The Rolls-Royce brand is considered by many as the pinnacle of automotive luxury. But there are also those that believe the cars are the simply height of excess for the wealthy. They believe that the owners of these cars spend a small fortune simply because they have the money to spend. Many out there have no idea what detail and amount of craftsmanship go into each and every one of the cars that come out of the Rolls factory in Goodwood. With the “Inside Rolls-Royce” exhibits, the company is out to help give a deep look into the soul behind these amazing automobiles. Here are some of what we experienced on the multi-sensory journey through the company’s world-renowned engineering, design and craftsmanship.
Interior Materials
The first few stations dealt with the quality and workmanship that go into the materials for the interior of the cars. The wood that is used for the dash and trim is sourced from all over the world. Each thin veneer is matched up by hand to maintain the grain pattern, and 120 different wood parts are created, making the interior unique to every customer. The craftsmen on hand was showing the detail that goes into the fine inlay of wood applied to the interior – the Marquetry – and how the detailed designs and patterns are created. The image of the skyline above was an example of work that appears in the Metropolitan Collection cars. The Marquetry process takes anywhere from 6 – 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project.
The leather interior of the car can be matched and dyed to any color the customer desires. Lars Klawitter, Head of the Bespoke program, explained that there are 450 individual pieces of leather that are hand-fitted to each Phantom. Lars also explained that the wild green leather color on hand was chosen by famous car collector Michael Fux on his stunning Wraith. The starlight interior craftswoman was showing her talents to spell out “Los Angeles” with the fiber optic lighting that are used in the process. The Bespoke team can create any star pattern and have even replicated constellations over certain parts of the world for various customers.
Exterior Finish
The exterior of any Rolls-Royce can be painted in an array of 44,000 color combinations. Lars gave specific examples of items that customers have color matched, including lipstick and a favorite tie. The entire painting process takes 9 steps and each layer was demonstrated within the exhibit. Painting the perfect coachline on the side of each car requires a skilled artist with a steady hand to spread the paint with an ox and squirrel haired brush. The demonstration for the event let you draw your own coachline and had tables to color in sheets and design your own custom Rolls-Royce.
The event is filled with interactive displays to help participants experience and understand more about the brand. Whether you want to witness the craftsmen at work, choose the perfect paint color, become the Spirit of Ecstasy, or simply learn more about a treasured automotive brand, Inside Rolls-Royce is a great opportunity. The SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills will host the event free to the public until 6pm tomorrow, May 11th. There is a Inside Rolls-Royce Los Angeles mobile application used during the event that you can also download from Google or iTunes. The application will have all the information – starting May 12th – from the event for those that missed it. Check out all the images from the event below including 1 of only 25 examples from the Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection.
