a Van den Plas Austin Princess. So what...?

It's original and hasn't had a bloody Rolls-Royce grille grafted onto it as so many wedding hire firms do.

That's sacrilege.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Classic Car Display at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:27:00 +0000

Today I joined the Rolls-Royce Owners Club of Australia, Victoria Branch for their April event.

It was a charity day of a Classic Car Display at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin down Mornington Peninsula way.

It was quite enjoyable, and a good turnout of cars, from very early to very new.

From a Phantom I to a Goodwood Phantom.

Here is a selection of photographs from the day. Press Play to begin the slideshow.

I particularly liked a 1997 Brooklands R Mulliner Park Ward, and there were some rare cars like a Mulsanne Turbo L, and an R-Type Continental.

Frankly Organic

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:29:00 +0000

Tim Myrick sent me this thought provoking shot of his exceptional Rolls-Royce Camargue parked outside one of Frank Lloyd Wright's creations. The Dallas Theater in Texas.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1857-1959) , architect, interior designer, writer and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 532 works. He believed in designing structures which were in Harmony with humanity and its environment.

The angular design of the theater suggests it was meant to have a Camargue parked in front of it...

'Organic Architecture' is the term Mr.Lloyd Wright would have used.

(Posted by David Irvine and many thanks to Tim)

Rolls Royce Wraith Prototype Testing

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Wow this is a rare video.

I'm quite surprised this made it to Youtube. But I like that it did!

Ohhh yeah.

So, yep in 20 years time, this is what I'll be driving...

Canada's Worst Driver

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:42:00 +0000

This is just painful to watch.

The Originals

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:28:00 +0000

I've decided to 'ditch' the Silver Spirit alloys on my old thing...

Here is how it used to look.

It's back to the old original black steelies with the stainless steel hubcaps for me.

Here it is after the refit.

She will be almost correct.

The 1977 air dam and lower mounted Lucas Square Eight fog lights stay, okay?

All rubber bumper Shadows need that air dam/spoiler. As it was in the catalogue.

Now if Jordan could do something about those yellow wheels on his Turbo R...

(posted by David Irvine)

Wraith on the Streets

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:30:00 +0000

The new Rolls-Royce Wraith is a hit. Demand is very high and apparently 75% of the orders are from new Rolls-Royce customers - not current owners.

They're out there now.

Tobispot & Joey Wosylus saw this U.K. registered one on the streets of Munich at the end of March:

See all their shots here:

http://www.autogespot.ca/en/rolls-royce-wraith/2013/03/30

(Posted by David Irvine - thanks to Autogespot)

EBay 1971?

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:37:00 +0000

I found my old Frank Dale and Stepsons' catalogue today.

I do believe I had sent off the 'stamped self addressed envelope' for it back then.

I'd forgotten it was so old...

1971

"If 1971 was mirrored in grocery retail, we would today be paying £47 for a chicken and £20 for a jar of coffee."

Things were actually expensive to the average Briton back then compared to what they earned.

Mars bar: 1971: 2p

Pint of milk: 1971: 6p

Loaf of bread: 1971: 9½p

Pint of bitter: 1971: 11p

Bunch of bananas: 1971: 18p

Packet of cigarettes: 1971: 27p

Gallon of petrol: 1971: 33p

Ticket to Wembley Cup Final: 1971: £2

A new Silver Shadow was around eleven thousand pounds. A lot of money in 1971.

So here it is:

The enclosed letter:

(Irvine note : Look at the bloody prices back then.....)

(Irvine note: The song "Oooh La La" , by Rodd Stewart, lyrics come to mind.

"I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger...." )

(Irvine note : This part is amusing ... ) :

Nine hundred and fifty Quid for a MKIV...

Six hundred and seventy five for an R Type...

(Irvine note : OMG....! Two thousand six hundred and fifty Quid for this!) :

I wish I'd had spare cash in 1971, but I was only eleven.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Safely Home

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Well, I'm safely home at my folks place in Melbourne.

I do like driving my Bentley. It's so easy eat the miles with the cruise or speed control on.

Just a touch of the go pedal and you can fly past anyone.

So here is a quick summary.

Left Canberra at 8:14pm with 120313km on the clock - 100km ODO.

Stopped at Yass at 8:45pm. Grabbed a bite, topped up fuel. 120380km with 167km ODO

Then I put 33.74L of petrol, for $51.59, that's 152.9c per litre.

I had the TomTom going, as well as an iPhone app which shows altitude, heading, distance travelled, time taken and current speed.

I still use the TomTom as it gives speed camera alerts, and displays distance and projected time to destination.

I also like the stereo GPS speedos as they are more accurate than the analogue Bentley one.

I mount them high up as they don't obstruct the view of the flying B as much.

The iPhone app also does HUD - as in heads up display. It works quite well, but the iPhone kept slipping around on the dash.

