Adam Hay-Nicholls

What you get for a £25 million custom Rolls-Royce

Face to face with Rolls-Royce’s Amethyst Droptail

  • From Spectator Life
Actual size clay model of the Amethyst Droptail (Rolls-Royce)

Back in the early days of the motor car, Rolls-Royce would sell you a ladder chassis and drivetrain, but for the bodywork you’d have to consult a coachbuilder and write a separate cheque. It wasn’t until 1946 that Rolls-Royce provided its own. Henry Royce dealt with the oily bits, but when it came to the styling, his patrons had to visit the likes of Park Ward, Mulliner, James Young and Hooper.

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