Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Hardcover – 1 January 2014

All the photos in this book are taken in conditions of darkness. Does the curator hope that this promotes an aura of exclusivity and luxury in the book? From the beginning, the focus is on the BMW Rolls Royce Phantom. There are any number of exterior and interior photos of it in the book. The cars I am interested in, the post war Crewe models, are represented only by the Silver Cloud, Phantom IV and Phantom V , in small black and white photos. There are likewise, small black and white photos of the original Rolls Royce design team --- John Blatchley, Ian Cameron and Graham Hull for instance--- Graham Hull being responsible for the design of the Silver Spirit and Silver Seraph ; the latter remaining in production for just 5 years, incidentally. There are some 20 design drawings, most of which are of vintage cars, in which I have no interest. Another 30 pages more of vintage models follow, with plenty of snob appeal, with not a breath on the post war cars . This is what I found irritating about the book. Of the microcosm of post war cars featured, the photos of the Phantom IV and Silver Cloud show the bonnet, boot and doors only. The photographer seems to find these parts of the car to be of such absorbing interest that he has left the entire car out of the frame. There are several such photos in the book. What on earth is on his mind? There are 2 gutterspreads of the Silver Shadow and Phantom VI , again photographed in darkness. I read in a review that the person who took the photographs for this book now suffers from an eye ailment due to such persistent and indulgent activity. Is it any wonder? Why photograph cars in dim conditions at all? How many other car photographers indulge in such a practice and if so, to what extent? As far as I know, none of them suffer from any eye ailments. I want to see photos of cars, especially Rolls Royce cars, in color and in the open outdoors, out in the countryside ; wherever, not cooped up in some dark, snobbish museum. This much is obvious to all normal car photographers except to the extra special curator of the BMW Rolls Royce car museum. To reiterate, there is little in this book to appeal to the Crewe aficionado like me and countless others. These cars have been studiously avoided and the Goodwood vintage collection and products been promoted, in this book. Of course, the book has a royal price tag but don't expect VFM from your purchase. The curator could just as well have published the book in black and white ; such is his obsession with darkness.I have neither the space nor the inclination to add this hefty and expensive tome to my Rolls Royce book collection. IMO, it is a complete waste of money and once again reminds me to steer clear of books connected with Rolls Royce Goodwood. I am returning this book for a full refund.

Amazing pictures, great coffee table book and good information for the Rolls Royce enthusiast. I own many books on the subject, and this one is different because while some of the information had already been covered elsewhere, much of it is actually about the current company and their current practices, and that is nice to read about. There are also many sketches from the current design team and that is unique too.

Beautiful book for your living room table! Very informative from a Germanic view. I would have appreciated more information than just the smattering there was in the book about the machines themselves I would have also liked more information on the current models. Pretty pictures but too large so there could not be more on a page.

I already bought several books related to one of my favorite hobby: Rolls-Royce cars!This one is definitively different. The pictures are the most artistic I've never seen before.I'm French, speaking German and English, so the double translation was OK for me.

Husband loved it, book is written in German as well.

Thanks.