You know there's always 'that guy' in the neighbourhood who has lots of half-built, half-repaired cars parked outside their house? In our street in the early 2000s it was a bloke who bought up Bentleys and Rolls Royce cars from the 1970s and 80s. For years, until the was convicted of other offenses and his family moved away, there were at least 5 or 6 Rollers parked in front of his house in various states of repair, including the model featured in this film. It turns out that you can pick up used Rolls Royce and Bentley cars for relatively little money; you just have to factor in the abysmal fuel usage (about 12mpg) and the high cost of parts and servicing.

This film stock looks like it was manufactured in the 1960’s.

@jayjaybrown1123

20 күн бұрын

Why you say that

@bombfog1

20 күн бұрын

@@jayjaybrown1123 The color is so washed out which is very indicative of documentary film from 20 years earlier than this video.

@Funlu

17 күн бұрын

@@bombfog1you’re not wrong. But who knows, it’s been so long maybe 80s stuff has degraded. I assume it will all just look old in a few hundred years. Ie, the decades will be virtually indistinguishable, beyond knowing the width of the film. Kind of sad.

@bombfog1

17 күн бұрын

@@Funlu Excellent point.

Absolutely fascinating video. I wonder what the opening music piece was for this film, as it sounds to me like it was composed by Francis Monkman - he seemed to have roped in his Sky band-mates Tristan Fry and Herbie Flowers for the exercise. The closing music is definitely a Francis Monkman composition, "Achievements of Man".

@EcosseZA

22 күн бұрын

The Dawn of an Era by the same artist. Unmistakably the sound of Sky. Given the two titles I wonder if they were written specifically for the video.

@Oliverdobbins

22 күн бұрын

The last piece of music isn’t Francis Monkman. It’s an almost litigeously close copy of “Pulstar” by Vangelis.

@EcosseZA

22 күн бұрын

@oliverdobbins definitely not Pulstar but I understand your point in similarities. Vangelis is another with a recognisable musical fingerprint.

Cassette of concert hall quality… 😂😂 The music is great.. the pacing of this is crazy slow compared to production of today. And the script is so over the top! But I love it !

Styling was definitely influenced by the 1977 GM B- and C-bodies as was the case with the '79 big Fords. This was a brilliant move in regard to customer expectations; in Britain Rolls-Royce was always about in-your-face big money which is why it didn't have royal patronage until relatively recently, and this offered that by dint of sheer size and bluffness. Americans tended to expect a certain discretion and reserve to high-end British products, and on streets filled with Caprices and LTDs that's what this design had, until an observer noticed That Grille and the sheer quality of everything that showed at curbside (even if it was a fright pig to own).

6:23 It kinda feels like James May is driving here....

I agree that style has not aged well. Actually, the Shadows look more timeless and classic now than the Spirit and Spurs do.-Greg in California

I quite liked how they made sure you knew the electrics wouldn't crap out when wet by driving it through a pond.

Body roll(s?) on that reminds me of my 66 Dodge Monaco! :O

New rear suspension setup, though that wasn't really Rolls' work as it was the hydropnumatic system licenced from Citroën.

@alext8828

21 күн бұрын

Didin't they use that on one of the very small English cars? Morris Mini, maybe? No, I think that was called 'Hydroelastic' maybe? I think the suspension on today's cars is rather Flintstoneish. Everyone talks about handling now and then goes 99% in straight lines. I liked the old suspension better. As kids, we would sleep while our parents drove us to some boring place. They were exceedingly smooth riding.

@dglcomputers1498

21 күн бұрын

@alext8828 Similar idea but different, called Hydragas/Hydralastic depending on the version. Have no idea how it worked but must have been simpler than the Citroën setup, fitted to a few BL cars like the Austin Princess. Naturally Rolls wanted the smoothest ride possible and that pretty much gave them only one option.

Too bad they don't mention it might help to set aside quite a few quid, pounds , or shillings for the inevitable maintenance and repairs.

Bentley and Rolls Roycethe luxury cars

Does anyone know who the narrator is? It sounds like the late Bob Holness but I can't say for sure...wonderful speaking voice and perfect for the subject matter!

Yeah that definitely doesn't look like a car I would try any performance driving in.

don't the windows run off hydraulics of shorts, they fail & need repairs

Whats the music at 1:57 ?

I had the Rolls Silver Shadow. It was all the time in the shop. Giant piece of junk. That's why they discontinued it two years after I bought mine.

@santiagoecheverri5743

22 күн бұрын

Así de malo era? Increíble!

@alext8828

22 күн бұрын

@@santiagoecheverri5743 I do have bad luck. Maybe other people had good ones.

@seana806

22 күн бұрын

This is why I’d rather have a 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham or a Lincoln Town Car of that era, may not have the ‘hand built’ feel, but more than makes up for it in reliability and parts availability.

@jonnieinbangkok

21 күн бұрын

You were supposed to buy four....one to drive, one going to the shop, one in the shop, one returning from the shop. Always one available to use.

@seana806

21 күн бұрын

@@jonnieinbangkok it seems as though Europe forgot the concept of reliability in the 70’s and 80’s, you think American cars from the 70’s and 80’s were bad, most European vehicles from the 70’s and 80’s were far, far worse in reliability, some even had major issues from the get-go. Even some Brits in the UK around this time were importing American vehicles, even if it was a small minority, just tells you how bad most European cars were, especially anything from British Leyland.

Those designs haven't aged well.

Ugliest rear end in RR/Bentley history. Looks like a Honda Accord from the same era.