This book shows how Rolls-Royce turned its very name into a byword for luxury.
Few brands in any field carry the cachet of Rolls-Royce—and it’s a cachet rooted in the incredibly high quality, luxury, and attention to detail that has marked their cars for more than a century.
This history of Rolls-Royce motor cars runs from the company’s origins in 1904—when Charles Rolls met Henry Royce and drove the car that Royce was developing—through the outbreak of World War II. Peter Moss shows how the pairing of Royce, engineering genius, and Rolls, the businessman, was the foundation of the company—but that Rolls-Royce’s long-term success relied just as much on managing director Claude Johnson’s innovations in promoting the cars and the company. That marketing, and the publicity it generated, helped Rolls-Royce stand out in a crowded field as the market for cars exploded worldwide. Richly illustrated with little-seen marketing materials and ephemera, and buttressed by internal documents of meetings and plans, this book shows how Rolls-Royce turned its very name into a byword for luxury.
Few brands in any field carry the cachet of Rolls-Royce—and it’s a cachet rooted in the incredibly high quality, luxury, and attention to detail that has marked their cars for more than a century.
This history of Rolls-Royce motor cars runs from the company’s origins in 1904—when Charles Rolls met Henry Royce and drove the car that Royce was developing—through the outbreak of World War II. Peter Moss shows how the pairing of Royce, engineering genius, and Rolls, the businessman, was the foundation of the company—but that Rolls-Royce’s long-term success relied just as much on managing director Claude Johnson’s innovations in promoting the cars and the company. That marketing, and the publicity it generated, helped Rolls-Royce stand out in a crowded field as the market for cars exploded worldwide. Richly illustrated with little-seen marketing materials and ephemera, and buttressed by internal documents of meetings and plans, this book shows how Rolls-Royce turned its very name into a byword for luxury.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter One - Prologue: 1902-1904
Chapter Two - Early days: 1905-1906
Chapter Three - The 40-50 h.p. from 1906 to World War I
Chapter Four - World War I and After – the 40-50 h.p. Remains Alone
Chapter Five - 20 h.p.: 1922-1929
Chapter Six - The New Phantom: 1925-1929
Chapter Seven - The Phantom II: 1929-1935
Chapter Eight - Rolls-Royce in America: 1919-1934
Chapter Nine - 20-25 h.p.: 1929-1936
Chapter Ten - Phantom III: 1935-1939
Chapter Eleven - 25/30 h.p. and Wraith: 1936-1939
Chapter Twelve - The Clouds of War
Appendix One - Principal Publications in Which Rolls-Royce Advertised
Appendix Two - Letters from Rolls-Royce to the Readers of The Times newspaper
Appendix Three - Contract Spaces for 1931
Appendix Four - The Announcement of Rolls-Royce of America
Appendix Five - The Significance of Rolls-Royce in America
Index
Introduction
Chapter One - Prologue: 1902-1904
Chapter Two - Early days: 1905-1906
Chapter Three - The 40-50 h.p. from 1906 to World War I
Chapter Four - World War I and After – the 40-50 h.p. Remains Alone
Chapter Five - 20 h.p.: 1922-1929
Chapter Six - The New Phantom: 1925-1929
Chapter Seven - The Phantom II: 1929-1935
Chapter Eight - Rolls-Royce in America: 1919-1934
Chapter Nine - 20-25 h.p.: 1929-1936
Chapter Ten - Phantom III: 1935-1939
Chapter Eleven - 25/30 h.p. and Wraith: 1936-1939
Chapter Twelve - The Clouds of War
Appendix One - Principal Publications in Which Rolls-Royce Advertised
Appendix Two - Letters from Rolls-Royce to the Readers of The Times newspaper
Appendix Three - Contract Spaces for 1931
Appendix Four - The Announcement of Rolls-Royce of America
Appendix Five - The Significance of Rolls-Royce in America
Index