February 2012 Newsletter - KDA132

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The Rolls-Royce Ghost - a Brief Acquaintanceship A Rolls-Royce Ghost has just completed a South Island introductory visit, driven by Neil D’Arcy-Brain, the Brand Manager of the Rolls-Royce division of Team McMillan Ltd. Neil and the car paused briefly in Christchurch on their way home to Auckland, and your editor happened to be in the right place at the right time. The first impression is the relatively compact size of the car when compared to its larger brother, the Phantom. The Ghost is longer than a Silver Shadow, but not by much, at 5399 mm, and is almost exactly the same length as the Silver Cloud II. So are the height, width, and weight, with a conscious effort to keep the weight low by the use of light alloys. The wheelbase is about 20 mm longer than a LWB Silver Shadow, with very little overhang at the front. A look at the engine was essential, and there, under the apparently mandatory sheathing which prevails these days, nestles a 48- valve V12 engine of 6.6 litres, twin turbo-charged, to produce “adequate” power, but defined as 420 kw at 5,250 rpm. That is 563 bhp in “old money” and will propel the car to a governed 250 kph, and from 0 to 100 kph in 4.9 seconds. The really startling feature of the design is the maximum torque of 780 Nm, or 575 lb ft, available at just 1,500 rpm. The comfort is as expected, with the same level in front and rear seats through a multitude of adjustments available. A sun-roof can be specified, or the separate air conditioning system for rear passengers which occupies the ceiling, as on the car which came to the South Island. The colour is defined as English White, with that tinge of green we may remember from the Austin-Healeys and other BMC cars finished in their Old English White, but the finish which Rolls-Royce Motors achieve is in another world from BMC’s “once-over lightly” approach. The other eleven colours in the standard range are dark hues, with some gorgeous blues and a Sea Green, complemented by nine interior colour options. Your reporter is partial to Sand over Sable, as illustrated across the page in Rolls-Royce Motors’ illustration of the new two-tone options for the Phantom, and would hope that such an option would be available for the Ghost. The designers’ objective has been simplicity for the driver; there is not the confusing array of controls so often encountered, and while there are enough options to keep the driver and front seat passenger amused for the duration, a panel, veneered to perfection of course, conceals the g.p.s. display. Instrumentation is by light faced dials; there is no revolution counter, but instead an intriguing “power reserve %” indicator. To see that gauge indicate that we were using merely 1% of the engine’s capability while cruising at 80 kph helped us to understand why the car’s fuel consumption figures are so good. Neil achieved an average of 24 or so miles per gallon during the South Island trip; only once has your reporter managed 20 mpg in a Mark VI on a trip, and it has been all downhill from there, so to speak. Cameras are always available, and those to the front pass speed limit information to the Heads Up Display projected just below the line of sight on the windscreen, but there are no annoying bells and whistles to distract a transgressor, and the correct digital speed reading on the windscreen is rather fun to maintain, helped by the sensitivity of the controls. The ZF automatic gearbox is 8-speed, so the ratios are close enough to make changes imperceptible. We chose roads which were fun before the events of September 2010, and the ride and cornering capabilities of the Ghost were enough to bring back the fun. It is a remarkable car, and there is surely an argument for taking the EQC and/or insurance payout, buying a Ghost, and living in it while taking a year to explore the rest of the country. Thank you, Neil D’Arcy-Brain and Team McMillan, for the opportunity to drive the new Ghost. We wish you well. NZRR&BC Issue 12-2 14
