Rolls-Royce is a British luxury car manufacturer, they are a subsidiary of another automobile manufacturer, BMW. Rolls-Royce was established after BMW had the rights to the Rolls-Royce brand and logo in 1998. But, even if the Rolls-Royce brand has been in use since 1906, the Rolls-Royce Cars subsidiary of BMW has no relationship to Rolls-Royce vehicles prior to 2003.
But while many car brands that received global recognition, only a few of them enjoy the reputation for having superior quality and luxury like Rolls-Royce. The history of the brand and their iconic logo has all started from two men who came from completely different backgrounds that were drawn together because of their love of their craft. Let’s get to know more about Rolls-Royce and its iconic emblem.
History
Charles Rolls was a wealthy man that came from a rich family. He attended the best schools anyone could ever dream of and he showed an early passion for mechanical engineering. By the time he graduated in college, Charles Rolls was already an accomplished motorist and he even broke the world land speed record in Dublin in 1903 while he was driving a 30hp Mors at almost 83 mph.
On the other hand, Henry Royce was a self-taught man that came from humble beginnings. He had his first job at the age of nine by selling newspapers and delivering telegrams. Nevertheless, Henry Royce showed his passion for learning and electrical engineering. Cars were not on Royce’s priorities but t all changed when he bought a second-hand Decauville whose loud and terrible performance set the inner engineer in him on fire.
Royce’s desire for perfection helped him build his first car. It also helped him establish a work ethic that made his company popular. And in just a year, Royce had designed his own petrol engine and on 1904, he drove his first car into town at 10hp.
Rolls and Royce met through the help of Henry Edmunds, a long time friend of Charles Rolls and an investor in Henry Royce’s company. Henry Edmunds was the one who arranged the meeting between Rolls and Royce where the two immediately respected each other and the rest as they say, is history.
Rolls-Royce’s logo features a mild serif typeface that has two superimposed initials. The emblem has a visual concept that shows a luxurious feel as the two R’s interact and its black and silver colors add a more sophisticated tone into it. The emblem on the company is framed by their full name that is broken into two sections and both of them are divided by thick lines and fenced by a rectangle.
The Spirit of Ecstacy
Since they started their company, Rolls-Royce knew that they were offering a superior product that’s why they weren’t afraid to charge extra for their automobiles. But people soon realized that there was a lack of proper hood ornament for their car and during that time, hood ornaments were increasing its popularity among high-end car brands.
That’s why Claude Johnson, Rolls-Royce’s managing director created a symbol that will represent speed with silence and superb grace. Johnson then commissioned a highly talented sculptor named Charles Robinson Skye who then designed the now famous Spirit of Ecstasy. He described it as a graceful goddess who chose road travel as her supreme pleasure.
After more than a hundred years in the car industry, Rolls-Royce has definitely set the highest bar when it comes to manufacturing the world’s most luxurious cars.