Last luxury Rolls-Royce rolls out

THE last Rolls-Royce to be built at the luxury car-maker’s plant at Crewe has rolled off the production line, it was announced yesterday.

The event marks the end of 56 years of Rolls-Royce production at the Cheshire plant.

The cars will now be made by BMW in West Sussex.

The last Rolls-Royce made at Crewe was a unique two-door Silver Storm convertible Corniche, which will stay as property of the Crewe factory.

The car has a specially-designed interior which is based on that of the 1907 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, also owned by the Crewe factory.

Although no price has been put on this last-ever model, it is thought to be worth in excess of stg£250,000 or 400,000.

Volkswagen took over the Rolls and Bentley marques in the 1990s, and it was later announced BMW would take over the Rolls marque from 2003.

The Crewe operation will become known as Bentley Motors Limited.

Bentley is now preparing for the launch of its all-new GT coupe design concept car at the end of next month.

Meanwhile, BMW is gearing up to produce its first Rolls at its new plant at Goodwood, near Chichester in West Sussex. The first model will be available from next January.