Dedicated to Rolls-Royce & Bentley Motorcars March ... - Magazooms

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Barrett-Jackson’s outdoor vendor market offers about a half mile of stalls. dale. From that small beginning, January in Phoenix has become the three-ring circus it is today. In 2004, the schedule was: This Murphy-bodied J Duesenberg roadster was sold at RM for $748,000 and was the richest car of the month. A row of desirable cars outside the RM sale. A 1933 Pierce Arrow 12 convertible sedan fetched $374,000 at the RM affair. ♦ January 16–19: Silver Auctions at Fort McDowell—mostly fairly ordinary used cars and a few muscle cars. ♦ January 22–24: Russo and Steele in Scottsdale—mostly muscle cars but occasionally some more interesting cars. ♦ January 23: RM Auction at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix—the class act of all the auctions; the really exciting cars are here. ♦ January 23–25: Barrett-Jackson Auction at Westworld in Scottsdale—the granddad of Arizona auctions, selling cars, automobilia, parts, etc., in a circus atmosphere. ♦ Jan. 28–Feb. 1: Kruse Auction at Phoenix Raceway—the usual Kruse variety of cars. This handsome Bugatti type 57C (C means it’s supercharged) Atalante coupe fetched $533,500 at RM. Most years, the most interesting booths for RR enthusiasts are Lmarr Disk (here with proprietor Mike Rabin) and Cy Conrad (whom we couldn’t find this year). ALL RR/BENTLEY RESULTS YEAR MAKE & MODEL HIGH BID SOLD? VENUE 1927 RR Spfd P I Pickwick 41,000 no Kruse 1953 RR S. Dawn conv. 93,500 yes RM 1960 RR James Young P V 55,080 yes B-J 1962 RR S. Cloud II lwb 24,500 yes Kruse 1963 RR James Young P V 72,600 yes RM 1977 RR S. Shadow 18,360 yes B-J 1977 RR S. Shadow II 11,880 yes B-J 1979 RR S. Shadow II 15,750 no Silv 1979 RR S. Shadow II 14,000 yes Kruse 1982 RR S. Spur 10,908 yes B-J 1982 RR S. Spur 14,040 yes B-J 1982 RR S. Spur 18,250 yes Kruse 1982 RR S. Spirit 19,980 yes B-J 1982 RR S. Spirit 19,400 yes Kruse 1983 RR S. Spur 16,250 yes Silv 1984 RR S. Spirit 25,920 yes B-J 1985 RR S. Spur 43,740 yes B-J 1985 RR S. Spur 19,440 yes B-J 1986 RR Corniche dhc 45,000 no Kruse 1987 RR Corniche dhc 73,440 yes B-J 1988 RR Corniche dhc 52,000 no Kruse 1951 B Mk VI 32,400 yes B-J 1965 B S3 75,600 yes B-J 1987 B Eight 18,250 yes Kruse 1987 B Mulsanne 17,820 yes R&S 1989 B Turbo R 42,120 yes B-J 1989 B Turbo R 22,700 yes Kruse 1997 B Brooklands 48,600 yes R&S ©Rolls Royce Owners Owners Club Club RM’s 1948 Tucker (beautifully restored) went for $495K. 7292 THE FLYING LADY March/April 2004 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com - empowered by alQemy.com ]
Kidnap of the Flying Lady by Richard Feast MBI Publ. Co, 2003 (avail. from Motorbooks Catalog: 800-826-6600, ). 224 p. Hardcover. ISBN 0 7603 1686 4. $24.95 Much is expected of the first book to investigate the background of the 1998 auction sale of RRMC. Limited, ambiguous, and inconsistent public disclosures at the time of the event and in its aftermath left many unknowns—most particularly in the minds of employees and enthusiasts—as to the true motives of the principals, especially VW “overlooking” the all-important matter of the RR trademarks which ultimately forced the split of the marques. A good third of the book is devoted to a retelling of basic Rolls- Rolls history, with particular emphasis on the 1971 receivership and the role of Vickers in RR’s affairs in particular and British industry in general. There are no revelations here but for those new to the subject this summary provides solid context in which to understand the roots of subsequent developments. (Noteworthy: Only in the last few years has the literature abandoned its glossing over of RR’s 1931 acquisition of Bentley; Feast portrays RR’s role accurately, i.e., unflattering.) His treatment of that part of the RR era of which little has been written to date does offer some tidbits that advance our understanding of what happened: that Prince Jefri of Brunei and his elder brother spent some £150 million a year between 1994–1997 at RR, amounting to half (!) the company’s total annual revenue; the effect on BMW and VW of Mercedes’ interest in RR and their reasons for bringing to market the Maybach; and that Piëch [VW] and Pischetsrieder [BMW] held weekly top secret meetings throughout the entire pre- and post-sale phase. This last point, however, makes it all the harder to accept certain of Feast’s premises. Even after repeated and most attentive study, at the end one is left with fewer answers than questions as to what VW knew when about the RR trademarks. Matters aren’t helped by the fact that Feast lists no sources whatsoever (unlike, for instance, Peter Pugh’s Magic of a Name trilogy which overflows with quotes by named sources and extensive notes). When already the book jacket says that Feast “wasn’t there” but had “a full account of who said what to whom” through “extensive disclosures . . . by contacts in the industry” one doubts if that is the way believable reportage is taught in journalism school. The critical reader will resist being expected to simply accept Feast’s word at face value, especially since some of the cornerstones of his interpretation of the events are so tendencious (such as the roles assigned to Piëch [VW] and Robins [RR plc]—the former a fool for misjudging the BMW/RR plc relationship, the latter selfishly holding the RR badge hostage, to the detriment of the car company. By contrast, David Plastow, who has endorsed the book enthusiastically, is portrayed as a heroic figure during his years at the helm—an assessment history is hardly likely to endorse with similar enthusiasm). Surely there remain aspects of the story yet to be told! It should be recognized that this book won the 2003 UK Guild of Motoring Writers’ Pierre Dreyfus Award, sponsored by Renault UK (Dreyfus was president director general of Régie Renault from 1955–1975), for having made “the most outstanding journalistic effort during the year in any medium.” The Automotive Bibliography 13,000 Works in English, Czech/Slovak, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish by Denis Veilleux McFarland & Co (800-253-2187), 2003. 