How Frustration with a French Car Led to the Birth of Rolls-Royce

In this interview, Richard Charlesworth, Head of Public Affairs at Bentley Motors, explains how Rolls-Royce began not as a commercial venture but as Henry Royce’s personal effort to build a more reliable car for his daily commute. Frustrated with his secondhand French Decauville, Royce engineered his first 10-horsepower, two-cylinder car, which gained a reputation for reliability among Britain’s small circle of wealthy motorists. It was this early success that caught the attention of Charles Rolls, leading to their historic 1904 meeting in Manchester and a handshake agreement: Rolls would sell whatever Royce could produce. Charlesworth highlights the crucial role of Claude Johnson, often called the “hyphen” between Rolls and Royce. As a friend of Rolls and a skilled businessman, Johnson persuaded Rolls to visit Manchester, became the first managing director of the company, and guided its early commercial and marketing efforts. Johnson also championed the development of larger, more refined models, including the 40/50 horsepower car displayed at the 1906 Olympia Motor Show with a stunning silver-plated body by Barker, later known as the Silver Ghost. The 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial cemented the Silver Ghost’s legendary status. Under Johnson’s direction, the car’s performance and durability were closely monitored by both the early automotive press and the Royal Automobile Club. Its flawless endurance, including a 14,371-mile non-stop run from Scotland to London, and minimal wear on parts after disassembly, established Rolls-Royce as a benchmark for reliability and engineering excellence — a reputation that endures to this day. For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact: https://www.globalimageworks.com/contact Ref: RR08