Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce: Magic of a Name

The Magic of a Name tells the fascinating story of the first forty years of Britain's most prestigious manufacturer - Rolls-Royce - a company whose record of achievements is part of the history of the twentieth century.
The book begins with the historic meeting in May 1904 of two great men, Henry Royce and the Honorable C.S. Rolls. Their instant rapport led to an agreement whereby Royce would design 'the best cars in the world' and Rolls would advertise and sell them. In 1906, Rolls-Royce Limited was formed. Claude Johnson joined the company as a visionary Managing Director, and the legendary Silver Ghost, 'the best car in the world', was born.

Eagle, Hawk, Falcon and Condor

In 1914, the Great War intervened and Royce turned his skills to producing a reliable aero engine. The result was the Eagle, quickly followed by the Hawk, Falcon and Condor, all of which proved themselves in battle and confirmed Rolls-Royce as a leading manufacturer of aero engines as well as motor cars. It was an Eagle-powered Vickers Vimy in which Alcock and Brown made the first direct flight across the Atlantic. Other record-breaking feats followed, but Rolls-Royce turned back to cars in the 1920s, producing the Twenty and the Phantom, and also setting up a manufacturing plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Rolls-Royce 'R' engine

However, his country beckoned Royce once again, and he built the Rolls-Royce 'R' engine which won the Schneider Trophy and established a new world air speed record of over 400 mph, powering a Supermarine S6. The collaboration with Reginald Mitchell, who had designed the S6, led eventually to the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine being installed in the Mitchell-designed Spitfire. By now, another war seemed inevitable and, in a race against time, Merlin engines, Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes were developed and built in sufficient numbers to win the Battle of Britain in the late summer of 1940. The Merlin, constantly developed and improved, became the leading engine of the RAF, powering aircraft such as the Lancaster, the Mosquito and the American Mustang.

World War II

At the same time, a new form of aircraft propulsion was being developed by Frank Whittle - the jet engine. Rolls-Royce realised its potential, and took over its development. In 1944, Gloster Meteors powered by Rolls-Royce Welland engines became the first jet aircraft to be sent into active service with the Allies. Once again, Rolls-Royce was in the forefront of engineering technology, a position it retains to this day.
The Magic of a Name is a story of genius, skill, hard work and dedication which gave the world both cars and aero engines unrivalled in their excellence. Researched from the company's archives, Peter Pugh's definitive account contains hitherto unpublished material about the history of Rolls-Royce. It is richly illustrated with photographs, mostly from the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust's collection, many of which have never previously been published. This book is the first part of a two-volume history of the company. The second part will be published in Spring 2001.
Magic of a Name: The Rolls-Royce Story - the First Forty Years by Peter Pugh

Rolls Royce Motor Car: and the Bentley Since 1931

Frederick Henry Royce, one of the most famous automobile engineers in motoring history, was born in 1863. For most of the 20th century and up to the present day, the cars that bear his name have been known as 'the best cars in the world'.
This book provides a complete account of these very remarkable motor cars and the very remarkable men that designed, made and sold them. First published in 1964 and revised several times since, it is recognized as the classic text on the classic car. This sixth edition brings the story right up to date and into the new millennium.

Two parts

The book is divided into two parts: Part One gives an engrossing account of the Rolls-Royce story, written with the blessing of the factory. It includes the sale to Volkswagen and the outlook for Rolls-Royce as part of the BMW group from 2003 onwards. It is illustrated with an outstanding collection of photographs.
Part Two consists of detailed car and engine specifications, including dates of major mechanical changes and the chassis numbers concerned of the three Royce cars, all Rolls-Royce cars from 1904 to the Park Ward model of 2000, and the Bentley cars built by Rolls-Royce since 1931, including the Queen's Golden Jubilee Bentley.
The Rolls Royce Motor Car: and the Bentley Since 1931 by Brendan James

Rolls-Royce State Motor Cars

A companion volume to the author's highly praised Royal Rolls-Royce (Osprey 1992), this book reveals the painstaking and ingenious of the coachbuilders and the engineers who have striven to accommodate the wishes of the most demanding customers there have ever been, or ever could be. Intriguing archive photography underscores the variety of machinery - and its destination.
Rolls-Royce State Motor Cars by Andrew Pastouna

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