626 p. Hardcover. ISBN 0 7864 1534 7. $95 The subtitle leaves pretty much no doubt as to what this book is about; only two questions remain: why and how? The “why” aspect is easier to answer. Research the author did on his own doctoraldissertation on the early years of motorization in Montreal, Canada led to the conclusion that there was no satisfactory single reference source. Anyone who has done literature searches, especially into secondary and lower-level material, knows how spotty card and other catalogs, even electronic ones, can be. This book catalogs monographs, theses, biographies, encyclopedias, company and government publications; buyers’, collectors’, spotters’, and identification guides. The entries cover every aspect of motorization in works published before 2000—and from 14 languages, although most stem from English, French, German and Italian sources. Not included are juvenile titles, most restoration/technical guides, or combat vehicles. As to the “how,” well, there is more way than one to skin a cat. You have to read, understand, and apply the principles laid out in the Introduction. If you go on a fishing expedition of your own you will without fail mislead yourself into thinking this bibliography is missing more than it contains. Or—and this will satisfy the great majority of searches—you can simply consult the 3 indeces (author, title, or subject); the only caveat being that in this case you already have to know at least one of the three criteria to get anywhere. The real discoveries, however, are made in finding those things you didn’t know existed and for that you do have to understand the—inevitably subjective—thematic classifications of the book. All in all, a staggering undertaking, interesting to all, useful to many, indispensable to some. How to Design Cars Like a Pro by Tony Lewin, Ryan Borroff MBI Publ. Co, 2003 (avail. from Motorbooks Catalog: 800-826-6600, ). 204 p. Softcover. ISBN 0 7603 1641 4. $24.95 The Maybach and the Phantom ©Rolls Royce Owners Owners Club Club are obviously going after the same demographics. In a world of derivative, even cookie-cutter, design why is it that these two cars look not at all alike? What do the designers, marketers, psychologists at one company know or imagine that the ones at the other company don’t? This well-illustrated book examines the language of design (exterior and interior) as it relates to brand recognition, ergonomics, and “subliminal messages.” Brief overviews on how to quick-sketch and then render drawings and construct models give insights into the practical aspects of the designer’s work. Design chiefs from leading carmakers relate their philosophies and several current cars are being critiqued by tutors and students at the Coventry School of Art and Design. Hearing the professionals think out loud schools the mind and the eye. The reader’s newfound sense of critical appreciation for the complexity of the process may retroactively stimulate a rethinking of designs one had cavalierly dismissed before. The Phantom’s interior (described as “brave”) is given indepth treatment in the relevant chapter; the car is also singled out for a general discussion in a case study of luxury style. The chapter “50 Landmark Designs” (defined as those “so powerful they changed the way the whole auto industry thought”) includes one RR product: the Silver Shadow. This is by no means the first time the design community has shown a degree of discrimination regarding this model that the RR community seems unwilling to muster . . . . The book itself is very much “designed,” in the sense that it is styled with purpose in order to achieve a specific effect. Do take the time to look at that in detail and ask yourself “why this way and not another?” (Index) 7296 THE FLYING LADY March/April 2004 [ search engine powered by magazooms.com - empowered by alQemy.com ]
Page 1 and 2: Dedicated to Rolls-Royce & Bentley
Page 3 and 4: From the Executive Director Interes
Page 5 and 6: President’s Message In January we
Page 7 and 8: inspired by the “action photos”
Page 9 and 10: The prewar row—from P III to Silv
Page 11 and 12: New Works and A New Direction The M
Page 13 and 14: 1901 French-built 10 hp 2-cylinder
Page 15 and 16: The Crossley was designed by J.S. C
Page 17 and 18: Johnson. Perhaps neither of the pri
Page 19 and 20: The standard VdP tourer on a 1933 3
Page 21 and 22: Standard VdP Dropheads ©Rolls Royc
Page 23 and 24: Table 1 : Interestingly, this was 8
Page 25 and 26: John de Campi’s B167LE (left) and
Page 27 and 28: ©Rolls Royce Owners Owners Club Cl
Page 29 and 30: The other Richards Phantom II, 174G
Page 31 and 32: Loading the fish into the pot is on
Page 33 and 34: (l) Tony Sandoval and Tom Purcell s
Page 35 and 36: for the benefit of winter-weary RRO
Page 37: olls-Royceniks with the time and mo
Page 41 and 42: New 2003 Bentley Arnage R Silver/Oa
Page 43 and 44: CARS FOR SALE CARS FOR SALE CARS FO
Page 45 and 46: CARS FOR SALE SILVER SHADOW II (SRH
Page 47 and 48: CARS FOR SALE CARS FOR SALE CARS FO
Page 49 and 50: Few Things Weather Time As Well As
Page 51 and 52: CARS WANTED CARS WANTED PARTS FOR S
Page 53 and 54: PARTS FOR SALE PARTS FOR SALE PARTS
Page 55 and 56: ©Rolls Royce Owners Owners Club Cl
Page 57 and 58: PARTS WANTED LITERATURE FOR SALE SE
Page 59 and 60: It has been said that we’re not o
Page 61 and 62: Dedicated to Rolls-Royce & Bentley

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