Mark Gregory Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 I like the back of the car personally I would like to see it disappear over the horizon. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7955983/Rolls-Royce-designed-eccentric-businessman-set-fetch-30-000.html 'Rolls-Royce' designed by eccentric businessman who thought he could do better than the classic cars made by the real firm is set to fetch £30,000 Armenian businessman Nubar Gulbenkian designed a new car and approached Rolls-Royce with his design The 1947 Silver Wraith features a square windscreen and even has bars going across the car's headlights His design was rejected by the car maker, so instructed Rolls-Royce coach builders Hoopers to build him one The car is now 73 years old has undergone a £200,000 restoration, but still requires a whole new interior The current owner is not in a position to complete the work and has offered the vehicle for sale via an auction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 My very first thought when I saw it was Chrysler Airflow. That's not much of an endorsement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 If it needs to be "completed" I suggest 5 gallons of gas and a match..................Bob 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gossp Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 There are things about its presentation right now that need improved... but I think if the panel fit were made to all reflect light in the same direction and it got a dark color... it would be one of the most valuable wraiths around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Moskowitz Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 It's quirky, not my taste but cool, and it is history. Agree it would look much better once painted in a dark color. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 1 hour ago, Hudsy Wudsy said: My very first thought when I saw it was Chrysler Airflow. That's not much of an endorsement. Don't insult the Airfow. Hahahaha. The Airflow was actually better looking than that RR in my opinion. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hudsy Wudsy Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 8 minutes ago, keiser31 said: Don't insult the Airfow. Hahahaha. The Airflow was actually better looking than that RR in my opinion. I agree, John, and I'd love to own an Airflow. I just know that most folks thought it was ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 (edited) Nubar could have just waited a year or two, bought a '49 'bathtub' Nash Ambassador, customized it. Heck of a lot cheaper and had just as much of a styling atrocity... Just goes to show how desperate English coachbuilders were for any work they could get in those immediate postwar years, Hooper must have been as hard up a any. Edited February 2, 2020 by 58L-Y8 postwar desperation (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 No worry, it is on the other side of the pond. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Its a shame it was allowed to deteriorate to that condition. Give me that one anyday It doesn't look anymore ungainly than a brand new one. To me, THIS one has the be the ugliest Rolls Royce ever made! Vignale may have designed some beautiful cars in the 1950's but he sure failed at this effort!! Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 When custom coachbuilding goes horribly wrong, it really goes wrong in the worst way! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 25 minutes ago, 8E45E said: To me, THIS one has the be the ugliest Rolls Royce ever made! Looks like a Packard Hawk in the front and a Vauxhall Victor from the rear. When the Brits get it right they are really good and when they get it bad they are terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 This belongs to a friend down here in Miami.......he has ten others in similar colors......no BS. One of the other purple ones has electric yellow leather in it. He has a bunch of Ferrari’s in unusual color schemes also. Normally I couldn’t forgive such taste.........but he donates every one of them to children’s charities so I find it in my heart to forgive him. True story...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 the color is fixable, but since the Germans bought RR the proportions are lumpy and truck-like 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Mr Gulbenkian was known as "Mr 5%" after his success in negotiating oil deals in the Middle East, for which he received a 5% commission. Needless to say, he had plenty of money. He designed the car for use in London. His idea was to create a super deluxe version of a London taxicab, short and maneuverable and suited to driving in traffic, he had other cars for country use. He remarked "it will turn on a sixpence, whatever that is" LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Byrd Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Craig, that Rolls with the 59 Anglia rear window ( or Mercury Breezway ) takes the prize and changes my opinion I've held for years.... That thing makes the Aztec look gorgeous, ha ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Just now, John Byrd said: Craig, that Rolls with the 59 Anglia rear window ( or Mercury Breezway ) takes the prize and changes my opinion I've held for years.... That thing makes the Aztec look gorgeous, ha ! Do you think that car has '57 Chevy front fenders? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Byrd Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Could be 1937hd45, but I'd hate to blame that on a Chevy, ha ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 6 minutes ago, 1937hd45 said: Do you think that car has '57 Chevy front fenders? Bob The car is a 1954, so it rules out a '57 Chevy. Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 This will raise someone's ire but while the Italian designers have a wonderful feel for small, sporty car design, when it comes to large cars, the feel goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 Depends on the era - currently not so much, but the Alfa Freccia D"Oro cars after WWII and the Lancia Aurelia come to mind as larger cars with attractive lines. The Vignale post-war bodied Packard, the Chrysler Norseman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 (edited) 17 minutes ago, 58L-Y8 said: This will raise someone's ire but while the Italian designers have a wonderful feel for small, sporty car design, when it comes to large cars, the feel goes away. Even the best Italian houses have never been able to make a Rolls Royce look good. The Pininfarina-designed Camargue was considered to be one of their worst postwar designs up until that time. I don't mind Frua's effort so much at designing one, but it is still rather bland like the Camargue. Lady Penelope might like it, though. Craig Edited February 2, 2020 by 8E45E (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted February 2, 2020 Share Posted February 2, 2020 36 minutes ago, 58L-Y8 said: This will raise someone's ire but while the Italian designers have a wonderful feel for small, sporty car design, when it comes to large cars, the feel goes away. You may have overlooked one. Bob https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=beast+of+turin&&view=detail&mid=8DD80C1ACC957E4FC0AD8DD80C1ACC957E4FC0AD&rvsmid=F6222538859A88C50968F6222538859A88C50968&FORM=VDQVAP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 3 hours ago, Tinindian said: Looks like a Packard Hawk in the front and a Vauxhall Victor from the rear. When the Brits get it right they are really good and when they get it bad they are terrible. Kind of like English cooking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I don't think anyone ever accused the Brits of styling and engineering excellence ( save for the XKE ). I flew a British airplane for a number of years. It was dowdy looking and the systems were archaic to the point of laughable, but it did get the job done..........Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Not only the E-type Was a good design but the Spitfire was a hell of an airplane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 It's a well known car. I was told – and cannot verify this – that RR was so horrified by it that they cancelled the warranty on the car. Photos of it have been around the RR community for years, always citing it as about the worst body ever mounted on one - although I'd be inclined to give that trophy to some of the creations for Indian rajas and native princes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 18 minutes ago, JV Puleo said: It's a well known car. I was told – and cannot verify this – that RR was so horrified by it that they cancelled the warranty on the car. Photos of it have been around the RR community for years, always citing it as about the worst body ever mounted on one - although I'd be inclined to give that trophy to some of the creations for Indian rajas and native princes. The same was true of the John Lennon Rolls Royce Phantom. RR would not paint it the way he wanted it done, agreeing to supply it only in black. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalowed Bill Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Since we are talking about saloons (sedans) why just tout the XKE. Throughout the 70's and 80's Jaguar produced some to the most beautiful two and four door sedans, that were ever built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 5 hours ago, Buffalowed Bill said: Since we are talking about saloons (sedans) why just tout the XKE. Throughout the 70's and 80's Jaguar produced some to the most beautiful two and four door sedans, that were ever built. I agree. Find me a better looking four door than the MK 10 Jaugar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 Quote Just because you are wealthy does not mean you can design a good looking RR Not true! Not true! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted February 3, 2020 Share Posted February 3, 2020 I kind of like it. The back view kind of reminds me of a Crosley. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 (edited) And don't forget the dual gas tank fillers on the Mk X though with the 4.2 it was somewhat sedate. And for the easy confused we have the 3.8S which had a MK 2 front and a Mk X rear. A decade before the Gremlin. What a 57 Chev thingie should look like (and has a retractable roof). Does production of 60 units count ? Edited February 4, 2020 by padgett (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 17 hours ago, Billy Kingsley said: I kind of like it. The back view kind of reminds me of a Crosley. That's true, I hadn't noticed that. Who wouldn't want to alter their Rolls Royce to look more like a Crosley? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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