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March 2008 Issue
 
ARTICLE
Click for PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION
 
Rolls-Royce and Bentley
By Robert McLellan
 
 
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A review of the popular car magazines of the 1950s and 1960s will reinforce the established view of the prior 50 years — that Rolls-Royce was, and would always be, the best luxury car in the world. Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Isotta-Fraschini and other grand makes had all disappeared while Rolls-Royce remained.

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W. O. Bentleys, the ultimate British sportscar of its time, was swallowed up by Rolls-Royce and offered as a less conspicuous Rolls-Royce. Rolls-Royce or Bentley, they were the ultimate in luxury.

What made a Rolls-Royce / Bentley "The Best Car in the World" was the handcrafted, labor intensive coachwork and attention to detail. Only the finest materials were used to create the elegant designs. Flawless leather, wood and paint for those who could afford the best.

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1912/13

1912/13

1912/13
     

1928

1928

1928
     

1934/35

1934/35

1934/35
     

1949

1949

1949
     

1959

1959

1959
     

1969

1969

1969
     

1975

1975

1975
     

1977

1977

1977
     

1978

1978

1978
     

1979

1979

1979
     

1980

1980

1980
     

1985

1985

1985
     

1987

1987

1987
     

1990

1990

1990
     

Press kits, too, are very interesting though photographs seldom do them justice. The following items include numerous press photographs, pages of press release information which was available only to journalists, specifications sheets and more. For detailed information on content click on the photograph, then on the "Description" link.

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1976

1976

1976
     

1981

1981

1981
     

1985

1985

1985
     

1987

1987

1987
     

1991

1991

1991
     

1992

1992

1992
     

1993

1993

1993
     

1994

1994

1994
     

2005

2005

2005
     

Bentley or Rolls-Royce? In the 1980s Rolls-Royce decided to give Bentley more "personality", with a flare for performance, to attract younger buyers. The "W. O." connection was emphasized and the sporting nature of the early Bentleys was reflected in the literature.

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Bentley's popularity began to rise immediately as models like the Bentley Eight and Bentley Turbo stood out from, and soon outsold, Rolls-Royce Models.

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1987

1987

1987
     

1988

1988

1988
     

1993

1993

1993
     

2007

2007
 
     

Our effort to offer more Rolls-Royce and Bentley literature than any other dealer is well established, but the effort has become more difficult with time. Collectors hold tight to their Rolls-Royce/Bentley literature, selling off anything else first. Scarcity makes for higher prices, so purchasing collections has been difficult. But as it becomes available we will alert our subscribers with our monthly e-mail updates. If you are not on our mailing list click here.

For you convenience detailed listings of all Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce / Bentley and Bentley literature can be accessed with the following links:

 
Sales Literature
Rolls-Royce
Bentley
 

 
Dealer Literature
Rolls-Royce
Bentley
 

 
Books
Rolls-Royce
Bentley
 

 
Manuals
Rolls-Royce
Bentley
 

 
Magazines
Rolls-Royce
Bentley