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Classic Rolls-Royce Advert Classically Knocks Bentley

• Old Royce advertisement knocks Bentley
• Silver Cloud, Bentley S1 mechanically indistinguishable
• Wither Bentley beneath the mighty RR
  

By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG via Jim Mahoney

“PEOPLE who feel diffident about driving a Rolls-Royce can buy a Bentley.”

Diffident. Let’s look that one up, shall we?

Merriam Webster: adj. hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence.

Thought as much.

This helpful suggestion, part of 13 sales points Rolls-Royce’s marketing department pitched in the above 50′s advert reads like a real put-down for Bentley today.

The language underscores decades of Bentley’s withering under the shadow of the double R’s; adding layers to the bitterness of Royce’s hostile takeover of W.O.’s concern during the Great Depression.

“The Bentley is made by Rolls-Royce. Except for the radiators, they are identical motorcars, manufactured by the same engineers in the same works. People who feel diffident about driving a Rolls-Royce can buy a Bentley.”

If you were on the Bentley sales team, and there really wasn’t such a thing in 1959, this half-hearted endorsement would ring about as true as Elvis complimenting the Beatles for That’ll Be The Day.

Fortunately for Bentley and Rolls fans, the Bentley S-Series did eventually take unique shape with coachbuilt bodies modeled leaner, more Jaguar-esque, and driver focused that the grander, upright Silver Clouds.

Vive la différence!