Rolls-Royce History

Frederick Henry Royce

Frederick Henry Royce was born near Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire, England on 27th March 1863. His interest in engineering was sparked, when he started an apprenticeship at the nearby Great Northern Railway Works. By 19 Frederick Henry Royce had already started his own manufacturing company, with friend Ernest Claremont.

First car

The business was successful, and Frederick Henry Royce could afford to buy his first car. Royce was dissatisfied with the standards of construction and workmanship, and began building his own car. Later Royce founded Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The company made its international debut at the Paris Salon of 1904, exhibiting two-, three-and-four cylinder cars of standard-setting quality. Within three years Royce's engineering genius had created the Silver Ghost.

After the First World War

After the First World War, Rolls-Royce resumed car production, introducing the new Phantom I and II. By 1921 Rolls-Royce had also made a move into the United States, building a factory in Springfield Massachusetts. It was in 1931 that Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley Motors, but sadly Royce would not see the Merlin's success, or enjoy challenge of building a more sporting car. Frederick Henry Royce died on April 22nd 1933, aged 70.

Rolls-Royce & Bentley

Compiled with the full cooperation of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd., this book illustrates all Rolls-Royce models produced since 1904, and all Bentleys built since 1933. Nearly 300 black-and-white photographs offer close-up detail views, while comprehensive data includes the history behind each model, technical specifications, and chassis numbers.

Legendary British automaker

From tiny, turn-of-the-century 10-horsepower vehicles through today's luxury automobiles, this is one of the most thorough histories of the legendary British automaker Rolls-Royce available anywhere.
Rolls-Royce & Bentley by Martin Bennett
ISBN: 1859604412

More information

Absolute Facts Automotive
Rolls-Royce: Motor Car: and the Bentley Since 1931