The second stop was at the Wangaratta Service Centre at 12:28am.

Put 53.98L in at a cost of $87.94, being 162.9c/l. On the clock it was 120755km with 542 on the ODO.

I let the Bentley cool down a little as well, and ate a snack with a little walk around the rest stop.

Then it was arrival at my parents place in Melbourne at 3:14am

That's exactly a 7 hour drive to the minute. The app tells me 654.5kms.

I forgot to take a photo of the speedo on the Bentley - and can't be bothered going to the car now as I'm in bed.

Good night, I'll update tomorrow if I get a chance.

Still Driving

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:48:00 +0000

Well, I've done about 4 hrs now with about 3 hrs to go!

I left with 100kms on the ODO.

First break topped up the fuel.

Now having second break. And topped up the fuel again.

Also opened the bonnet to let the Bentley cool down a little but.

There was a little smoke and smell. It smelt like a belt getting a long workout!

Smoke and smell cleared by the time I finished filling up...

We will see how we go!

Track my Road Trip

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:50:00 +0000

I've decided to drive from Canberra to Melbourne this evening.

So here we go!

It'a a little late to leave - 8:00pm. Google tells me it takes 7:02 minutes. So that's 2:00am arrival with no stops.

I'll need to stop, so I'm thinking a bit about 3:00am arrival.

Here I am. Track my trip.

Should be a fun drive. Just packed a bag - now loading up the Bentley Turbo R.

Alpine Trials 1913

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:46:00 +0000

This is from Rolls-Royce Motorcars' website. A modern Ghost 100 years after the famous Alpine Trial Silver Ghosts in 1913.

Bracketed comments are mine.

"Turn back the clock to 1913, when four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts embarked on the Alpine Trial - the landmark test of automotive endurance of the day."

(Allow me to introduce James Radley)

"The Rolls-Royce Works Team and private entrant James Radley mastered 1820 miles of gruelling mountain terrain, performing without fault. In winning the prestigious Archduke Leopold Cup and the admiration of all who witnessed them, they established the legend of the 'Best Car in the World'. Cementing a reputation for reliability Rolls-Royce proudly retains today."

(His car)

(Here are the other three -I think)

(Mind you, I would have preferred this dark red colour on the modern car)

(There's even a Brockbank cartoon)

"Taking inspiration from the spirit of these endeavours, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly introduces the Alpine Trial Centenary Collection."

"This limited edition of Rolls-Royce Ghosts feature hand-crafted Bespoke design cues that pay tribute to the 1913 Alpine Trial cars. For example, the exterior paint hue takes close inspiration from Radley's Silver Ghost and the black wheels and grille have been replicated. This is the first time a contemporary Rolls-Royce motor car has sported a painted grille.

Inside, a series of Bespoke detail-touches elegantly tell the story of the Trial. The intricately designed clock displays the stages of the rally and timings, whilst inlays to the rear picnic tables and front fascia express the topography and distance of the route."

This beautiful homage holds irresistible appeal for the intrepid."

(Oh, the good old days, when we raced Rolls-Royce cars...)

(Posted by David Irvine)

Spring Time

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:06:00 +0000

It's a beautiful Spring day here...

So what better than posting a few photos of a Silver Spirit in the sunshine:

Thanks to Juergen for the pics of his fomer car.

(Posted by Andy)

Sir Henry Royce 1933

noreply@blogger.com (bentleyspotting) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Sir Henry Royce died eighty years ago today.

Born on the 27th of March 1863 (one hundred and fifty years ago) in Awalton, Huntingtonshire to James and Mary.

Died on the 22nd of April 1933.

When his father's flour mill business failed they moved to London. James Royce died there and Henry (the youngest of five children) had to sell newspapers for W.H. Smiths and deliver telegrams for the Post Office in Mayfair, having only had one year of formal schooling.

In 1878 he then moved on to an apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway with the financial help of an Aunt.

He moved on to a tool company in Leeds, then joined The Electric Light and Power Generator Company, and finally the Lancashire Maxim-Weston Electric Company.

In 1884 he started an electrical business (using his twenty Pounds Sterling worth of savings) with Earnest Claremont (often referred to as the 'Hyphen' in Rolls-Royce, by the way) in Hulme, Manchester.

'F.H.Royce and Company'.

He was fascinated with all things mechanical and after purchasing a 1901 Decauville car he decided he could vastly improve this car.

Oh, and he did just that. Here is the first Royce car :

(RROC photo)

The rest is history...

I'm sure he knew his name would last on as the ultimate in Motorcars.

This statue stands on Moore Lane, Derby.

Sir Henry Royce OBE, first baronet of Seaton.

One of the world's finest engineers.

His name will live on forever.

(Posted by David Irvine - Australia time zone, by the way))