Words such as royalty and sophistication come to mind when we hear the words “Rolls-Royce.” There’s simply nothing else like it. If you think you have all the facts about one of Britain’s most luxurious cars, think again. We’ve found a few fun facts about the Rolls-Royce you should know. Let’s get started.
The Hood Ornament
The Spirit of Ecstasy proudly sits on the hood of the Rolls-Royce. She has a story to tell, and we’ll warn you, you’ll never look at hood ornaments the same way again. The tale of The Spirit of Ecstasy tells us that she was modeled after the secretary and mistress of a prominent car collector. Since it debuted in 1911, there’s no one left to say for sure whether this is true. All we know is that this iconic hood ornament is a rare gem, and a Rolls-Royce wouldn’t be a Rolls-Royce without it.
Another interesting fact about The Spirit of Ecstasy is that each day during production, enough ornaments are found in a safe for the day. There is no excess each day, and they are all kept safely tucked away until it’s time to attach the lovely lady to a hood. Who knew a hood ornament could have such a story?
The Refrigerators
The famous refrigerators of Rolls-Royce are placed in the backseat area of the car. Here’s what makes the Rolls-Royce refrigerators so aptly Rolls-Royce. The temperature settings have two options: chill for a vintage bottle of champagne or chill for non-vintage. Yes, it’s that fabulous.
Sacred Leather
If you haven’t experienced Rolls-Royce leather, you’ve felt nothing like it. There’s a reason their seats are known as nothing less than superb. We can thank the bulls living at high altitudes in Europe for the luxurious leather experience. They’re the only source of leather for a Rolls-Royce. You see, high altitude means cooler temps and few insect bites on the bull. And since bulls are male and unable to get pregnant, their skin stays rather perfect, with no stretch marks. Go ahead and try to find an imperfection on a Rolls-Royce seat. We’ll wait.
Still on the Road
What good is luxury without quality? Rolls-Royce has both and never waivers on either. The quality is such that an estimated 65 percent of all Rolls-Royce ever created is still on the road, confidently driving today. That’s an impressive number.
Royalty Only
Today, anyone can have a Rolls-Royce. However, in 1950, when the British royal family fell in love with the elegant car, the Phantom IV became the Rolls-Royce for royalty only. Only 18 were produced in total, making the Phantom IV extremely rare today.
Chauffeur School
There’s chauffeur school, and then there’s Rolls-Royce chauffeur school. If you’re in need of a chauffeur to drive you to the grocery store in your Rolls-Royce, please be aware that you can send them to a school dedicated to Rolls-Royce chauffeurs only. There, they’ll learn how to properly open the door without leaving any fingerprints and learn to brake in a way that prevents your delicate head from moving. Impressive.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our fun facts about the Rolls-Royce. This vehicle truly is the epitome of luxury, and we sincerely respect such an elegant and impressive invention. At DarwinPro Aerodynamics, we offer the Rolls-Royce body kit for the ultimate experience. Contact us or shop our online store for more information.