Legacy

When Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce got together as the 20th Century started, never would they have imagined what exactly the Rolls-Royce name would mean to the automotive world beyond the UK. Though through the years the brand has gone under many changes and subsidiary divisions, the reputation of the brand remains as one of the premier cars indicating the higher class and extreme luxury.

On December 3rd, Rolls-Royce would further infix their brand into the automobile history books. During an auction, a private British collector set two new records by paying 3.5 million pounds (which equates to about $7.22 million USD) for the oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, which is the highest paid for a pre-1905 and for any Rolls-Royce.

The bidding for the 1904 car started at a cool $1M and came down to two telephone bidders battling it out. The previous record for any veteran car was 1.76 million pounds for the 1884 De Dion Bouton and the record for any Rolls-Royce was the 1912 Silver Ghost Double Pullman Limousine, which went for 1.48 million pounds. The car (car 20154) was the fourth ever built by Rolls and Royce and boasted a 10 horsepower engine for the open-topped two-seater. The car is actually still in running condition after undergoing restoration in the 1950s. Its license plate is "U 44."

The car briefly was neglected until Rolls-Royce enthusiast and speedway star Oliver Langton acquired it and fully restored it. The car is also the only pre-1905 Rolls-Royce to take part in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Frankly, I'm surprised a rapper didn't buy it to go with the fleet of Phantoms they have.







-Rack of Lam