Video: Rolls-Royce Phantom Assembly
- Video showcases Rolls-Royce Phantom assembly
- Features the mechanism that raises and lowers iconic hood emblem
- Warning: film may spoil “the magic”
By Gunnar Heinrich | YouTube
PAY no attention to the man behind the curtain!
In what may amount to a spoil-the-surprise sacrilege akin to watching the elves make the toys at Santa’s shop, this clip from Discovery’s How It’s Made is a revealing glimpse into the works at Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory.
The segment takes us through the essential stages of a Phantom’s construction.
We see the marriage of drivetrain and chassis, the matching of wood panels, and the fitting of the emblematic grille. The mechanism that raises and lowers the Spirit of Ecstasy is really very clever, for example.
Sometimes, however, not knowing how something is made is part of its lore. If you’re at all fearful that watching such behind-the-scenes footage would spoil your concept of what makes a Rolls special, well, then cast thine eyes elsewhere. There’s a kind of bliss in not knowing.
Otherwise, it’s an enlightening 10 minute segment.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
Jim | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
In the last week RR had a press release announcing the addition of an apprentice group for interior construction. For an 18 year old, not a bad way to secure your future and see the results of your work. Certainly better than flipping burgers, working in call centers or being the denizen of a cubicle.
A couple of things were surprising the apparent lack of a subframe for the engine and transmission and it seems that the doors are removed to be kitted with the interior bits and then refit.
Also, it may have been do to the vagaries if YouTube, but I was surprised how jerky the motion of the lady is, I’d expect it to be more fluid.
G | Dec 14, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think that’s YouTube vagaries… that particular emblem assembly’s motion did seem jerky. From experience with the coupe, I can tell you that the emblem’s action on the car I drove was next to seamless. But perhaps this highlights the inherent inconsistencies of handcrafted construction- not that we should throw the baby out with the bath water, mind…