Issue 29 > March 2010
THE MARQUE News for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars employees
A record year for Bespoke Almost all Phantom family cars produced at Goodwood in 2009 included some Bespoke element, with many exceptional and individual cars produced for customers.
Page 3 New CEO for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Bespoke sales in 2009 reached record levels and this trend is expected to continue this year. For last year’s Bespoke highlights, see page 3.
Page 4 International Ghost media event
Page 6 Building skills for the future
Page 7 Ghost tours Middle East
Page 8 Flash back to the 80’s!
2 > The Marque > March 2010
News In the from newsAsia Pacific in brief
Paul Harris joins as new Asia Pacific Regional Director
From left: Brenda Pek, General Manager for South and East Asia Pacific, Colin Kelly, former Regional Director for Asia Pacific and Dealer Principal, Karsono Kwee from Eurokars Group.
The Ghost story continues through Asia Pacific The Ghost launch tour through Asia Pacific continued in January with a Ghost being previewed to an enthusiastic audience in Singapore with nearly 40 journalists and around 100 customers keen to catch a glimpse of the car. The new car model was already the morning’s topic of conversation for CNBC’s Squawk Box, the region’s most watched business programme. Following that event, a left hand drive Ghost arrived in Seoul, Korea. An outside temperature of -19 degrees
celsius and the threat of power cuts failed to disrupt a hugely successful debut for the car. Media attendance records were broken for an APAC event, with over 160 journalists attending to photograph Ghost and interview APAC spokespersons. Around 120 customers attended an exclusive preview and by the time the APAC team arrived back in Singapore, the Seoul showroom had been flooded with enquiries. Kuala Lumpur, the bustling capital of Malaysia, capped a four month APAC tour. Ghost was introduced to the new
Journalist s experien cing the car at the Singapore Pre view.
market, marking a significant return for the brand to the country after many years. The presentation was split into two separate sessions for mainstream and automotive media respectively, attended by some 80 representatives in total, from national TV, radio and print outlets. Customer previews were held on an exclusive one on one basis. After 16 stops in the Asia Pacific, headline numbers tell the story: over 1,000 journalists and a similar number of customers managed to see Ghost.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars returns to Malaysia The company has appointed Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd as its authorised dealer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd is part of the Quill Group of Companies, a leading multi-disciplinary group that has also been recently appointed as the latest authorised BMW dealer in Malaysia. The new dealership, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, is the first to be established in Malaysia and brings the number of RollsRoyce Motor Cars dealers worldwide to 83. A dedicated Rolls-Royce showroom and service facility in excess of 2,500 square feet will be developed in Petaling Jaya, an affluent suburb of Kuala Lumpur.
Technical training on Ghost In the first of a series of comprehensive technical training courses on Ghost, Aftersales representatives from Australia, India, Japan and Korea converged on the BMW Group Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The course was managed by George Rowlands, Aftersales Manager AsiaPacific, and BMW Group trainer, Velikanan Samatram, a highly qualified
All smiles at the end of the course: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd, Japan Representative Office – Mamoru Shindo (first from left), APAC Rep Office- George Rowlands, Aftersales Manager (fourth from right), BMW Regional Training Centre: Trainer- Vellikanan Samutram (fourth from left) together with RollsRoyce Aftersales Representatives from 5 Dealerships; Korea, New Delhi, Mumbai, Yokohama and Sydney
instructor within the BMW Group who has received specialist training at Goodwood. The training courses were held to ensure that Rolls-Royce technicians in the region are fully conversant with all technical aspects of the new Ghost.
Particular attention was paid to the sophisticated on-board electronics. By the end of the technical training programme representatives from each and every APAC dealership will have gone through one of these comprehensive technical courses.
