Welcome to Throwback Monday where we take a look at how things once were, or at least how certain famous cars were once built. This week we’re tagging along with England’s Princess Margret and her Husband, Lord Snowden as they visit the Rolls Royce factory in Crewe.
The relationship between England’s Royal Family and the country’s preeminent auto maker, Rolls Royce goes back almost a century. Charles Rolls—one of Great Britain’s earliest car dealers—had long hobnobbed with the well-to-do and the nobles, and so when he partnered with engineer Henry Royce to build the best car in the world, it seemed a natural fit that the most important family in Briton would have one.
That association began in 1919, when the Prince of Wales—later crowned King Edward VIII—took possession of a Barker-bodied Rolls Royce limousine.
In the 195o, Rolls Royce presented Princess Elizabeth with a Phantom IV, one of the world’s most exclusive cars. Only 18 were built in total, the other 17 of which were sold exclusively to Head of State and Royalty. The Royal Family’s Phantom remains in service today, and when used for chauffeuring the Queen, the kneeling Spirit of Ecstasy is replaced with the royal ceremonial mascot – a solid silver St George and the dragon.
As you would imagine with the Royals and Rolls being so close in both acquaintance and position, it’s not untoward to expect a visit every now and again to see how things are getting along. That’s what happened in 1962 when Princess Margaret and her husband Lord Snowden visited the Rolls Royce factory at Crewe to see the production process.
We get to see the adoring fans of the Royals waving their tiny Union Jacks, as the Countess and Lord Snowden arrive, and then it’s into the factory where the workers fawn over Royals while letting the production line grind to a halt. I’ll bet they only made one car that week instead of the typical two.
As befitting a brand with the reputation for being so quiet you can only hear the clock tick, this British Pathe film is silent. You can still however, feel the excitement.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/cWHf8xO536k[/youtube]
Image: YouTube