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A Veloce Classic Reprint. From a small design team working on the Silver Spirit/Mulsanne, to becoming Chief Stylist, Graham Hull peels back the curtain on an idiosyncratic institution during his time at Crewe. Throwing light on a factory motivated as much by pride as the bottom-line, all of the projects - whether production, special commission, or aborted designs - are covered, and the often unique styling process is explored. This process was a key element in the resurgence of the dormant Bentley marque, that, with its fortunes on the rise, became the star of the Geneva Motor Show, attracting commissions from wealthy enthusiasts for totally bespoke vehicles. Founding fathers Royce and Rolls melded engineering with marketing, but as marketing took over, this union fractured. The drama of how this British institution was divided between BMW and VW, and how aesthetic design, never cherished by British management, was increasingly recognised, is fundamental to the story. The bewildering number of projects during the 1990s is a genuine eye-opener and a phenomena that demanded unique people, skills, and facilities.
Sommario
Glossary
Preface & Introduction
Dedication
Arrival
The Styling Department
Camargue
The styling process
SZ
Re-birth of Bentley
The Colour Committee
SX
Mulliner Park Ward
Bentley Continental R
His Master’s voice
Java
Chief Executives
Replacing the Silver Spirit
The drama of the 1990s
Corniche
Styling viewings
Bentley Bali
VW/Bentley; BMW/Rolls-Royce
Back into the ranks
Reflections
60th anniversary of car production at Crewe
Appendix
Sequence of styling development for the exteriors of three motorcars
Index
Info autore
Graham Hull, an early graduate from the world-famous Royal College of Art Automotive Design course, joined Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors, Crewe, in 1971. He became Chief Stylist, responsible for both marques in the mid ‘80s, and was deeply involved in the spectacular re-birth of Bentley. He remained at Crewe after BMW bought Rolls-Royce, and VW bought Bentley, leaving in 2001. During his time at Crewe, he worked closely with the seven Managing Directors at the factory. Very much a hands-on enthusiast, he was not only responsible for creating artwork, but was involved in several of his own one-off vehicle projects. Graham’s experiences are recorded in his book
Inside the Rolls-Royce & Bentley Styling Department, and he has another book about innovative car designs called
To Boldly Go, which is illustrated with his own drawings. Both are published by Veloce.
Riassunto
A Veloce Classic Reprint. The unique and personal account of young designer’s journey after joining that most prestigious of marques, Rolls-Royce. Sometimes eccentric, often humorous, the workings of this uniquely British institution during a period of immense change are described in detail.