Paul Harris, new Rolls-Royce Asia Pacific Regional Director, takes the helm for the Rolls-Royce business in the region from Colin Kelly, who is moving back to Canada to establish his own business. Assuming the role in February, Paul brings nearly 25 years of experience from within the BMW Group, holding significant roles in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Paul will lead the business from the company’s Asia Pacific regional office in Singapore. After graduating from Coventry University in Business and Finance, he started his career in 1986 with BMW (GB) Limited. In 2004, he was appointed General Manager for Direct Business at BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited. His focus turned to Northern Europe when, in 2006, he was appointed as General Manager for BMW Baltic (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania). Paul managed all BMW independent businesses in the newly emerging states, increasing sales threefold, achieving segment leadership and doubling aftersales turnover.
The “Best of the Best” Phantom has again been awarded the Best Super Luxury Car for Business award in the “Best of the Best” by China’s sixth annual Hurun Report. Ghost also received an award in the category “Best Super Luxury Car”. Jenny Zheng, General Manager for Greater China, was honoured with the “Person of the Year” award for Best Service initiated by Robb Report, a luxury trends media group. She is the only person from the automotive industry to receive this award. The awards are a result of a one-to-one survey by 383 millionaires spread across China. Hurun Report has a reach of 90,000 of China’s super-wealthy and their advisers.
If you see news, hear news, make news, we want to hear from you! Please contact Jennifer Tietz, UR-K x4066 or Sustainable Forests Andrew Ball UR-K x4064 Sustainable Forests THE MARQUE is produced for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars by CW Corporate Communications Ltd, Marlborough House, 37 Prospect Hill, Redditch B97 4BS (Tel: 01527 61122) Printed on stock from sustainable forests.
Totally Chlorine Free
March 2010 > The Marque > 3
Business news
Bespoke in 2009
The Baniyas Black and Gold commission featured three models of the Phantom family in a stunning black and golden colour two-tone paint scheme. The car’s interior is resplendent with golden inlays in the veneer, a golden bespoke clock and a gold plated rotary control knob.
Looking back at last year, the Bespoke team at Rolls-Royce reached record levels and this trend is expected to continue in 2010. Approximately 100 personalised and engineered features have been developed within the last twelve months. Main projects included the Fux car in Candy Red Pearl, a Phantom commission for the Middle East, a Grand Prix commission for Abu Dhabi Motors and the St. James car which can be seen on the front cover. “The last year delivered the richest mix of Bespoke features for the Phantom family”, said Thomas G. Jefferson, UR-B. The Bespoke team shared its picture collection with The Marque to show a few of their highlights for 2009:
Customers can “sign” their cars with personalised tread plates on the door sills. To help make the specification more complete, tread plates can be designed with text and logos. Illuminated tread plates are also available upon request.
One of the most exciting new features for the Phantom Drophead Coupé is the fridge and glassware set in the boot. Inspired by the concept of a sociable summer picnic, this feature is designed to enhance the use of this model as ultimate picnic car.
The Grand Prix commission was inspired by the inaugural Abu Dhabi Formula 1 race. The chequered flag inlay within the veneer and chequered flag coachline demonstrated equal measures of creativity and craftsmanship.
Created by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design team, the very first set of bespoke luggage was commissioned by a Phantom Drophead Coupé customer last year. This exclusive new feature is expected to attract the interest of many Bespoke clients.
One of the elegant engineered Bespoke features is white instrument dials with mother-of-pearl accents. A number of car interiors were built with this high-value, discrete highlight. Last year, seat piping and bespoke leather applications were among the most popular customer requests.
Fit for a King The Bespoke team were presented with a new challenge recently when the King of Bahrain ordered roof-mounted opaque enamelled shields, both with flagpoles, for his two new Rolls-Royce Phantom. The cars were required for the King’s Parade on Bahrain’s National Day, giving a deadline of two months from ordering to completion. There were several challenges to overcome, including developing a solution that visually worked for both cars when one had a sunroof but the other did not. Another potential problem was the weight of the stainless steel shields and how this might be affected by bumps in the
road. Part of the testing process was to film a shield in situ whilst the car was driven over rumble strips and to analyse the recording. The parts for the shields were assembled and tested at Goodwood before being packaged in custom-made boxes, made in the Woodshop and Leathershops, for shipping to Bahrain. “The main challenge was to think about how to make everything work first time straight out of the box as there was no time for engineering loops”, said James Overthon-Smith, L5-W-4. “There were a few sleepless nights but this is the measure of a conscientious workforce”.
