Innehållsförteckning för Issue 51 - Nov/Dec 2025 från Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver

With this issue of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver hitting the shops and landing on subscribers’ doormats in early October, it feels like summer is already a distant memory for those of us in the northern hemisphere. But what a summer it was, with great weather offering us a chance to get out in our cars and head off on countless classic adventures. My own personal highlight of the season, however, took place at Brooklands Museum in mid-August. The event, which was two years in the planning, was created to celebrate 60 years of the Silver Shadow and the SY generation in general, with organiser Michael Marshall-Clarke – ably assisted by a small team of volunteers – taking inspiration from a promotional photograph taken in the 1970s. That famous old photo…

Did you know that Rolls-Royce designed and prototyped Wankel rotary engines in the 1960s and ’70s? Ever heard of a twin-crank vertically opposed two-stroke six-cylinder multi-fuel engine produced at Crewe? What about the 4.2-litre DOHC engine developed for Austin-Healey? The answers to these and many more questions can be found in a new book, Rolls-Royce V12 ‘Merlin’ to Bentley W12 – An Illustrated History of Engines from Crewe, 1938-2024, priced at £60 plus £5 UK delivery. The book has been written by George Ray, assisted by ex-colleagues Colin Weston and Matthew Waterhouse, plus many additional contributors. George spent over 57 years at Crewe, from 1955, while Colin did 25 years including being Chief Development Engineer (Engines). Matthew completed 32 years, starting in Derby as an undergraduate apprentice in 1969. The…

Fresh from the success of their recent Silver Shadow 60 weekend (see pages 48-54 of this issue), event organisers Michael Marshall-Clarke and Isabel Mackay-Thomas have just launched their new venture, The Man With the Golden Roller – Classic Car Concierge, offering custom-made travels, curated events and compelling stories. The pair met back in 2008 and have worked together across Europe to create and run some unique brand experiences over the past 16 years. “As I’m already known as The Man With the Golden Roller through the Instagram page for my Silver Shadow and Corniche, we decided to use this name for the business too,” explains Michael. “Our new website is now live and we’ve just launched a Facebook page and a You Tube channel to add to our Instagram. I’m…

The new T-series of 1965 was the ‘winged-B’ variant of the ground-breaking Silver Shadow, incorporating all of the latter’s advanced features – including unitary construction, hydraulically-assisted fully independent suspension, power-hydraulic brakes and standard-fit power steering. The model was also the first Crewe car to be truly designed for the owner-driver and thus represented a major step forward in terms of its overall dynamics. Unfortunately for Bentley, while the T-series was an engineering triumph, it represented something of a low point for the marque in terms of sales. It benefited from the same upgrades throughout its career, however, including adoption of the larger 6.75-litre V8 in 1970 (to replace the ex-Silver Cloud 6230cc original) and the arrival of the T2 seven years later – that final update bringing rack and pinion…

The title of Mulliner has adorned some of the most exquisite cars ever created, most of them from the Rolls-Royce and Bentley stables. For nearly a century, H.J. Mulliner and its successor under Rolls-Royce ownership, Mulliner Park Ward, represented the absolute pinnacle of British coachbuilding artistry, transforming bare chassis into rolling sculptures that epitomised automotive elegance for the rich, famous and leaders of nations. And against the odds, while its competitors and contemporaries faded away, Mulliner still lives on today (at least in name) as part of the Bentley empire. The origins of H.J. Mulliner stem from far before the era of the prestige automobiles with which it would establish its reputation for quality and style; and they’re also somewhat confusing, as there were four British coachbuilders with the name…

On December 6th, 1994, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Director of European Operations, Keith Sanders, wrote this revealing letter to a longstanding Swiss client, explaining that the company was entering into an agreement with Mercedes-Benz for its next generation of models, whilst also stressing that all future models would remain “quintessentially British and will be made at Crewe in the special way that only we know how”. In the end, no agreement was signed with Mercedes. To our knowledge, this letter has never previously been published.…

Send an email to rrb.ed@kelsey.co.uk or write to: The Editor, Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL MODEL ANNIVERSARIES Another excellent issue (July/ August) produced by you and your wonderful team. It’s been quite a year for anniversaries, with the May/June issue celebrating 50 years of the Camargue and July/August marking 60 years of the Silver Shadow – a testament to the fact that good styling doesn’t go out of fashion. One sees that in the three variants of the Silver Cloud, my preference being for the Series III. I also like the Silver Shadow and Silver Shadow II. However, if I were ever to own one, being a nondriver I would have to be chauffeured. It was interesting to…

