ROLLS-ROYCE MOTORS: The Crewe Years

Rolls-Royce first established a factory at Crewe as part of Britain's war effort just prior to WWII. The site was built as part of the expansion of its aircraft engine manufacturing, but once hostilities were over, production of the company's car business was concentrated. Here for almost 50 years the Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands were eventually split in the early 21st century - the Pyms Lane factory was to produce numerous classic Rolls-Royce models. From the Silver Wraith of 1946 to the Silver Seraph, the last Rolls-Royce badged car to emerge from Crewe, the Pyms Lane workers had a reputation for the production of iconic cars that helped make the company's reputation as the world's leading luxury car manufacturer. Officially opened on the 14th July 1939, in that year 208 engines were built. By 1943, production had risen to more than 6,000 engines a year. Of the 150,000 Merlin engines built in factories around the world, 28,000 were constructed at Crewe, along with 2,000 Griffons. 'We were just ironmongers'. Follow the story from the aero engines which propelled Spitfires, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and Lancasters, engineering masterpieces which still have a lasting and special place in the nation's aviation history, through this well illustrated history covering the Phantom V Limousine, the Silver Cloud, the Bentley S, and all the graceful lines of these beautiful saloons, sometimes pictured outside iconic buildings like the Royal Albert Hall or photographed alongside sleek aircraft, or at the London Motor Show. 64 page nostalgic paperback packed with colour and quality archive photos.