New CEO for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Rolls-Royce announced in January that Torsten Müller-Ötvös will join the company as its Chief Executive Officer. He will assume the role at the end of March 2010 from Tom Purves, who will retire after 25 years service with the BMW Group.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös
During more than 20 years with the Group, Torsten has held a number of management positions in the Sales and Marketing Division and was instrumental in brand and product management for MINI between 2000 and 2003. He successfully re-launched the MINI brand and internationally re-established this quintessentially British marque as the first premium small car brand. In 2004 he assumed responsibility for central marketing and brand management at BMW. Torsten has been running BMW global product management since April 2008, as well as par ts of
Tom Purves
its after-sales business. Tom Purves succeeded Ian Rober tson as CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in July 2008. His previous posts included more than nine years as President of BMW Nor th America, LLC and head of the sales region there, where he successfully managed BMW Group activities throughout Nor th and South America. Under his tenure sales and market share more than doubled. He began his career in the automotive industry in 1966 as an apprentice engineer at Rolls-Royce in Crewe before joining BMW Group in 1985.
4 > The Marque > March 2010
Ghost in the media
International Gh title circulation issue page
The first of two international Ghost launch events to introduce the new model to global key media was held at Goodwood last December. Around 30 of the world’s most influential automotive journalists joined UR-K over the course of the week to learn about the Ghost and to be among the first outside of the
company to take the wheel. The programme included opportunities to quiz members of the UR-Board, Designers, Engineers and the Bespoke team about Rolls-Royce. It also included a factory tour so that guests could see the Ghost being built first hand and understand more about the unique nature of our Goodwood plant. The three
hour drive route was a perfect demonstration of the Ghost’s abilities, taking in a variety of roads and finishing back at Goodwood after a hearty lunch at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. “The event was a tremendous success and is a credit to everyone within Rolls-Royce that helped make it happen”, said Jon Stanley,
Product PR Manager. “The positive coverage that we have received has ensured that Ghost has got off to the best possible start and we can be confident that the opinions expressed by this highly influential group of journalists are now being relayed around the world”. We publish here just some of the articles printed all over the world.
auto motor und sport 624.671 17/12/2009 74-77
FAHRBERICHT ROLLS-ROYCE 6H0ST
BRUDER IM GEISTE
Schluss mit ausreichend Leistung": Der neue, kleinere Rolls-Royce Ghost genehmigt sich exakt 570 PS und mit Hilfe seines Verwandten BMW Siebener den konsequenten Einstieg in die moderne Welt der Autoelektronik.
