5 Facts About Rolls-Royce That Boggled Our Simple Peasant Minds
Rolls-Royce is is one of the most prestigious brands in the world, and the automaker takes great pride in that fact.
Being the purveyor of expensive endlessly customizable and luxurious cars, we’ve heard some pretty strange things about Rolls-Royce. Here are five facts about the British automaker that boggled our simple peasant minds.
1. The Youngest Person to Ever Buy a Rolls-Royce was 12 Years Old
A kid in Taiwan was just 12 years old when he ordered a Phantom. Strange, considering he’s not even old enough to go to the movies on his own, let alone drive a car. What were you doing when you were 12?
2. The Starlight Headliner Uses 2 Kilometres of Wiring
The starlight headliner is one of the most popular options Rolls-Royce offers. It comprises 1,340 individually hand-woven fiber optic lights and uses 2 kilometres of cables to create the effect. The pattern can also be customized to be any star pattern or constellation and can cost up to $12,000.
ALSO SEE: 9 Things I Learned Driving the 2016 Rolls-Royce Wraith
3. The Spirit of Ecstasy Is Complicated
Rolls-Royce’s famous hood ornament is stashed away and hidden in the hood when the car is not in use. There are as many as 24 links and bearings needed to do this.
4. There’s 100 Pounds of Paint
It takes five layers of paint to properly coat a Rolls-Royce. It takes seven days and more than 100 pounds of paint to create a flawless finish.
ALSO SEE: Opulence Alert: 5 Outrageous Rolls-Royce Special Editions
5. Rolls-Royce Customers are Crazy and the Company is Happy to Indulge Them
A Rolls-Royce dealer once told us a story about a gentleman who wanted a compartment for his tea thermos built right into the door. Rolls-Royce’s bespoke division was happy to oblige, but to make sure the thermos didn’t turn into a deadly projectile in the event of a crash, Rolls-Royce crash tested a completely new model with the thermos installed before the option was approved for the customer. The customer was also happy to cover the costs of the crash test, so he paid for two Rolls-Royces. All so he wouldn’t have to go into the trunk to get his thermos like a regular person.
Jodi has been obsessed with cars since she was little and has been an automotive journalist for the past 12 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and a jury member for the prestigious North American Car/Truck/Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY). Besides hosting videos, and writing news, reviews and features, Jodi is the Editor-in-Chief of AutoGuide.com and takes care of the site's day-to-day operations.
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