You could hardly have found a better fit to start a pioneering car business than Charles Rolls and Henry Royce.

Their historic meeting at the Midland Hotel in Manchester led to the creation of a firm renowned for luxury combined with engineering excellence.

Rolls was the face of the company and shaped the direction of the fledgling outfit; Royce was all about detail, he famously spent the night before his death sketching an idea for an adjustable shock absorber that went on to be used in Bentley cars.

From the very first Rolls Royce cars it was clear that they were in a different league to more run-of-the-mill brands – featuring innovative designs beautifully executed they quickly built reputations as quiet, reliable and highly desirable machines.

This revised programme traces the long and illustrious history of one of the World’s most illustrious car makes from the initial 10hp, through the Silver Ghost, the Phantoms, right up to the present day’s Wraith and the exciting electric-powered prototypes.

Enjoy delving into the rich and beautiful past of a marque which has become a byword for the very best of the best in any field. 

The Best of British Series is produced independently but made with the full co-operation of the subject manufacturers. It is not officially licensed or endorsed by them.