Wollten
Sie schon immer einmal ein fettes kalifornisches Schaf treten? Dann willkommen im Ghost. Hier liegt das Fell so dicht wie Guinness-Schaum auf dem Boden und harrt der Sohlen maßgeschneiderter Pferdeleder-Schuhe. Damen sollen dafür bekannt sein, dass sie
schon im Phantom ihre teuren Manolo-
Dieses Spiel auf der Klaviatur der
Blahnik-Pumps unter die Vordersitze Sinne und Emotionen beherrscht Rollsfeuern, um sich mit den Zehen gierig Royce wie kein zweiter Autohersteller. in die ultrafeine Wolle zu krallen. Was Entspannen, wohlfühlen und genießen will uns das Kuschelfellalso über einen schon beim Einstieg, wenn sich die Rolls sagen? Es ist völliger Luxus, etwas gegenläufigen Coach-Türen offen, und unpraktischer vielleicht, aber einer, der erst recht auf der Fahrt. Nur mit der sich verdammt gut anfühlt. klassischen Pilotenfreude, dem aus -
Media Review 34 / 60 2/4
auto motor und sport
Media Review 33 / 60 1/4
FEV 10
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Huit essences différentes peuvent orner l'habitacle les plus prisées sont le noyer, l'érable, le bois de rose, sans oublier la finition piano black l'ensemble des boiseries d'une voiture provient toujours du même arbre, pour assurer une uniformité de vemage rt de teinte
pas l'objectif d'une Ghost que de s'aligner avec le vulgum pecus au Grand Prix des feux rouges, mais comme s'interroge en riant Tom Purves, « le pouvoir ne consiste-t-il pas à parler à voix basse en sachant que l'on tient une batte de base-bail dans son dos ? ». La vitesse de pointe est limitée à 250 km/h. L'usage du châssis monocoque aidant, l'espace dévolu à l'habitacle est à peu de chose près équivalent à celui d'une Phantom. « Mais il nous semble qu'il sera plus facile de se présenter en Ghost à l'assemblée générale de ses actionnaires », ajoute Tom Purves. Soit. Vendue à 254000 €, la belle constitue tout de même un sérieux risque de se voir réclamer le versement de copieux dividendes. Concrètement, en quoi, outre le gabarit, diffère-t-elle de la Phantom ? Parce qu'elle est aussi une Rolls-Royce à conduire, et qu'elle offre d'ailleurs dans ce domaine des sensations uniques. Que vous preniez place à l'arrière ou devant, la première impression en foulant la moquette de haute laine, est celle, sacrilège, de marcher sur une étole de cachemire qui serait tombée là par mégarde. Portières doses, c'est la sérénité qui s'empare de vous. Où que porte le regard, ce ne sont qu'attentions délicates. Plafonniers en verre dépoli, commandes chromées en métal massif, cuirs parfaits, surpiqués avec une régularité de métronome. Aux places arrière, votre tête est en retrait du pilier arrière du toit, créant un sentiment d'intimité et BMW3 5690172200503/GJD/ATM/2
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Automobiles Classiques
Eléments de recherche : ROLLS ROYCE : uniquement en tant que constructeur automobile et modèles récents, articles significatifs
FEV 10
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OJD : 20067
Eléments de recherche : ROLLS ROYCE : uniquement en tant que constructeur automobile et modèles récents, articles significatifs
FEV 10
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de protection. À l'avant, vous êtes assis droit, avec une vision totalement dégagée dc l'immense capot. Très vite, les proportions pourtant imposantes se font oublier et vous situez la Ghost dans l'espace. Impressionnant, le silence à bord vous fera entendre distinctement aux places arrière le cliquetis pourtant discret du clignotant. L'image du tapis volant est cculée ? Peut-être. C'est néanmoins la comparaison qui s'impose. La suspension active, qui calcule et rectifie toutes les 2,5 millisecondes la dureté nécessaire des ressorts pneumatiques vous isole du bruit de roulement, des percussions, et réduit au maximum les forces qui s'exercent sur vous en virage. Cette merveille technique s'acquitte à la perfection des contraintes qui résultent du déplacement à une allure éventuellement vive d'une masse
Tradition et modernité Un ecran au graphisme discret vous lenseigne et vous guide, enchâsse dans te bo's venerabie et entoure ci aérateurs PH metal chrome Harman Kardon fournit la hi-fi du bord, avec 600 watts distilles par un amplificateur à 10 canaux entre 16 haut-parleurs soigneusement habites Ecrans DVD et connectique complète Cnacun chez soi i ct climatisation arrière se règle individuellement Des fauteuils séparés climatises peuvent remplacer la banquette
Genroq
Genroq
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Top Gear
Eléments de recherche : ROLLS ROYCE : uniquement en tant que constructeur automobile et modèles récents, articles significatifs
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March 2010 > The Marque > 5
host media event
Top Gear
6 > The Marque > March 2010
News from Goodwood
Phantom bodies built to order
The body ordering team (from left to right): Thorsten Grothe, UR-T-11 (ordering), Dirk Heimes, UR-T-11 (steering) and Marcus Newedel, UR-T-11 (overall responsibility)
Phantom: One car – seven possible body variants: Standard Wheelbase (with or without sunroof), Extended Wheel base (with or without sunroof), Drophead Coupé and Coupé (with option of stainless steel bonnet). Since the launch of Phantom in 2003, UR-T-11 has ordered Phantom bodies from Plant Dingolfing on a forecast-basis, due to customer orders not being in place at the very early Body-In-White (‘BIW’) production stage. The throughput time of this process was long and it was herefore necessary to keep a stock of bodies close to the plant to ensure availability of the right body to meet customer orders. A stock of bodies
resulted in increased storage costs. The “PPE Project” was challenged to reduce the throughput time of the BIW process. Marc Pelz (now with MI-40) led teams in Dingolfing and Goodwood, reducing the overall throughput time by 10 days. As a consequence, all Phantom bodies are now built to order, improving flexibility and reducing storage costs – an excellent result.