With this Technical Guide series having run for well over two years now, it’s high time we took a look at the subject of routine service jobs on the ever-popular Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and its Bentley T-series sibling. Here we’ll delve into such tasks as changing the engine oil, plugs and filters, plus other essential fluid checks. The car that Flying Spares used for this was a recent acquisition, a Silver Shadow dating from 1977. With a white exterior and cream interior, it looked decent enough from a distance. On closer inspection, however, it probably needs a full engine rebuild – something that’s not unusual for a Silver Shadow of this age that has been well-used. They frequently suffer from water pump and carburettor failures, as well as all manner…

Bentley Motors’ new and exclusive Ombré by Mulliner'paint finish, which blends two separate colours over the length of a car, has been applied to a four-door saloon for the first time. The unique finish combines two complementary paint colours that transition along the sides and roof, sprayed entirely by hand in the Paint Shop at Bentley’s Crewe plant. The new Flying Spur’s paint transitions from Topaz Blue at the front to the darker Windsor Blue rear, with the fade occurring through the midsection of the car across the doors, sills and roof. The process takes nearly 60 hours for two highly skilled paint technicians to complete, starting with the spraying of the individual colours at the front and rear of the body. The transition happens using paint that has been…

A 1992 Bentley Val D'Isere, believed to be one of 11 examples commissioned by the Brunei royal family, went to auction with Historics on September 20th carrying a pre-sale estimate of £105,000-£135,000. Derived from the Turbo R and named after the famous ski resort in the French Alps, this Val D'Isere – which has covered just 13,000 miles from new – is thought to be the final one built, and the only example completed in 1992. In the end, it attracted a winning bid of £153,296 including fees. If you’re its new owner, we’d love to hear from you!…

The big day was planned for September 28th, 1965, with the warmth of that year’s ‘Indian summer’ being perfectly timed for what was to be a very special event: the eagerly awaited press launch of the new Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T-series, a duo that was introduced by Crewe as “the most radically new Rolls-Royce cars for 59 years”. The list of innovative features incorporated into the models was notable: a monocoque steel bodyshell, with separate front and rear subframes for engine and transmission, steering, suspension and wheel assemblies; all-independent suspension with automatic height control; fourwheel disc braking powered by dual high-pressure hydraulic systems; a recirculating ball steering gear with integrated power steering; electric actuation for the gear change; and electric adjustment for the front seats. With the exception…

“Brand new body panels are eye-wateringly dear, but Flying Spares can supply recycled parts” The official relaunch of Britain’s most upmarket brand finally occurred in January 2003, when BMW took full control and officially debuted Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, complete with a new headquarters at Goodwood and a brand new model: the huge and highly imposing Phantom VII. Gone was the short-lived Silver Seraph, and in its place came the most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce the world had ever seen, bringing with it a home-market starting price of around £250,000. The Phantom VII’s massive proportions seemed even more vast thanks to its clutter-free styling, with its imposing grille and rear-hinged back doors delivering a sense of occasion. Not everyone approved of the new look, but there was no questioning the depth of…

Aconvincing victory was scored by Lewis Fox in the Bentley High Wycombe-sponsored PreWar Bentleys race, earning the John Duff Trophy, at the 77th BDC Silverstone meeting back in August. Lewis, driving a 3/4½ Litre, won the 30-minute blue riband encounter by just over 15 seconds; after briefly trading the lead in a thrilling tussle with Clive Morley (3/4½ Litre), he finally grabbed a decisive advantage on the 15th of the eventual 23 laps. Third was Clive’s son, Stuart, sharing Richard Hudson’s 3/4½ Litre, after the latter had handed over the car during the mandatory pit-stops in a solid sixth position. Chris Rayment (4¼ Special) took the Derby spoils in sixth place. while Jock Mackinnon was the best placed of the 3 Litres in ninth, earning the doughty Scotsman the Frank…

“The newly introduced Bentley MkVI chassis was chosen, ensuring an up-to-date specification” Founded by saddler Jean-Baptiste Franay in 1903, carrosserie Franay began as a general carriage repair business based in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, but evolved to become a builder of high-quality – and highly respected - automotive coachwork within just a few years. The founder’s son, Marius, took over the running of the company after World War I and, before the outbreak of World War II, Franay went on to provide custom-made bodies for high-end marques such as Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Duesenberg, Hispano-Suiza… and, of course, Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Post-war, Marius Franay assumed the chairmanship of the Association of French Car Body Manufacturers (Chambre Syndicale de la Carosserie Française), with his company producing cars based around Rolls-Royce and…

