Rolls Royce & Bentley Classic Cars

A Guide to Rolls-Royce and Bentley Classic Cars

Rolls-Royce and Bentley are two brands that are practically synonymous with automotive luxury. Their exquisite styling combines classic elegance with sophisticated technology, and they offer an unparalleled driving experience. eBay is the place to look when you’re in the market for a reasonably priced Rolls-Royce for sale.

Rolls-Royce was a British luxury vehicle manufacturer that operated between 1906 and 1971. BMW eventually acquired the brand, but the cars it manufactures have little in common with the classic cars that bore the Rolls-Royce name in the British company’s heyday. Classic Rolls-Royce models include:

• Silver Wraith: Rolls-Royce manufactured the Silver Wraith between 1946 and 1958. Its wheelbase chassis, which was an impressive 322 centimetres long, represented a complete departure from the austerity characterised by the shorter wheelbases of automobiles manufactured in the days leading up to World War II. It was powered by a dynamic six-cylinder engine.
• Silver Cloud: The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was manufactured between 1955 and 1966. It used a 4.9-litre inline six-cylinder engine. Silver Cloud body styles included four-door saloons, two-door coupés, and two-door convertibles.
• Silver Shadow: In 1965, the Silver Shadow became the first Rolls-Royce to abandon a separate chassis and frame engineering in favour of a unitary body design. Other innovations included disc brakes and an independent rear suspension. It was powered by a Rolls-Royce–Bentley L-series V8 engine.

Bentley Motors was founded in 1919 and, eventually, was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931. Bentley automobiles manufactured after 1931 added distinguishing features to Rolls-Royce engines and chassis. Models included:

• Mark VI: Bentley’s contribution to the post-World War II luxury auto market was the Mark VI. It was manufactured between 1946 and 1952. It was the first Bentley produced after the company was acquired by Rolls-Royce.
• Continental: The original Bentley Continental was manufactured between 1952 and 1965. The vehicle was outfitted with a high-performance motor and a lightweight body. It was one of the earliest automobiles to incorporate power steering as a standard feature.
• T-series: The Bentley T-series, which was introduced in 1965, was a variation on the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow but with a different grille design.

Most older cars may have some degree of wear and tear. Be sure to look at photos of the rear wheel arches, valence, and front sills of the Rolls-Royce you are thinking of purchasing, and make sure it is rust-free. In the vast majority of instances, this would be an easy fix.