From left to right: Michael Dedekind, UR-V-A, Elfriede Angerer, PW-10 and Tom Purves, CEO
Award for Michael Dedekind Michael Dedekind, General Manager, Aftersales (UR-V-A), recently completed 25 years with BMW Group. On being presented with a golden lapel pin and signed certificate by Tom Purves, CEO, Michael said, “This is a very special moment in my career at BMW”. Michael started his career in 1985 when he joined BMW as a Test Engineer after studying mechanical engineering. In 1993 his first business
In the spotlight
experience abroad took him to the UK to work in Quality and Product Engineering at BMW UK in Bracknell. Four years later he moved to Sao Paulo to take the position of Service Manager at BMW Brazil. After returning to BMW in Munich in 2001 to head the function of Aftersales Development for the region North and South America, he was offered his current position at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Goodwood.
Building skills for the future A team of Graduate Engineers from Rolls-Royce recently took part in a Careers Awareness Day - “Engineering your future” – held at Sackville college for students from all over West Sussex. The event was designed to give 16-18 year old students the chance to meet young Professional Engineers and engage with them whilst taking part in an engineering-based workshop. Jamie Stephenson (L5-W4), Omar Haq (UR-V-A), Nils Felgenhauer (TI-342GW) and Thomas Conway (UR-T-41), led a group session. The task was to see who could make a
car travel the furthest under its own power from a set pack of everyday materials, including card, balloons, elastic bands and straws. With 25 entries it was a busy day for the RollsRoyce team, and the eventual winner managed a distance just over 4 metres. The event was organized by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and was a success, receiving very positive feedback from all the participants. The session run by Rolls-Royce was rated by those taking part as From left to right (wearing badges): Omar Haq, UR-VThomas Conway, A, Nils Felgenhauer, UR-T- 41, supportin TI-342GW and ‘excellent’. Well done to the g an engineering bas ed workshop at Sac kville college Rolls-Royce team!
Problem solved! A new system called the T-card process is now in place in the Leathershop to identify and resolve problems. When a problem arises, it is logged on a “T”, a small “T”-shaped card, and is located on the local T-Board. Each day the team gathers to review the “T”s and discuss the problems and jointly agree who could best lead the investigation/analysis to find out why the problem occurred and how to fix it. Since the introduction of the T-Card process, issues have become more transparent, with identified problems visible to all associates. There is great visibility
of the problems status and progress is continually reviewed. Associates have taken on greater responsibility for solving their own issues and have proven that problem sharing is a really good way to build greater team spirit. In 2009, 640 T-Cards were raised, with the majority solved, and costsaving ideas have lead to Leathershop savings of around £160,000. The process works due to the commitment of everyone – taking time to log an issue, daily team
review of T-Cards, prioritisation of “T” issues and the acceptance and progress of a “T”. Congratulations to Tim Harman, the PAM for Leather Cutting, Sewing and Seat Build, who has driven the process from the beginning.