The Opening of the Rolls-Royce Showroom in Auckland On Friday evening 23 March the weather was perfect for the opening of the new Rolls-Royce Motors showroom at 11-15 Great South Road, Newmarket. Very bright LED lighting and liveried doormen were on hand to greet guests, champagne and other refreshments were served, while circulating staff continually tempted us with delicious finger food. Through the ante-room, the customer lounge, and beyond into the main show-room, where there is room for two Rolls-Royces, the new extended wheelbase, or EWB, Ghost was the main focus of attention. 1700 mm has been added to the rear compartment, purely to the foot-room area, extending the dimensions quoted on Page 14, and this particular car’s colour scheme, from the Commissioned Collection, was a warm misty grey which has not appeared yet in the brochure, known as Silver Haze, with Crème Light leather interior. With the various options available there are 44,000 different combinations, making it among the least likely cars to be mislaid in a supermarket car-park. The customer lounge, beside the show-room, has an innovative feature wall, where the various colour combinations of exterior paint, upholstery, carpet, lambs-wool over-rugs, door capping, seat piping, and head lining can be displayed together. Friendly and knowledgeable staff members, both from Team McMillan (Neil D’Arcy-Brain and Des Parsons) and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited in Singapore (Dan Balmer) were able to answer questions and demonstrate the features of the cars, while outside sat Ghosts in English White and Darkest Tungsten, both with Seashell interiors, as well as a Phantom in Diamond Black. Her Excellency the British High Commissioner, Vicki Treadell CMG MVO introduced herself to us, as guests continued to arrive. We noted several members of our NZ Rolls-Royce & Bentley Club present. The Managing Director of Team McMillan, Mr Bob McMillan, gave the opening address, in which he told of the process by which the perceived tiny New Zealand market changed to one worth pursuing for Rolls-Royce Motors, and of Team McMillan’s commitment to its market. Bob McMillan has stepped aside from his BMW role to concentrate on the Rolls- Royce side of the business. The new Ghost model must be at the forefront of such a drive, with a cost structure which will put it into direct competition with other highly regarded marques. The situation which existed around 80 years ago, between the 8- litre Bentley and the Phantom II Rolls-Royce, seems likely to be re-enacted, without the constraints on development costs which prevailed in 1930; interesting times. The Director of Sales from Rolls-Royce Motors Limited, Jolyon Nash, spoke next, and mentioned the new record for Rolls-Royce car production of 3,538 last year. The previous record was 3,347, set in 1978. Since global car production in 2011 was 70 million, Rolls-Royce must be seen as a very small niche. However, as H.E. Vicki Treadell, who spoke next, pointed out, British car production is still important, despite the ownership of most of the car industry’s belonging overseas. Nissan now produce more cars in Britain than in Japan, but the design innovations and quality of construction make the Rolls-Royce car, well, the Rolls-Royce of car design and production. The New Zealand Prime Minister, the Right Honourable John Key, spoke next, and Bob McMillan closed the addresses. Part of Neil D’Arcy-Brain’s South Island visit earlier this month was a demonstration that, if a car should “fail to proceed” (in classic parlance) a replacement would be on hand within 25 hours. As we left, we were presented with a black ‘shopping bag” with a Rolls-Royce logo. Inside was a copy of World Collections, an almost 200-page glossy A4 magazine, published quarterly by Fairfax Media, which includes a three page article on the Auckland Rolls-Royce dealership, entitled “Fresh Rolls.” There was also a beautifully wrapped cup-cake, topped by a Rolls-Royce logo in marzipan, and this survived the journey home to Christchurch. Your reporter thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and it seemed utterly appropriate that while on his way to the bus stop a vintage Rolls-Royce should pass by. That was Ed and Colleen Pollard in their 20/25 GNS30, who had joined friends for a fish and chip picnic dinner in Cornwall Park; the weather was so nice that they decided to take the Rolls-Royce. NZRR&BC Issue 12-2 15
Page 1 and 2: New Zealand Rolls-Royce & Bentley C
Page 3 and 4: Well, it’s that time of year agai
Page 5 and 6: (left and above) John King’s phot
Page 7 and 8: B166FB, engine H5BY, Park Ward Salo
Page 9 and 10: Dr Ian Johnstone’s image of B118L
Page 11 and 12: en route in the Carmargue, was aske
Page 13: trip of three more or less equal da
Page 17 and 18: FOR SALE: 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver C
Page 19 and 20: Provenance The Rolls-Royce Motor Ca
Page 21 and 22: COLGRAY MOTORS Rolls Royce & Bentle
Page 23 and 24: BRUCE MCILROY LTD Authorised Bentle

February 2012 Newsletter - KDA132

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