Oldest surviving Rolls-Royce under the hammer - 19-10-2007 - 11:08

A gem of old-time automotive engineering is going on sale for around £2 million.

The world's oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, car 20154, will go on auction on December 3rd.

Only the fourth vehicle Charles Rolls and Henry Royce co-operated on, the 20154 - an open topped two-seater - packed a ten horsepower engine.

"It is in perfect condition after loving restoration in the 1950s. 20154 is a runner. The purchaser could get in and drive it away," Tim Schofield, head of UK motor sales at auction house Bonhams told Reuters.

"You would just need to tickle the carburettor, make sure the battery has a bit of life in it, remove the sleeve from the starter handle and give it a couple of turns."

After showing at the Paris Salon and at the Olympia Show, the car was passed between three drivers before making it into the hands of Rolls-Royce enthusiast Oliver Langton.

The Bonhams auction house will be returning it to Olympia where it will form part of the collectable cars and parts sale.

Rolls-Royce sales push up production - 16-10-2007 - 15:07

Record customer demand has seen the Rolls-Royce manufacturing plant at Goodwood provide additional shifts and extend working hours.

The company, which as well as an automotive legend is an aerospace giant and manufactures turbines for energy plants, experienced a 22 per cent jump in third quarter car sales compared to last year.

Quarterly sales figures also revealed that forward orders for the four-door models as well as the Phantom Drophead Coupe extend into 2008.

And, the announcement of a new series is expected to increase sales figures further. The experimental two-door, four-seat 101EX is to be launched in 2008.

Preparation for the new series as well as other new models will require changes to the infrastructure of the manufacturing plant, as well as lead to the creation of several hundred new jobs at the site.

Ian Robertson, chairman and chief executive, Rolls-Royce motor cars, said: "Now we look forward to significant changes for the whole organisation as we prepare for the launch of our future model series. The changes that will soon take place mark a significant investment in Goodwood, in the future of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and in the future of manufacturing in the UK."

Bentley designer gets Belgian award - 10-10-2007 - 17:13

A Bentley Motors designer has been given an exclusive award in Belgium.

Dirk van Braeckel, the director of design at Crewe's Bentley Motors, was selected as the 2007 Laureate of the Christoffel Plantin Award.

The prize, which recognises Belgians who improve the country's prestige abroad was presented to Mr van Braeckel by the governor of Antwerp.

Academics, doctors, engineers and lawyers have all received the prestigious accolade, but the Bentley designer was the first member of the automotive industry to receive it.

Mr van Breckel studied electrical engineering before going into the automotive trade.

He started his career as a trainee designer at Ford's Cologne design studio, with the vehicle maker sponsoring his study in automotive design at London's Royal College of Art.

Later he moved to Audi, where he spent ten years before going to Skoda as the brand repositioned itself.

His recent stint at Bentley began in September 1999.

While in Crewe, he designed the Bentley Continental GT.