ANSHUL MALHANRAVISHANKAR R.

M.DES. TRANSPORTATION DESIGN

THROUGH HISTORY

The Origin

Charles Rolls Henry Royce

Model: 10Year: 1904Engine: 1.8L 2-cylinderHP: 10

Charles Rolls & Henry Royce met at the Midland hotel in Manchester, UK in the year 1904.

They agreed to a partnership in which Royce’s electrical & mechanical company, would manufacture cars and Rolls’ company would market & sell them.

This partnership was named Rolls-Royce Ltd.

Success of the CarsOwing to the success of their Model 10 and 12, Rolls-Royce as a company was formed in March, 1906.

Rolls-Royce had 2 models the RR 20hp and RR 30hp built from 1905-1906

They launched a 6-Cylinder car called the Silver Ghost. This was hailed to be the best car in the world.

Model: Silver Ghost (40/50)Year: 1910Engine: 7L 6-Cylinder / 7.4L 6-cylinderHP: 40 / 52

The Spirit of EcstasyThe very first Rolls-Royce motorcars did not feature radiator mascots. This was not sufficient for their customers who believed that such a prestigious vehicle as a Rolls-Royce motorcar should have its own luxurious mascot.

By 1910 personal mascots had become the fashion of the day. Rolls-Royce were concerned to note that some owners were affixing "inappropriate" ornaments to their cars.

1911, Charles Sykes, a young graduate of London's Royal College of Art, designed the sculptural form and it was named as the Spirit of Ecstasy

The World at War

Charles Rolls was a pioneer aviator. He had his first flight with Wilbur Wright in 1908.

He tried convincing his company Rolls-Royce to manufacture aero-engines for aircrafts. This vision of his was to be realized by the company only after his death.

His death came from a plane crash of a modified French-built Wright Flyer on July 12, 1910. This made Charles Rolls the first Englishman to die in a plane crash.

The World at WarLand:

In the onset of the First World War, the Sliver Ghost had been heavily armored by the British and Allied forces.

September 1914, all available Silver Ghost chassis were requisitioned to make the armored car.

The armored Ghosts were used extensively on the Middle Eastern fronts.

The World at WarAir, the Eagle:

The First World War established Rolls-Royce as an Aero-Engine Manufacturer.

The engines powered more than half of the Allied Aircraft.

First Aeronautical engine was the Eagle(1915).

The Eagle was Water-cooled and the power rating was formidable for that time.

Model: EagleYear: 1915Engine: V12HP: 250 to 375

Between the World WarsKestrel:

After the First World War Rolls Royce, like its competitors, began the quest for more power.

They kept the V-12 Liquid Cooled configuration untouched.

Advances in Metallurgy, Design, Fuel-Air Flow allowed increase in Engine Speed(up by and Compression Ratio(up by 50%).

It gets a mechanical compressor, super-charger and becomes the first turbo-charged Rolls Royce Engine.

Using ethylene glycol as the coolant, radiator size was also reduced.

Model: KestrelYear: 1927Engine: V12 21.25LHP: 745

Between the World WarsBuzzard(Type-R):

2300HP engine which allows England’s Supermarine S6 aircraft to win the Schneider Cup in 1931 for the 3rd consecutive time.

Speed Record of 407mph

Model: Buzzard/Type-RYear: 1929Engine: V12 36.5LHP: 2300

Poster from the 1929 race

Course of the Schneider Cup

Between the World WarsPrivate Venture 12(PV12) a.k.a Merlin

Commission by the British Military, Merlin’s development was unmatched in the aero-engine industry with 52 variants designed.

1934: Merlin A is produced which has better low-end torque because of a shorter stroke(137mm instead of 152mm).

1935: Merlin B is produced with redesigned combustion chamber.

1936: Changes continued till Merlin F which was called the Merlin I. But the Merlin F was not a success due to low performance.

1937: Merlin G had valves parallel to the cylinders which improved performance(1030hp at 16000ft) and was called Merlin II. Model: Merlin II

Year: 1937Engine: V12 42LHP: 1030

Between the World WarsMerlin X:

1938: Milestone development for the Merlin Engine

Two-Speed Compressor is used which allow Rolls Royce to improve the Merlin significantly at both Low and High altitudes.

The Merlin X would eventually be used in the oncoming second World War.

Between the World WarsCars:

Rolls Royce continued to manufacture cars after the World War.

The Silver Ghost was replaced by the New Phantom in 1925.

The 20/25 was introduced in 1929.

The 25/30 was introduced in 1937

1925 New Phantom

Between the World Wars

1929 Rolls Royce 20/25

1937 Rolls Royce 25/30

World At War AgainImpact of Rolls-Royce in World War 2:

Aerial assault and support was always important for any nation which made aircraft performance a key factor.

Merlin Engine was the engine that was used in most of the aircraft used by the Allied Forces:

Hawker Hurricane

P-51 Mustang

Supermarine Spitfire

It was also the only engine made on both sides of the Atlantic.

Hawker HurricaneP-51 Mustang

Supermarine Spitfire

World At War Again

Avro Lancaster

DeHavilland Mosquito

Not just fighter aircraft:The Merlin Engine was not used only in fighter aircraft.

Multiple Merlin Engines were used to power Twin-Engine and Four Engine Bombers.

Twin-Engine included:

Short Stirling Bomber

Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

De Havilland Mosquito

Four Engine Included:

Avro Lancaster

Handley Page Halifax

World At War Again

Handley Page Halifax Armstrong Whitworth Whitley

Short Stirling Bomber

Impact of the World Wars on Rolls Royce

Established Rolls Royce as a formidable aero-engine manufacturer, this led to it’s continued success in the development of Jet Engines which are used widely in commercial aircraft today.

Rolls Royce is now seen as a sign of power, luxury and exclusivity. This perception started from the first Silver Ghost which was marketed as the best car in the world. The Silver Ghost was also used in the military which helped establish trustworthiness and reliability in the brand throughout history.

Soon after the second world war ended, Rolls Royce introduced the Silver Wraith in 1946 to keep alive the mood of the post-war austerity.

Rolls Royce TodayFully owned subsidiary of the BMW Group.

Ironical situation considering the role of the brand in World War 2 against Germany.

Models include:Phantom: Priced at $400k+

Ghost: Price at $250k+

Wraith: Priced at $289k+

Dawn: Priced at $300k+

Thank you for your time.