Inside the Rolls-Royce & Bentley Styling Department 1971 to 2001

Feb. 18, 2014; 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.

Inside the Rolls-Royce & Bentley Styling Department 1971 to 2001 by Graham Hull

ISBN: 9781845846015 UPC: 6-36847-04601-9

AVAILABLE NOW! £35, US$59.95, CAN$65.00

BULLET POINTS

Unique insider’s story of styling Rolls-Royce & Bentley cars How special commissions saved the company in the 1990s Previously unseen renderings of special commission and concept vehicles Bentley’s extraordinary re-birth, from barely 3% of production to the entire factory Fly-on-the wall view of the VW take over Candid reflections on the seven Managing Directors, from 1971-2001 Describes project charts from the period The untold Corniche story – the last Crewe-built Rolls-Royce The untold story of the evolution of the Silver Seraph/Arnage The importance of Crewe’s interior design department

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 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.

Place of birth: • Hometown: Nantwich • Nearest city: Manchester

SPECIFICATION V4601 • Hardback • 25x20.7cm • £35 • 176 pages • 100 colour and b&w pictures • ISBN: 978-1-845846-01-5 • UPC: 6-36847-04601-9

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