VW didn't buy Rolls...

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <790ACAAC0F0AD211AAD50080D870109C11A07A@eamrcnt714.exu.ericsson.se> "P-O Selander (EUS)" writes:

> Have you guys seen the news today? Seems like VW didn't really buy Rolls
> Royce after all. "Just" the factory (an old factory according to some)
> and the name Bentley. BMW gets the lion share with the "prestigious"
> name of Rolls Royce.

They never did buy the name - it's owned by Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd,
the aero engine division.  They bought the Rolls Royce and Bentley
operations, Cosworth Engineering and some odds and sods.  They sold
Cosworth's racing operations back to Ford, and they've released their
rights to the Rolls Royce name back to Vickers, who sold the rights
to BMW.  How much money VW got from Vickers/BMW for this has not been
disclosed, but they certainly didn't give it away.

As for the "Rolls Royce" name - the most expensive cars built by Rolls
Royce over the last few years have carried Bentley badges.  The Turbo R
and Mulsanne are fearsome beasts - one outdragged my ur-quattro in
Stoke Poges a few months back in no uncertain manner.

The vast majority of the customer base would probably agree that the
Bentley name is worth more to someone looking for an image of
modernity and technical excellence that Rolls Royce - which will
never be free of the link to Rolls Royce (1971) Ltd.

--
 Phil Payne
 Phone: 0385 302803   Fax: 01536 723021
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