The car maker Rolls-Royce grew from an electrical and mechanical business established by Henry Royce in 1884.  Royce built his first motor car in 1904.  He was introduced to Charles Stewart Rolls in a Manchester hotel on the May 4 1904 when the pair agreed a deal where Royce would manufacture cars, to be sold exclusively by Rolls. From there a wonderful stable of cars has emanated for over 100 years, one of the latest of which is the Waterspeed.

2014 - WATERSPEED

Rolls Royce introduce a special Phantom drophead coupe to commemorate the water speed records of Sir Malcolm Campbell. The following is a compendium of press articles by way of a review of the introduction of a limited edition vehicle:-

GT SPIRIT 27 MAY 2014

Rolls-Royce revealed a preview of their latest bespoke range today. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection is a series of 35 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupés that seeks to celebrate a seminal act of British watersport!

The cars specifically celebrate the battle between the United States and Great Britain to be the fastest nation on water. On the morning of 1 September 1937, Sir Malcolm Campbell headed out onto the calm blue waters of Lake Maggiore on the Swiss-Italian frontier. He took the wheel of his Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat, powered by a Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine, and set a record of 126.32 mph.

The following day he went one better, piloting his Bluebird K3 to 129.5 mph, breaking the United States’ five-year stranglehold on the world waterspeed record. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection gets brushed steel and a Maggiore Blue colour scheme whilst hand-crafted wood inlays evoke the sense of a boat effortlessly gliding through water at pace.

We’re told that the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection will be gradually revealed over the course of a number of months. Until then, Rolls-Royce provided us with the above sketch and two soundbites.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said:

“Sir Malcolm Campbell’s successful pursuit of world-speed records on land and water were the result of his commitment to the most exacting standards of British design and engineering excellence. Such attributes are hallmarks of every Rolls-Royce motor car, ensuring the marque’s position at the pinnacle of super-luxury manufacturing. This special Collection, and those to follow in 2014, serve to display the breadth of Bespoke personalisation available to every Rolls-Royce customer. I very much look forward to revealing these remarkable cars over the coming months.”

Donald Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell said:

“I am delighted that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has chosen our grandfather’s iconic Bluebird Waterspeed boats as inspiration for this special Collection. I am certain Sir Malcolm would be extremely flattered to see his name still closely associated with such a prestigious brand 75 years after his last world Waterspeed Record. I know that I speak for our whole family and the Malcolm Campbell Heritage Trust when I say that it is a great honour and we look forward to seeing the first car off the production line.”

BMW BLOG MAY 13 2014

Two highly fitting locations have been selected for the UK and European debuts of the latest Bespoke Collection from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection will be previewed to selected UK press and customers at an exclusive event on the site of the original Bluebird Motor Company – now the Bluebird Restaurant – on the King’s Road, London on Tuesday 13 May 2014.

The Bluebird Motor Company building was commissioned in 1923 to be Europe’s largest garage and was built in the era’s characteristic Art Deco style, a style which it preserves today. The business would ultimately help fund Campbell’s pursuit to wrest the Water speed record from its American holders.

The car will then head to the world-renowned Concorso D’Elegenza at Villa D’Este on the shores of one of Italy’s world-famous lakes, Como, where it will be unveiled to the public for the first time. It was on the adjacent Lake Maggiore where, on 1 September 1937, Campbell established his legend, setting a world-record speed of 126.33 mph in the famous Bluebird K3 boat powered by a Rolls-Royce R Engine.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection:

Waterspeed Collection Phantom Drophead Coupés feature a number of exclusively created Bespoke design and engineering features, perfectly executed to create a thoroughly contemporary tribute to Campbell’s famous craft.

“This very special motor car serves to pay a perfect homage to my grandfather’s remarkable acts of British daring and endeavour,” said Donald Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell. “The extraordinary attention-to-detail and commitment to engineering excellence so evident in these motor cars perfectly echoes the lengths my grandfather and his colleagues went to in their pursuit of the waterspeed records.”

The car is finished in a specially developed ‘Maggiore Blue’ exterior paint, inspired by Bluebird’s famous colour scheme. Nine layers of paint are applied before an exhaustive process of hand-sanding and the application of a cutting-edge powdered lacquer is undertaken to ensure an impeccable finish. For the first time in Rolls-Royce history the exterior finish extends to the engine, creating a visually striking homage to the power behind Campbell’s records. The finish also adorns the car’s specially developed, fully-polished eleven-spoke wheels for the first time, providing a subtle decorative accent.

The exterior is completed with a hand-painted coachline that culminates in a Bluebird motif with the design taking Rolls-Royce’s master coachline painter four hours to apply by hand.

Phantom Drophead Coupé’s traditional teak decking to the rear makes way for brushed steel. Each piece of material is individually panel-beaten by hand for 70 hours following initial mechanical pressing. A Rolls-Royce craftsperson will then hand-brush the metal for over 10 hours – showcasing the fastidious attention to detail and commitment to hand-craftsmanship that informs everything undertaken at the Home of Rolls-Royce.

The car’s Maggiore Blue exterior finish is subtly echoed on the interior via accents on the dash-board that perfectly complement the Windchill Grey interior leather scheme. The marque’s hallmark attention to detail extends to the application of hand-engraved door armrest tunnel caps featuring a new interpretation of Campbell’s famous Bluebird motif. The armrests alone take eight hours to complete. Abachi wood also makes its Rolls-Royce debut in Waterspeed. By nature the material is cool to the touch with a satin-like tactility, and is bookmatched at an angle to echo the wake left by a boat moving at speed.

Further reference to Campbell’s craft is made via a new interpretation of the famous ‘power reserve’ dial. As the driver presses on, the dial moves backwards towards a yellow and blue zone, echoing Campbell’s original K3 boat’s ‘going into the blue’ at maximum engine revolutions. A Bespoke front-lit clock adorned with Bluebird’s infinity symbol and dials hewn from a billet of aluminium evokes K3 further. Direct tribute to the records is paid in the glovebox, with a hand-embroidered panel expressing the records Campbell achieved at Lake Maggiore and Coniston Water. Finally, the steering wheel is presented in two-tone for the very first time, with Magiorre Blue accents balancing perfectly with traditional black leather to complete a beautifully conceived interior design scheme.

CAR REVS DAILY APRIL 2014

Donald and Joe Wales, the grandson and great grandson of pioneer record-breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell, have given their seal of approval to the first of 35 Bespoke Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection cars at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex.

Built to commemorate Campbell’s seminal act of British daring and endeavour, this latest creation by the marque’s Bespoke department takes inspiration from the Bluebird craft in which the records were set. A specially created exterior finish named Maggiore Blue takes its name from the lake on the Swiss-Italian border where Campbell broke the United States’ five year strangle-hold on the waterspeed records in 1937. This very special collection also pays homage to a period when the Rolls-Royce R-Type engine held speed records on land, water and in the air.

Donald and Joe enjoyed a walk through the manufacturing plant with Bespoke Designer Alex Innes before reviewing the specially commissioned car. On seeing the collection car, Donald, himself a record breaker, said, “I have no doubt that my grandfather Sir Malcolm Campbell would feel extremely proud to see his achievements honoured in this way. The Waterspeed car is a work of art; the blue and brushed steel evoke connotations of my grandfather’s World Record boats, Bluebird K3 and K4. This car is a lovely addition to the Rolls-Royce collection and a fabulous homage to a very important part of our racing heritage.”

It takes over 80 hours for a Rolls-Royce craftsperson to manufacture and hand brush the car’s striking brushed steel deck, whilst the coachline, complete with Bluebird motif, took another four hours to hand-apply using a squirrel hair brush.

Alex Innes, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bespoke Designer, said, “It gives me great pleasure to reveal Waterspeed to Donald and Joe Wales. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars echo Sir Malcolm Campbell’s commitment to engineering excellence and the constant pursuit of the ultimate in British Design. Using only the finest materials and exceptional craftsmanship, we have created a car which demonstrates the possibilities of Bespoke personalisation available to all Rolls-Royce customers.”

The Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection features a number of exquisitely designed and crafted Bespoke design features that have never appeared on a Rolls-Royce before. Further details revealing an insight into the creation of the cars will follow in the coming weeks.

The V12 engine of the Waterspeed. Imagine if RR had fitted a Merlin engine, to really get the feel of a Reid Railton designed car for Malcolm Campbell fans! See the links below to all of Sir Malcolm's boats.

TOP GEAR 13 MAY 2014

This is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed edition, built to celebrate Sir Malcolm Campbell's circa 1937, 129.5mph water speed record.

Why? Well, the company says that this Phantom doffs its cap to Sir Malc's boat, the Bluebird K3, which was powered by a Rolls-Royce R-Type engine. There's also some guff about celebrating brave endeavour and derring-do. But if you peer under the flannel, you'll see something a lot more interesting.

What this car demonstrates is the breadth of RR's bespoke department - the in-house customisers that build one-off stuff for rich people. Think West Coast Customs that's gone to finishing school. This department lets the customers co-design a few little touches, just for them, then charges them a tremendous amount of money for the privilege. One-off paintwork, special engraving work, unique seating - it's all possible. As are bills well north of £100,000.

A Rolls-Royce spokesperson says: "99.9 per cent of Phantom sales have an element of bespoke on them. So do about 90 per cent of Wraith, and 75 per cent of Ghosts. The customers like to personalise their car."

Thing is, it seems plutocrats - and the other crats that make up RR's customer base - aren't always terribly creative, and occasionally need a nudge of the imagination to spark more bespoke commissions. What this car does, and other concepts like the Celestial Phantom do, is remind them how wild they can go.

PRESS RELEASE MAY 13 2014 

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed Collection: 

Waterspeed Collection Phantom Drophead Coupés feature a number of exclusively created Bespoke design and engineering features, perfectly executed to create a thoroughly contemporary tribute to Campbell’s famous craft.

“This very special motor car serves to pay a perfect homage to my grandfather’s remarkable acts of British daring and endeavour,” said Donald Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell. “The extraordinary attention-to-detail and commitment to engineering excellence so evident in these motor cars perfectly echoes the lengths my grandfather and his colleagues went to in their pursuit of the waterspeed records.”

The car is finished in a specially developed ‘Maggiore Blue’ exterior paint, inspired by Bluebird’s famous colour scheme. Nine layers of paint are applied before an exhaustive process of hand-sanding and the application of a cutting-edge powdered lacquer is undertaken to ensure an impeccable finish. For the first time in Rolls-Royce history the exterior finish extends to the engine, creating a visually striking homage to the power behind Campbell’s records. The finish also adorns the car’s specially developed, fully-polished eleven-spoke wheels for the first time, providing a subtle decorative accent.

The exterior is completed with a hand-painted coachline that culminates in a Bluebird motif with the design taking Rolls-Royce’s master coachline painter four hours to apply by hand.

Phantom Drophead Coupé’s traditional teak decking to the rear makes way for brushed steel. Each piece of material is individually panel-beaten by hand for 70 hours following initial mechanical pressing. A Rolls-Royce craftsperson will then hand-brush the metal for over 10 hours – showcasing the fastidious attention to detail and commitment to hand-craftsmanship that informs everything undertaken at the Home of Rolls-Royce.

The car’s Maggiore Blue exterior finish is subtly echoed on the interior via accents on the dash-board that perfectly complement the Windchill Grey interior leather scheme. The marque’s hallmark attention to detail extends to the application of hand-engraved door armrest tunnel caps featuring a new interpretation of Campbell’s famous Bluebird motif. The armrests alone take eight hours to complete. Abachi wood also makes its Rolls-Royce debut in Waterspeed. By nature the material is cool to the touch with a satin-like tactility, and is bookmatched at an angle to echo the wake left by a boat moving at speed.

Further reference to Campbell’s craft is made via a new interpretation of the famous ‘power reserve’ dial. As the driver presses on, the dial moves backwards towards a yellow and blue zone, echoing Campbell’s original K3 boat’s ‘going into the blue’ at maximum engine revolutions. A Bespoke front-lit clock adorned with Bluebird’s infinity symbol and dials hewn from a billet of aluminium evokes K3 further. Direct tribute to the records is paid in the glovebox, with a hand-embroidered panel expressing the records Campbell achieved at Lake Maggiore and Coniston Water. Finally, the steering wheel is presented in two-tone for the very first time, with Magiorre Blue accents balancing perfectly with traditional black leather to complete a beautifully conceived interior design scheme.

LINKS & REFERENCE

Press rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coup-waterspeed-collection-set-for-uk-and-european-debuts

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/05/13/rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-waterspeed-collection-2014/
GT spirit 2014/02/04/preview-rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-bespoke-waterspeed-collection
http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/05/13/rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-waterspeed/
Topspeed.com/cars/rolls-royce/2014-rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coup-bespoke-waterspeed-collection
Inautonews.com/rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-bespoke-waterspeed
Concorso-deleganza-villa-deste-live-rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-waterspeed-collection
Telegraph.co.uk/luxury/motoring/rolls-royce-celebrates-sir-malcolm-campbell
Digitaltrend rolls-royce-phantom-drophead-coupe-waterspeed-collection-photos-details-and-specs
http://www.rolls-royce.com/

http://www.topgear.com/uk/tags/Rolls-Royce-Phantom

The blue bird legend lives on with the classic lines of the BE3 Blueplanet vehicle, inspired by Reid Railton and Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell's spectacular record runs at Daytona Beach, Bonneville, Utah and Pendine, UK. The BE3 is probably the world's fastest electric car: 350mph + using energy from nature featuring patent built in battery cartridge exchange refueling. The name Bluebird™ and flying blue bird logo are registered trademarks concerning battery cartridge exchange recharging. No other racing car(s) is/are licensed to use this mark at this time, making this brand unique to the BE3 team.

The international cannonball run series rule book above and the Bluebird World Cup Trophy below

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