Tick Tock, Tick Tock

A year, a decade near the end,

What will happen in the time we spend…

 

I wish all of my readers a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

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On this day in 2002, and after 71 years together, the world famous British car marques [UK spelling], Bentley and Rolls-Royce, separated. Rolls-Royce became part of BMW AG, while Bentley stayed a part of Volkswagen AG.

From the Wikipedia article about Rolls-Royce:

 

“In 1998, Vickers decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. The most likely buyer was BMW, which already supplied engines and other components for Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, but BMW’s final offer of £340 million was beaten by Volkswagen’s [my mark] £430 million.”

“A stipulation in the ownership documents of Rolls-Royce dictated that Rolls-Royce plc, the aero-engine maker, would retain certain essential trademarks, including the Rolls-Royce name and logo if the automotive division was sold. Although Vickers plc sold the vehicle designs, nameplates, administrative headquarters, production facilities, Spirit of Ecstasy and Rolls-Royce grille shape trademarks to Volkswagen AG, Rolls-Royce plc chose to license the Rolls-Royce name and logo to BMW AG for £40 million, because Rolls-Royce plc had recently had joint business ventures with BMW.”

“BMW’s contract to supply engines and components to Rolls-Royce Motors allowed BMW to cancel the contract with 12 months’ notice. Volkswagen would be unable to re-engineer the Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles to use other engines within that time frame. With the Rolls-Royce brand identification marks split between the two companies and Volkswagen’s engine supply in jeopardy, the two companies entered into negotiations. [BMW threatened to cancel its supplier contract, which forced the negotiations—my note.]”

“Volkswagen agreed to sell BMW the Spirit of Ecstasy and grille shape trademarks and BMW agreed to continue supplying engines and components until 2003. Volkswagen continued to produce Rolls-Royce branded vehicles between 1998 and 2003, giving BMW time to build a new Rolls-Royce administrative headquarters and production facility on the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, West Sussex, and develop the Phantom, the first Rolls-Royce from the new company. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited became the exclusive manufacturer of Rolls-Royce branded cars in 2003.”

 

Technically, the current Rolls-Royce company, a subsidiary of BMW, is not connected to the original Rolls-Royce company. I doubt many Rolls-Royce customers know or care.

From fckerbeckrollsroyce.com (the rear “plate” is a giveaway), a picture of a 2020 Rolls-Royce Dawn:

 

 

OK, how much? The MSRP, I assume for a “base” Dawn, is about $346,000. For the nth time I will offer my opinion that it is not for me to tell someone else how to spend their money, especially someone whom I do not know. If someone can afford a car like this and wants to buy one, who am I to tell them they shouldn’t?

On to 2020…

 

#ByeBye2019

#2020RollsRoyceDawn

#somanycarsjustonelife

#disaffectedmusings

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