Martin O’Callaghan, UR-T-55
How long have you worked at Rolls-Royce? I started as a graduate over two years ago in Bespoke. During my graduate programe I spent time in Analysis, the VPS department, UR-T-47 and also four months in the Fiz in Munich, Germany. What is your current job? I returned to UR-T-55 in January as a Bespoke Project Manager, where I’m responsible for the follow-up of the direct order confirmations for RR4 Bespoke items.
Did you enjoy the graduate programme? Absolutely. As a graduate you get the chance to work in various departments and get to understand the whole business. I still have the chance to work with different people when having meetings with other departments, for example with colleagues from Design, Marketing or Communications, which is a nice part of my work.
What car do you drive now and what was your first car? My first car was a “1.0 Litre beauty” - a bright-blue Nissan Micro from my mother. Today I drive a BMW 325D Coupe in titanium silver and black leather. What would be in your £1 million garage? I would love to own an SL300 Mercedes Roadster Gullwing from 1954, or its successor, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
Which member of the Rolls-Royce family would you have and what specification would you choose? I love the Ghost in Tungsten Metallic with individual coachlines and Mugello red leather stitched with my initials and finished with Artic White seat piping. Where do you live? At the moment I’m living in a shared flat in Chichester with other people from Rolls-Royce.
important part of my work, The location, being so close to especially when dealing with the city and to work, is pretty other departments. good. Desert island disc? Instead of music I would prefer to take a rugby ball with me and maybe some of my rugby mates to kick around with. If Which of the five you would ate values (PR1DE) are like to nomin be a colleague to , most important ht in the spotlig w to you? contact Andre K. RU ll, Ba One (1) team is the most important value for me. Working together is an
March 2010 > The Marque > 7
News from the Middle East and US
Ghost tours Middle East On a comprehensive launch tour two Ghosts were touring the Middle East from October to December 2009, ending with the most important car show for the region, the Dubai Motor Show. Together they covered a distance of more than 2,500 miles with 10 stops in six different countries, starting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and finally ending in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi
Kuwait
Gathering of cameras and photographers at the press conference in Kuwait.
Muscat
Violinists accompany the unveiling of Ghost on stage in Abu Dhabi, attended by more than 100 guests.
Riyadh
Doha
The opening of the new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha showroom at The Pearl Qatar in combination with the national Ghost debut attracted more than 200 guests.
Ghost presented to more than 70 guests at a preview held at Al Faissaliah Hotel, Riyadh.
Jeddah
Ghost in the middle of two performers at a preview at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Muscat.
Huge media interest at the Middle East launch in Jeddah.
Dubai
Tom Purves speaking at the Dubai Motor Show.
Bahrain
A very exclusive Ghost preview at the private home of the Managing Director of Euro Motors, Bahrain.
Ghost hits Hollywood! Kuwait’s first The evening before the LA Auto Show took place in November, journalists, VIP car collectors and friends of the host were treated to a private dinner party at the home of Rolls-Royce customer and car collector, Jack Corwin. Mr. Corwin’s spectacular home is built on the former Errol Flynn Ranch, and perched atop a mountain overlooking Hollywood. The estate features contemporary architecture, a glass garage that showcases part of his car collection and a large collection of automobilia.
Ghost at the LA Auto Show
Concours d’Elegance The first ever Concours d’Elegance in Kuwait was held at the end of January. Fifty rare vintage cars were presented to the public, including brands which no longer exist. A journey through 83 of the company’s Rolls-Royce 106 year history was made with a Phantom I, first
registered in 1927, parked close to the current Phantom. The Ghost was showcased beside a Silver Cloud III, built in 1962. An award for “Best Car of the Show” was presented to a 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom. The three vintage cars belong to collectors in Kuwait.
A Ghost in the Hollywood Hills, the centerpiece of the evening presented by Ian Robertson and Ian Cameron
Cars on display included a classic Corvette and modern exotics such as a Porsche GT, a BMW Z8, and several Ferraris. The centerpiece of the evening was the Ghost,
which was presented to the guests by Ian Robertson and Ian Cameron. The following day, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America capitilised the Los Angeles media day with a champagne reception for journalists present at the Auto Show. Over 300 journalists were in attendance, with Ian Robertson, Chairman, introducing the Ghost. Rolls-Royce present and past in a row: Phantom, Cloud III and Ghost.
