Rolls-Royce signals end of era

PERHAPS sir had better get a move on.

Rolls-Royce is about to wheel out the Last of Line Series of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph - intended to commemorate the end of 55 years of manufacturing at Crewe.

The British luxury car-maker will build only 170 of the limited-edition Seraphs, which celebrate the beginning of the end of an era for the marque.

Cost is hardly likely to be an issue for potential buyers but - if you must know - Silver Seraph pricing is listed at a piffling $541,030.

From the end of next year BMW will assume responsibility for manufacturing and distributing Rolls-Royce cars.

The German car-maker is already well advanced with its design for an all-new Roller - but this vehicle won't make its debut here until late 2003.

Production of the Silver Seraph will cease at the end of this year and Rolls-Royce says orders for the Last of Line Series must be placed by the end of August.

The limited-edition series is distinguished by a duo-tone paint scheme, in the style of the revered Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud - the first Rolls-Royce model to be both engineered and built at Crewe.

The wheels bear the Spirit of Ecstasy on the centre cap and all badging - on the radiator shell, boot and rear quarter panels - is finished in red, as in Rolls-Royce's pre-1933 models.

On the front lower quarter panel a small but vital distinguishing highlight is a badge, set against a British Union flag, stating simply: "Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Crewe, England".

Rosewood Burr is one of the first veneers Rolls-Royce employs for dashboards - previously solid wood was used - and is featured throughout.

Its value is five times more than "standard" walnut veneers and it is one of the densest and therefore most challenging to form into the required shapes.

The elegantly sculpted waist rails are in solid Cabinet Cherry with Rosewood Burr veneer and the cross-banding throughout is in Oak.

The skill of the Rolls-Royce craftsmen is reflected in the detailed marquetry inlay of the Spirit of Ecstasy to the car's waistrails, the quartered veneer design to the picnic tables and the R-R badge finished in marquetry on the radio flap.

Other fine touches include the veneered door panels and seat switch surrounds and the part-veneered steering wheel.