Baltic rallying for Rollses only?

Yes Ralph Cook, but doesn't that rather bear out the contention (of far more knowledgeable people than I hasten to add) that after the Ghost and the demise of the Hon Rolls, it was all downhill? It just accelerated Post War. My only experience of RR/Bentley is I had vague thoughts a few years ago, of a Mk6 or R-Type, I had always admired the classic lines of the body and felt they were far more discreet than the later offerings.

I thought, ( how wrong can you be) that although the bodies rotted, as most early steel bodies did, that at least the mechanics would be bomb-proof. How wrong can you be, investigation revealed the mechanics were dire, seizing crank dampers of byzantine complexity and gross ineffectiveness that could break the flimsy crank, compound liners ( WW1 aero engine practice) on the archaic IOE engine that wore differentially and shattered the rings, blocks never properly cleaned out of casting sand clogged the cooling system, cracking around the exhaust valve seats, rear axles that were prone to locking solid when the bearings failed, complex and ineffective suspension and brakes that wore at an alarming rate, I can see now why Bill Boddy always disparaged post-war RR cars, most Yanks of the period were far better made, and more reliable.

Of course, just like English motorcycles of the same era, I am sure they can today be made reliable and effective with 20/20 hindsight, race-shop craftsmanship and plenty of modern technology, but in period....!

The polished wood and the leather was nice though. A Mk VII or Mk IX Jaguar was a far better car all round.

(Stands back for return fire!!)

Well, Messrs Jones and Scott, I think not. Pre war, at least, Rolls Royces were always meticulously made and beautifully engineered (actually over- engineered). The company made it's own dynamos, starter motors (plus in interesting clutch take up unstead of bendix gears)and carburettors. But the point was not to be churlish about the best ideas from elsewhere The IFS actually came from General Motors and the Hispano brakese gear was much improved. The problem was unnecessary complication- but if you could afford one you would not worry about that ( though not being wealthy I did have to worry about the considerable cost of running a 1936 Derby Bentley!). By the way, Rolls's always sold to the nouveau riche- British 'old money' bought Daimlers.

Yes Vintage.. But even the mistakes were beautifully made

Wasn't the Packard motor in the P51 only a Merlin produced under licence, as the Allison engine originally fitted proved woefully inadequate? I'm no Royce lover by any means, in fact I'd say that after the Ghost it was all downhill to the tacky confections so beloved of the Novueau Riche made today ( surely the nadir of RR?) but the Merlin merits it's own defence and need make no aopolgies!!

Humble! bah! poppycock! roll´s used hispano´s brake system under license. Packard motors ,, well i am sure a few P51 mustang owners would argue there,, and a 1935 packard front 120 suspension looks uncannily like a later system used on post war clouds,, hmmm and isnt the shadow syspension a citroen unit..... the gearbox from GM ,,, i could go on and on ,,,

Sorry, but Tallin is the capital of Estonia.

Editor: Thank you!