8 > The Marque > March 2010
Back page news
Flash back to the 80’s! Way back in 1988, a small group of British Aerospace apprentices set about the lengthy and meticulous restoration of a 1949 Hooper-bodied Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, to return the battered and bruised car to its original pristine condition. Two of those apprentices work for Rolls-Royce today: Chris Lowe and David Burgess. Chris joined the company in 2001 and is currently working in UR-T-41 as QMT Commodity Manager. David, who has been working with BMW in Landshut since 1996, has been working in the background for Rolls-Royce since 2000, engineering interiors for RR01, 100EX, RR2, 101EX, RR3 and RR4. He is also one of the small team that originally set up the Leathershop in Goodwood. Many months of patient work was undertaken to return the car to its original elegance. When the vehicle was purchased in 1987, it was to be a prestigious and demanding project, providing practical means for the lads to utilise their workshop skills to the full. During the complete restoration of the car, Chris, David and the other apprentices had to use their skills to re-create
many parts that were corroded or missing, as replacement parts were generally not available. The chassis, suspension and engine (which had a large crack in the cylinder block) were all refurbished along with the body, interior, electrics, wood and exterior trim. A two week body restoration course at Rolls-Royce in Crewe gave the apprentices valuable know-how in reworking and spraying the aluminium panels. The 1949 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith limousine, chassis number WFC22, was fondly referred to as KLY by the lads and was nearly 40 years old when it was restored. It is a six seater, with leather trim in the front and cashmere blend cloth seats in the rear, fitted with an electric drivers window and an electrically operated division between front and back compartments. The engine has a 4.5 litre capacity and six cylinders. It had its best years with
Rolls-Royce in St. Moritz
Chris Lowe UR-T-41 (second left) and David Burgess MI-630 (far right)
Ellis Wilson, the permanent chauffeur for Walter Frank Higgs, Member of Parliament for West Birmingham. Noteworthy passengers driven by Mr. Wilson: Princess Elizabeth (early 1950’s), later to become our Queen, Princess Alexandra in 1959, Lord and Lady Home and Neville Chamberlain.
Investment in the future Rolls-Royce hosted the fourth BMW UK apprentice recognition event at the Chichester Festival Theatre last December. The event recognised the achievements of 47 BMW UK apprentices from Oxford, Swindon, Hams Hall and
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently joined the famous “White Turf” event in Switzerland. Amidst a magnificent alpine setting, guests and locals alike met for the Upper Engadin´s spectacular horseracing event on the frozen Lake St. Moritz. The annual event dates back to 1907 and courageous men and women on skis are pulled along at high speed by unmounted horses at the only skijoring race in the world. The frozen lake formed the ideal stage for the Ghost on display in this unique atmosphere. One essential daily activity was undertaken by a town official – to measure the thickness of the ice to decide if the lake was able to carry the weight of the car!
Under Ellis Wilson’s stewardship the car travelled all over the continent until it was sold in 1961. It was then used as a bridal car and fell eventually in to a state of disrepair. British Aerospace sold the vehicle in the late 1990’s and it is now believed to be in private hands in Holland.
Goodwood. Tom Purves, CEO, gave the opening address and talked about the importance and the value of apprentices in today’s society. Training managers from each site then gave a short speech about each apprentice before presenting certificates. Congratulations to all of our apprentices.
Rolls-Royce apprentices with Tom Purves, CEO (far left), Liz Batten, Development and Training Coordinator (second left) and Xaver Franz, Manufacturing Director (far right)
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! In December the British obsession with talking about the weather was justified. Goodwood endured extraordinary conditions, with the heaviest snowfalls and lowest temperatures recorded in the South East for almost 30 years. Thank you to everyone behind the scenes that worked hard to keep the manufacturing plant operational.
In the next edition: The international Ghost launch at Pelican Hill