The British Motor Museum has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2026 West Midlands Tourism Awards. Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the museum, said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted in the Large Visitor Attraction category, which is a brilliant testimony and recognition of the entire team’s hard work. 2025 has been a fantastic year for the Museum with the opening of The Rubery Owen Gallery, ‘Beep-Beep, Yeah!’ and new events like the Summer of Senses laying the groundwork for exciting developments in the future.” Stephen Laing is shown with Museum Curators, Amy and Cat, alongside the ex-John Lennon Rolls-Royce Phantom V that forms part of the current ‘Beep, Beep, Yeah!’ exhibition.…

“The Bentley was ordered from Jack Barclay, who supplied it to its first owner – Hammer Film Productions” Given the long career and impressive sales figures of Crewe’s SY-generation four-door saloons, it’s little wonder they’re among the most regularly seen models at marque-specific events. For any Rolls-Royce or Bentley enthusiast, a ‘Standard Steel’ member of the Silver Shadow family makes a logical and sensible buy, with a decent survival rate ensuring plenty of choice. Inevitably, however, even within a range that proved such a big hit when new, there are some rare derivatives to consider… and they include this early example of a Bentley T-series. The T-series was, of course, launched at the same time as its Silver Shadow sibling, with each model making its first public appearances at the…

Davide Bassoli’s latest book, The Magic of a Shadow, covers the history of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Corniche, Camargue and Bentley derivatives. The book comprises 10 chapters and eight appendices for a total of 302 pages, together with 44 technical drawings and 437 photographs, many of them previously unreleased. The technological revolution introduced with the Silver Shadow and the continuous developments brought during its 15 years of production are fully detailed. The two-door saloon and convertible versions produced by HJ Mulliner Park Ward, renamed Corniche from 1971, are extensively described. A chapter is also dedicated to the Camargue, introduced in 1975 and styled by Pininfarina. The longwheelbase Silver Shadow, the second series introduced in 1977, the evolution of the Corniche from 1980 to the last series in 1995, and a…

The day finally arrived: August 16th, 2025, on Brooklands’ legendary finishing straight, where 174 gleaming SY-generation cars and their proud owners lined up to recreate a famous 1970s Rolls-Royce advertising shot. The resulting image looks stunning in its simplicity but was the culmination of almost three years’ worth of methodical planning and hard work. Back in 2022, I found an original 1970s brochure on eBay featuring a series of 10 adverts that Rolls-Royce ran on consecutive days in The Times. The adverts took the reader through the stages of building a motor car at Crewe, culminating on day 10 with a shot of 100 Silver Shadows on a closed section of motorway. I thought that the image was stunning and wanted to find out more about it – and that’s…

The bulbous and sweeping lines of the Franay Bentley were done in the grand French style that is most often associated with coachbuilders such as Saoutchik and Fagoni et Falaschi, a style seen mostly on French-made chassis such as Delahaye. Franay did construct bodies for other Bentleys in the 1930s and ’40s, but none as exotic as the one created for B20BH. With its long, sweeping fenders, flowing lines and skirted rear quarter panels, the car looks like it’s in motion even when standing still. The chrome trim pieces on the lower sides evoke speed, movement and sleekness; and delicate chrome trim, as well mouldedin parking lamps and taillights, all work to enhance the flowing design that is spectacular from any angle. The three-position convertible top features two bevelled oval…

PARK WARD TRADITION Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in early 2000 was an even more upmarket variation on the Silver Seraph theme, with the new Rolls-Royce Park Ward featuring an extra 250mm (10 inches) in its wheelbase for the ultimate in rearpassenger space and luxury. This glossy brochure was issued at the time of the launch, describing the newcomer as an “all-new touring saloon based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph”. The brochure went on to explain that this extended Silver Seraph (of which just 127 were eventually built) was “the ultimate contemporary expression of Rolls-Royce coachbuilding and personal commissioning”, a car that continued “the long tradition of Park Ward motor cars”. Originally founded by W.H. Park and C.W. Ward in 1919, Park Ward was acquired by Rolls-Royce just 20…