Rolls-Royce (1945-1980): books - history and models

Original Rolls-Royce and Bentley 1946-65 - The Restorer's Guide to the 'standard' Saloons and Mainstream Coachbuilt Derivatives

Between 1945 and 1965, the Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe produced exceptional motor cars. The Mark VI Bentley, the first fully built by Rolls-Royce, was introduced with a Pressed Steel body, while custom-built versions remained available.

In 1949, the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn was launched, followed by its Bentley equivalent in 1952, featuring an extended trunk. This led to the evolution of the Mark VI into the R-type. The 120 mph Bentley Continental became the pinnacle of Bentley performance.
In 1955, the Silver Cloud and Bentley S-series, nearly identical, were introduced with a 4.9-liter engine, later upgraded to a 6.2-liter V8 in 1959. Coachbuilt S-series Continentals continued as exclusive grand tourers.

"Original Rolls-Royce & Bentley 1946-65" is an essential guide to these refined cars, celebrated for their durability and craftsmanship. The book traces their development through detailed descriptions and color photographs, highlighting numerous specification changes resulting from Rolls-Royce's commitment to continuous improvement.

With over 250 commissioned color images, it serves as a valuable reference for owners, restorers, buyers, and enthusiasts, drawing from factory records, parts lists, and catalogues.

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Rolls-Royce : The Classic Elegance

Originally written by lifelong car enthusiast Lawrence Dalton, "Rolls-Royce: The Classic Elegance" has been out of print for years. This revised second edition, edited by Rolls-Royce expert Bernard L. King, includes thousands of updates and additions.
It provides detailed production data and captions for the Silver Wraith, Phantom IV, Phantom V, and coachbuilt versions of the Silver Dawn and Silver Cloud I, II, and III. King's extensive database, covering all Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars produced up to 1965, forms the foundation of this revision.

For the first time, the information is presented in a standardized format, making it easier for enthusiasts to identify a car's body, completion date, first owner, and other details. References to additional books for each coachbuilt model are also included, helping readers find further photographs and information.

The book features over 500 illustrations, mostly black-and-white photographs, along with a 16-page color section. It showcases nearly every body design mounted on post-war Rolls-Royce models up to 1986, including interior views and coachbuilders' drawings.

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Rolls Royce Motors - The Crewe Years (Nostalgia Road)

In 1938, Rolls-Royce built a factory at Pym's Lane in Crewe to produce aircraft engines. During World War II, thousands of Merlin and Griffon engines were assembled there for aircraft like the Hurricane, Spitfire, and Lancaster.
After the war, Crewe became the center of Rolls-Royce Motors, including Bentley, when car production moved from Derby. These vehicles became known worldwide for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

This book explores the five generations of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars built in Crewe, including the Silver Cloud and Silver Shadow.
It also covers the company's history, including the events that led to the separation of the two brands in 2003. That year, Rolls-Royce was acquired by BMW and moved to Goodwood, while Bentley remained in Crewe under Volkswagen ownership.

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Making Cars at Crewe

On 30 August 2002, the final Crewe-built Rolls-Royce left the production line, marking the end of an era. Peter Ollerhead, a former Rolls-Royce employee, spent years researching the company's history in Crewe from 1938 to 1998, focusing on the people behind its success.

This book, illustrated with over 80 photographs, details the challenges faced in establishing the factory, starting with the initial plans to build a Merlin aero engine plant.
The early years were marked by skill shortages, housing problems, and a strike, followed by a bombing raid in 1940 that killed 17 employees. The shift to car production after World War II and the company's diverse efforts, from supplying power units to the War Department to making hip joints for the NHS, are also covered.

Despite struggles, including two major fires, bankruptcy, and mass layoffs, Rolls-Royce became Crewe's largest employer, produced some of the finest luxury cars in the world, and significantly influenced the town. This book honors the workers who made it all possible.

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Crewe's Rolls-Royce Factory - From Old Photographs

This book presents a collection of images that illustrate the presence of Rolls-Royce in Crewe, starting from the years before World War II. At that time, a factory was built in the town to produce Merlin aero engines, which were essential for powering Spitfires and Hurricanes in Britain's defense.

The images document both production and wartime destruction, showing the fight against fascism until peace was restored.
After the war, Rolls-Royce decided to repurpose the Pym's Lane factory for car manufacturing, making Crewe the center of its automobile production. The book features various Rolls-Royce and Bentley models produced there, showcasing the iconic RR emblem and Bentley's winged 'B'.

Many of the photographs showing production techniques and machinery have never been made public before, offering readers a valuable and insightful look at this history.

The book concludes with a detailed chapter on the people and events that shaped Bentley and Rolls-Royce in Crewe, leading up to the moment when the two brands separated. Bentley remained the sole owner of the Pym's Lane factory, continuing its legacy in the town.

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