Rolls Royce Museum

The Rolls-Royce Museum in Dornbirn is a unique attraction for car enthusiasts and history lovers alike. It showcases the world’s largest collection of Rolls-Royce vehicles, from the earliest models to the modern classics.

Rolls-Royce Museum, is a privately owned automobile museum that was established in 1982 by Franz and Hilde Vonier, who were passionate collectors of Rolls-Royce cars. The museum was officially opened to the public in 1999, and since then it has been attracting visitors from all over the world who want to admire the beauty, elegance, and quality of the legendary British brand.

The museum is located in a former cotton mill that dates back to the 19th century, and covers an area of about 3,000 square meters. It houses more than 60 Rolls-Royce models, ranging from 1904 to 2003, as well as engines, accessories, memorabilia, and documents related to the history of the company and its founders, Sir Henry Royce and Charles Stewart Rolls.

The museum is divided into several sections, each dedicated to a different era or theme of Rolls-Royce production. The exhibits are displayed in chronological order, and include some rare and unique examples of Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, such as the Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe, the Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle, the Phantom II Continental, the Silver Wraith, the Silver Cloud, the Silver Shadow, the Corniche, and the Silver Seraph.

The museum also features a workshop, where visitors can see how Rolls-Royce cars are restored and maintained, as well as a library, a shop, and a cafe. The museum offers guided tours, events, and special programs for groups and schools. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the admission fee is 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for children.

The Early Years: 1904-1918

The Rolls-Royce Museum in Dornbirn starts its journey through time and excellence with the early years of Rolls-Royce, from 1904 to 1918. This period marks the birth and the rise of the company, which was founded by two visionary men: Sir Henry Royce, a talented engineer and inventor, and Charles Stewart Rolls, a wealthy aristocrat and adventurer.

The two men met in 1904, and decided to join forces to create the best cars in the world. They agreed that Royce would design and produce the cars, and Rolls would sell them through his dealership. The first car they produced was the 10 hp, a two-cylinder model that was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1904. The car was well received by the public and the press, and soon orders started to come in.

The 10 hp was followed by other models, such as the 15 hp, the 20 hp, and the 30 hp, which were all based on the same chassis and engine design. However, the most successful and iconic model of this period was the 40/50 hp, which was launched in 1906. This car was later nicknamed the Silver Ghost, because of its silver paint and its smooth and silent performance. The Silver Ghost was a masterpiece of engineering and luxury, and it established Rolls-Royce as the leading manufacturer of high-end cars. The Silver Ghost was also renowned for its reliability and endurance, as it proved in several tests and races, such as the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial, the 1913 Alpine Trial, and the 1914 London to Edinburgh Run.

The museum displays several examples of the early Rolls-Royce models, such as the 10 hp, the 15 hp, the 20 hp, and the 40/50 hp. Among them, the most remarkable are the 1907 Silver Ghost, which was the first car to bear the famous Rolls-Royce radiator and the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, and the 1912 Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle, which was specially prepared for the Alpine Trial and won the gold medal.

The Interwar Years: 1919-1939

The next section of the museum covers the interwar years, from 1919 to 1939. This period was marked by several changes and challenges for Rolls-Royce, both in terms of production and management. During the First World War, Rolls-Royce had shifted its focus from cars to aircraft engines, which proved to be vital for the British war effort. After the war, the company resumed its car production, but also continued to develop its aeronautical division, which became a separate entity in 1921.

The interwar years also saw the death of the two founders of the company: Charles Rolls in 1910, in a plane crash, and Henry Royce in 1933, after a long illness. Their successors had to face the difficulties of the post-war economic crisis, the competition from other car makers, and the changing tastes and demands of the customers. To cope with these challenges, Rolls-Royce introduced new models and innovations, such as the Phantom I, the Phantom II, the Phantom III, the 20/25, the 25/30, and the Wraith. These cars were designed to offer more power, speed, comfort, and style than the previous models, and they were often fitted with custom-made bodies by various coachbuilders, such as Barker, Park Ward, Mulliner, Hooper, and Freestone and Webb.

The museum showcases some of the most impressive and elegant examples of the interwar Rolls-Royce models, such as the 1925 Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe, which features a striking Art Deco design and a gold-plated interior, the 1929 Phantom I Ascot Tourer, which was owned by the Maharaja of Jodhpur and has a richly decorated body and upholstery, the 1930 Phantom II Continental, which was the sportiest and fastest model of its time, and the 1936 Phantom III, which was the first Rolls-Royce to have a V12 engine and a hydraulic braking system.

The Postwar Years: 1945-1980

The third section of the museum deals with the postwar years, from 1945 to 1980. This period was characterized by the recovery and the expansion of Rolls-Royce, as well as by the diversification and the modernization of its products. After the Second World War, Rolls-Royce resumed its car production in its new factory in Crewe, where it also started to build its own steel bodies, instead of relying on external coachbuilders. The company also continued to produce aircraft engines, which became its main source of income and reputation, especially after the development of the jet engine.

The postwar years also witnessed the emergence of new markets and customers for Rolls-Royce, especially in the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. To meet the needs and preferences of these customers, Rolls-Royce introduced new models and features, such as the Silver Wraith, the Silver Dawn, the Silver Cloud, the Silver Shadow, the Corniche, and the Camargue. These cars were designed to offer more performance, comfort, and convenience than the previous models, and they incorporated new technologies, such as automatic transmission, power steering, air conditioning, and disc brakes.

The museum displays some of the most representative and luxurious examples of the postwar Rolls-Royce models, such as the 1947 Silver Wraith, which was the first car to have a factory-built body and was often used by royalty and heads of state, the 1955 Silver Cloud I, which was the last car to have a six-cylinder engine and was one of the most popular and successful models of its time, the 1965 Silver Shadow, which was the first car to have a monocoque chassis and a self-leveling suspension system, and the 1975 Camargue, which was the most expensive and exclusive model of its time and had a distinctive wedge-shaped design.

The Modern Era: 1971-Present

The fourth and final section of the museum covers the period from 1971 to the present, which is the modern era of Rolls-Royce. This era marks a new chapter in the history of the company, as it underwent several changes and transformations, both internally and externally. The company faced many challenges and difficulties, such as the bankruptcy and nationalization of 1971, the split and sale of 1973, the takeover and merger of 1987, and the acquisition and revival of 1998. The company also had to adapt and innovate to meet the demands and expectations of the changing and globalized market, and to compete with the emerging and established rivals, such as Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.

Despite these challenges and changes, