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Rolls - Royce became 100 years old on 4 May 2004. The centenary celebration was
held on the very spot where the company was founded, on 4 May 1904. Charles
Rolls met Henry Royce at the Midland Hotel in Manchester and formed this now
world - famous company. And a 100 years on, the name is still a byword for
luxury, elegance and innovation Charles Rolls was an entrepreneur and
adventurer, selling cars, flying hot-air balloons and even set a world land
speed record of 93mph in 1903 in Dublin. After testing a rivals "Decauville",
an unreliable car he owned himself, Charles Rolls was introduced to the
engineer to achieve the same standard of reliability and quality on his own car
as he experienced on driving a friends car of the same model. |
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Charles Rolls had gained the idea to have a motor car connected to his name
that would become as famous as "Steinway" is to piano or "Chulbbs" to security
"Safes" when he decided to meet Henry Royce. |
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Henry Royce was a perfectionist and was fond of saying "Small things make
perfection, but perfection is no small thing." Whatever is rightly done,
however humble is noble", he would add. |
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In 1904, two years later the fist Rolls- was produced and exhibited at the
Paris Salon for the first time where it won a gold medal. On December 23, Rolls
and Royce signed a contract and stipulated the cars should be called "Rolls -
Royce". The company which was to start building the best cars in the world was
in business. |
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Within 3 years, the now immortal "Rolls - Royce Sliver Ghost" was created. |
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In July 1910, Charles Rolls became the first Briton to die in an aviation
accident whilst entertaining crowds at a show in Bournemouth. |
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In 1911, illustrator Charles Sykes was commissioned to create a mascot for the
hood of Rolls - Royce cars. He designed the "Sprit of Ecstasy", which
represents a spirit which has just alighted on the car to enjoy the delight of
traveling at speed. Sykes wanted to depict something beautiful and chose the
secretary of a friend as a model to design this symbol of beauty. Over time
some people referred to the "Sprit of Ecstasy" as the "Spirit of Speed, The
Flying Lady or the Silver Lady". |
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Henry Royce spent many years at the head of the company until his death on 22
April 1933, at age 70.
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Beginning as a motor car manufacturer the company developed its engineering
capabilities to include engines for air and marine propulsion, as well as for
energy applications, which were included in the aims of the company's
memorandum of association in 1906. |
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Rolls - Royce engines powered the aircraft - "Spitfires and Hurricanes", which
won the "Battle of Britain" in 1940. They also powered World War II bombers
such as the Lancaster. |
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The firm also produced the Olympus engines which powered the "Concorde". |
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It produced the Pegasus engines used on the vertical take-off and landing
"Harrier" aircraft. |
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Rolls - Royce engines equip many Airbus and Boeing planes, and its Trent motors
will be used on the Airbus A 380 and Boeing's planned 7E7 Dreamliner. |
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Engines bearing the Rolls-Royce logo also power the world's costliest, largest
and heaviest cruise - liner, the "Queen Mary 2. |
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Today, gas turbine technology lies at the heart of the company, and the engines
are so powerful that just one 10 centimeter turbine blade is capable of
deliveries the same power as a Formula 1 racing car. |
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The first Rolls - Royce, a 10hp model sold for £395/-. Today its price would
exceed £250,000/-. |
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The impressive list of owner's including Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Lenin,
Frank Sinatra, Ernest Hemmingway, Bridget Bardo etc. |
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The primary market for the cars have always been the worlds ruling families,
from the British Royal family, to Russia's to the Middle East, etc. |
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The Phantom IV, of which only 18 were produced between 1950 and 1955, were sold
only to Royalty and Heads of State. |
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BMW Group became the sole custodian of the Rolls-Royce marque in July 1998 and
committed to open a new manufacturing facility and deliver its first designed
and engineered Rolls-Royce by January 2003. Naturally, this was achieved on
time and following on the principles of Sir Henry Royce which were "Strive for
perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better.
When it does not exist, design it". |
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And so the "Phantom" was born, inspired by classical lines from the Phantom I
and II, the Silver Cloud and the Silver Shadow with no compromises on design or
engineering. |
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The Phantom's engine is a V12 with 6.75 liters delivering 450bhp, but 80% of
that is available at 1000rpm to give the car the power required to get it
moving swiftly with ease. The power on hand matched with a superb suspension
makes the car easy to drive. The size is not felt only seen with the eye.
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A antennary Phantom with bespoke color and options will be produced by
September only 35 will be built worldwide, ADM has one of them.
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There are many bespoke colours, interior trim and luxury options available to
satisfy individuality. Only the best leathers and detailed manufacturing
processes are used, from the chrome hand -crafted grill, to the wood
manufacturing process, etc. A number of these bespoke cars will be arriving by
September 2004 in Abu Dhabi. |
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The vehicle's communication systems are the most advanced and offer everything
from satellite navigation, to on - board television, computer information,
telephone, DVD player etc. |
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Unique features include self-centering wheel hubs to keep the Rolls-Royce wheel
logo's upright at all times, the "retractable" Spirit of Ecstasy" to prevent
theft, changing the dashboard analogue clock display to reveal an on -board
monitor, coach - doors opening to the rear making entry and exit easy and
graceful, and many more features too numerous to mention here. |
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Apart from having the largest tire rolling diameter (31 inches) of any
production car in the world, they are Michelin Pax, run - flat models which can
last for 100km being driven at speeds of up to 50mph when fully deflated as a
result of a puncture. |
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The cooling capacity of the air-conditioning system in a Rolls-Royce is
equivalent to that of 30 domestic refrigerators.
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All Phantom's are supplied with a 4 year unlimited mileage "Service Inclusive"
package. |
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Abu Dhabi Motors sold 5% of the world's volume in 2003. |
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A convertible based on the concept 100EX model shown recently for the first
time, is a certainty for future production. |
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We are able to arrange factory forms through the manufacturing facility
enabling you to see the actual cars being produced. Please contact Khadhum who
can assist you with the details and the process.
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Our Abu Dhabi showroom was opened in 2003 on the Corniche, opposite the
Sheraton Hotel. The opening hours are 08h300 to 13h00 and from 16h30 to 21h00. |
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Our service facility is in Umm Al -Nar and we are open 7 days a week from
08h00-17h00. The telephone number is 02-5588000. Dedicated Rolls-Royce
technicians and service advisors receive their training directly through Rolls
- Royce Motor cars Ltd. as well as through our in-house training department and
are eager to be of further service. |
Contact
Details
The showroom number is +971 (0) 2 6778884
Kadhum's mobile number is +971 (0) 50 6677602
Email : kadhum@alhamid-group.com |
Here
are some interesting facts about Rolls-Royce:
