Barons is joining owners of Rolls & Bentley cars this weekend to stage a prestige classic car automobilia sale. (PIC HEAVY)

Barons is joining vast numbers of Rolls-Royce and Bentley owners this weekend at palatial Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire. 

The auction house is staging a Rolls-Royce, Bentley and prestige classic car and automobilia sale on Saturday, June 25^th, at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club three-day international Annual Rally and Concours d’Elegance, which attracts thousands of cherished motor cars and their owners from all over the world.

The sale starts at 10am with over 200 items of automobilia. A tremendously diverse range of items is on offer, making it the perfect ‘hunting ground’ for those after a special item for their collection or as a unique gift. 

One particularly interesting lot is the ‘Winged Icarus’ factory mascot designed by Frederick Gordon Crosby when commissioned by W O Bentley to find an alternative to the winged B mascot for the Cricklewood-built factory cars of the 1920s (£900-£1,000). 

Another fascinating lot is the ‘mystery mascot’, a Rolls-Royce prototype created around 1911 which has baffled historians and enthusiasts for years. Reputedly the ‘missing link’ between the Whisper and Spirit of Ecstasy mascots that were fitted to the 40/50HP Silver Ghosts of 1911, it carries an estimate of £600-£1,000.

Budding chauffeurs can acquire a smart silver Rolls-Royce chauffeur’s lapel badge, complete with a copy of the booklet ‘What a Good Chauffeur Should Know’ (£150-£250), while Art Deco fans could well be tempted by the delightful 1920s showroom deskpiece featuring a clock and a miniature Spirit of Ecstasy (£200-£400).

The motor car sale begins at 2pm on Saturday, and Barons is presenting a splendid selection, with Rolls-Royces and Bentleys spanning eight decades from the 1920s to the 1990s and including some very rare machines indeed.

The magnificent 1961 Bentley S2 Chinese Eye Continental Drophead Coupé (£195,000-£225,000) was bought new by John Bloom, whose business empire included the Rolls Razor and Electromatic Washing Machine Companies. 

He actually had the car converted to a Rolls-Royce Chinese Eye, but it was later restored to its Bentley identity by Wren Renovations. Other owners have included the famous pianist Russ Conway and the Managing Director of Bristol Motor Cars.

Another stunning Bentley Continental comes in the form of the 1965 S3 Continental Flying Spur, (£115,000-£135,000), while earlier Bentley design is showcased by the glamorous 1936 Vanvooren Pillarless Saloon (£80,000-£100,000).

The sale also features a most appropriate registration number – BNT 5 – which is being sold in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice in Yeovil (£2,000-£3,000).

Rolls-Royce produced a glorious range of individual machines in the 1920s and 30s. These are well represented at Barons at Burghley House, with entries including the head-turning 1926 Phantom 1 Open Tourer LWB Pullman de Ville by Barker (£90,000-£110,000).

Among the non-Rolls-Royce and Bentley element of the motor car sale is a very fine 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Pagoda which has covered less than 20 miles in the last ten years and a very pretty, and rare, 1967 Triumph TR4 1RS Surrey Top which has had just one owner. Estimates are £30,000-£50,000 and £21,000-£25,000 respectively.

Luxury motoring needn’t come at a luxury price. The 1977 Silver Shadow II in the sale was in daily use until dry-stored. It comes with a wealth of history and its original build plan and car assembly summary, handbooks etc. and requires a little TLC to make it a lovely car – and has an estimate of just £1,720-£3,000.

There is going to be a movie made which showcases the iconic and best car in the world, the Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

Asif Kapadia is to direct the Martin Scorsese/Anthony Haas produced feature film drama SILVER GHOST. The project will be a co-production between Scorsese’s Sikelia Productions and Zuma Productions.

BAFTA Award winning Asif Kapadia, director of box office breaking films SENNA and Oscar nominated AMY, said, “What struck me when I read SILVER GHOST was how this true story weaves together the lives of five remarkable people that changed the destiny of the Western world and I am delighted to be working together with the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Anthony Haas to bring it to the screen.”

Academy Award winning director Martin Scorsese remarks, "I’ve been captivated by the story of SILVER GHOST ever since Lord Richard Attenborough came to me with the project, and I’m thrilled that we’re going to be seeing it through.  It’s a project that requires a great and innovative storyteller, and that’s exactly what we have with Asif Kapadia.”

Developed by the late Academy Award winning director Richard Attenborough and producer Anthony Haas,SILVER GHOST tells the epic story of the iconic motor car, born out of an extraordinary odd-couple relationship between the maverick genius of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, marking the genesis of aviation and all the courage and daredevilry that went with it.

Set at the turn of the last century, it delineates the fascinating story of Rolls and Royce and their close friendship with motoring pioneer Lord John Douglas-Scott Montagu, his relationship with his beautiful wife, Cis, and his secret affair with his secretary and mistress, Eleanor Velasco Thornton. Eleanor was the inspiration for the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, designed by British artist and sculptor, Charles Sykes that to this day adorns all Rolls-Royce cars.

“When Richard Attenborough was asked how he would like to be remembered, he replied ‘as a storyteller,’” said Anthony Haas.  “Asif also knows how to tell a deeply personal and epic story and SILVER GHOST is an amazing untold tale of the highs and lows of what makes us human.”

"SILVER GHOST covers the thrilling and tragic events during which one of the greatest engineering names in the world was created," said Sir Ralph Robins, past Chairman, Rolls-Royce plc.

Rare painted Wood Effect Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost owned by The future Edward VIII, broke auction estimates.

A 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost carrying ingenious painted ‘wood-effect’ shooting brake coachwork from a car once owned by the future Edward VIII – one of the earliest ‘woodies’ – burst through its £120,000 upper estimate to sell for £161,280 at H&H Classics’ 20 June auction. 

The sale was held in conjunction with the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club Annual Concours & Rally at Burghley House, Lincolnshire.

The lady vendor had driven the 92-year-old car to the event, no doubt relying on Rolls’ reputation in the day for making the ‘best car in the world’ – although it’s no stranger to adventure, having enjoyed many Ghost Club tours through Europe, South Africa and Australasia. 

In recent weeks the car has been the subject of much Fleet Street speculation that the then Prince of Wales employed it to smuggle Mrs Simpson out of Balmoral, making effective use of the black, `pull down' silk blinds.

In an auction that saw over 70% of motor car entries finding new buyers, other significant sales included the ex-Marquis de Portago 1931 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Sports Saloon achieving £95,200, £154,560 for the rare 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III 'Flying Spur' and a canny buyer paying £47,250 for the 1969 Bentley T-Series Mulliner Park Ward (‘MPW’) Drophead, the perfect car for a picnic with friends at next year’s RREC Rally.

H&H broke all records with an extensive selection of nearly 500 lots of automobilia, which grossed nearly £150,000. Lot 201, an Austin Pathfinder Child’s Pedal Car, finally sold for £4928, some 25% above its upper estimate. 

Similarly, healthy bidding on the rare 1920s Michelin Tyres Illuminated Lightbox eventually saw the hammer coming down at a with-premium price of £6160 (estimate: £2500 - 3500).

Rolls Royce motor Cars returns to the scene of one of the brands most defining moments, 1907, Scotland.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars returned in magnificent style to the Scottish roads that, in 1907 set the scene for one of the marque’s defining moments. 

Wraith, Ghost Series II, Phantom and Phantom Coupé all paid homage to the achievements of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, which, by completing a 14,371 mile virtually non-stop run, forged the marque’s reputation as purveyor of the ‘Best Car in World’.

The 1907 Scottish Reliability Trials

The petrol-powered automobile was still in its infancy in 1907, and the greatest concerns for the motorist were a car’s ability to cope with gradients, the ease with which it could be steered, stopped and started again, but above all, its reliability.

However, very few early manufacturers could truly meet these requirements. Indeed, Rudyard Kipling, an ardent motoring enthusiast, summed up the mood of the time by saying: “I like motoring because I have suffered for its sake”.

Ever the innovators, Sir Henry Royce set out with Charles Rolls to build the best cars in the world and conceived a challenge, the successful completion of which would show the world what their motor car could achieve.

The challenge was not one to be taken lightly. A six-cylinder Rolls-Royce 40-50 h.p. (later known as the Silver Ghost) was to be driven over 5,000 miles in less than a month, without once entering a repair shop for the duration of the trial. 

The mileage was twice the annual mileage a motorist would be expected to cover at that time and 748 miles would be covered as part of the gruelling challenge that would become known as the Scottish Reliability Trials.

Run in various forms since 1901, the Scottish Reliability Trials were administered by the Scottish Automobile Club and designed as the ultimate test over some of the most demanding and remote roads in Great Britain. 

Starting and finishing in Glasgow, the route stretched as far as Aberdeen, Inverness and Pitlochry. Providing one of the greatest challenges was the already well-known Cairnwell Hill, on the route to Braemar, which included the Devil’s Elbow and is still the highest pass in Great Britain, peaking at 2,200 feet above sea level.

The 748 miles took five days to complete and 14 of 104 cars failed to make the finish. The Rolls-Royce 40-50 h.p. completed the Trials in style, comfortably taking the gold medal in its class.

While the Silver Ghost competed in the Trials alone, it was accompanied to Scotland by three other cars from the Rolls-Royce stable. That many owners took in Scotland as part of their travels made the Scottish Reliability Trials particularly relevant to Rolls-Royce, but the 1907 Trials were part of a bigger test and immediately the victorious car was again on the road. 

Within two weeks of completing the Scottish Reliability Trials, the 40-50 h.p. had completed over 5,000 miles. That this had been done without once visiting a repair shop was an outstanding achievement for the time.

In 1911, Rudyard Kipling bought a Rolls-Royce. The only car he could afford, he said, ‘because they did not break down’.

Over a century later, the four contemporary Rolls-Royce models revisited some of the original routes conquered by the Silver Ghost. 

The quartet completed a tour around the Cairngorms and Trossachs, including Cairnwell Hill, touring through the breathtaking scenery with an ease only to be expected from the descendants of the Silver Ghost. 

Technology may have moved on immeasurably in 108 years, but the aim is still the same for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today: to produce the best cars in the world.

Rolls Royce re-enacts event that gave it it's best car in the world title.

• Alpine Trial Centenary Collection celebrates landmark moment in Rolls-Royce and automotive history – the establishment of the Silver Ghost as the ‘Best Car in the World’
• First ever Bespoke homage to a heritage Rolls-Royce car
• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announces entry of Works Team into the centenary 20-Ghost Club reenactment of 1913 Alpine Trial

A century ago this June, four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts embarked on the Austrian Alpine Trials, the most arduous test of automotive endurance of the time.

In performing without fault over 1820 gruelling miles of near impassable mountain terrain, the Rolls-Royce Works Team and privateer entrant James Radley helped cement the marque’s reputation for peerless reliability and mechanical excellence, a reputation the company proudly retains today. The Silver Ghosts’ performance establishing Rolls-Royce as maker of the ‘Best Car in the World’.

At Auto China 2013, the Bespoke department at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England celebrates these endeavours with the launch of the Alpine Trial Centenary Collection.

The first time a Bespoke model has taken inspiration from a heritage Rolls-Royce, this limited edition of Rolls-Royce Ghosts features exquisitely crafted design cues that pay tribute to the 1913 Alpine Trials cars. The exterior paint hue, for example takes close inspiration from Radley’s Silver Ghost, a car that will participate in this year’s reenactment of the 1913 Alpine Trial, as part of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Works Team.

The Radley car’s distinct black grille and wheels are also replicated across the collection – the first time a painted grille has adorned a contemporary Rolls-Royce motor car.

The cabin plays host to Bespoke details that elegantly tell the story of the Alpine Trial. The clock displays the stages of the rally and timings, whilst inlays to rear picnic tables and the front fascia express the topography and distances of the Alpine route. Each element is meticulously hand-crafted and researched to ensure accuracy, epitomising hallmark Rolls-Royce attention to detail.

A hand-painted coachline referencing the four Rolls-Royces that took part in the rally and headlining, colour-matched to the hood of Radley’s car, completes a beautiful homage.

“The 1913 Alpine Trial was an extraordinary moment in the rich history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.“The standards of engineering and pioneer spirit required to achieve such feats stands as inspiration to everyone associated with the marque. The Bespoke Alpine Trial Centenary Collection is a fitting tribute to these achievements. It is testament to the enduring quality of a Rolls-Royce motor car that this 2013 car will be joined by a participant in the original trials, the 1913 Radley Silver Ghost.”

An extraordinary story re-enacted…

In celebration of the centenary of the 1913 Alpine Trial, the 20-Ghost Club has organised a faithful re-enactment which will start in Vienna on 14 June 2013.

A Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Works Team comprising a 2013 Alpine Trial Centenary Collection Ghost and Radley 1913 Silver Ghost will participate in the rally.

In total, over 40 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will traverse through Austria, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia – taking in some of Europe’s most beautiful scenery, before returning to Vienna on 29 June.

They will converge with a parallel rally organised by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club for a Gala at the beautiful Riva del Garda, Italy. 100 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts will stand side-by-side that evening, representing the largest gathering of its kind in history.

Third dealership in India shows the way forward

• Rolls-Royce celebrates opening of a brand new showroom in Hyderabad, India’s fourth largest city
• Hyderabad showroom part of an expansion drive ahead of further showroom openings in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad, signalling Rolls-Royce’s confidence in the Indian super-luxury car market
• Home for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Hyderabad reignites significant historical connection to the brand

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ presence in India continues to grow with the official opening of a third showroom in the South Indian commercial capital of Hyderabad, following the appointment of its authorised dealer, Kun Motoren Private Limited to represent Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Hyderabad.

Situated on the second floor of Kun Motoren’s luxury car hub in Hyderabad, the 5,400 square foot, three-car showroom also boasts a carefully crafted bespoke lounge where customers are able to select the intimate detailing of their Rolls-Royce car.

Paul Harris, Asia Pacific Regional Director said, “We are excited to be working with Kun Motoren as our dealer partner in a region rich with Rolls-Royce history and passion for the brand. Establishing a new retail facility will allow us to reach our customers with the same high standards available elsewhere in the country. The new showroom conforms to the brand’s latest global standards, and is both an impressive and luxurious space.”

“Legend has it that the former Nizam of Hyderabad – famously named as the all-time richest Indian, and the one of the wealthiest men to have ever lived – owned over 50 Rolls-Royce motor cars. This colourful history, our current customer base and continued level of demand is why Hyderabad was the natural choice for this new showroom.”

Rolls-Royce cars are the epitome in super-luxury motoring. Customers can now visit the new showroom and bring their personal, creative desires to life. Each car is designed with the bespoke capabilities only Rolls-Royce craftsmanship can offer.

Vasanthi Bhupati, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Hyderabad said: “We are committed to delivering beautiful hand-built motor cars to our highly successful customers. In this elegant new showroom, customers can enjoy the creative process that comes with commissioning each and every Rolls-Royce vehicle. We are looking forward to this new and exciting chapter in Rolls-Royce history.”

Herfried Hasenoehrl, Rolls-Royce General Manager for Emerging Markets Asia added: “Today we see yet another extension of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presence in India. I am happy we have partnered with Kun Exclusive, whose excellent track record bodes well for its role as new ambassadors for Rolls-Royce’s return to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.”

“We expect Kun to set a benchmark for our customers in the state, with its track record of excellent customer attention and service.”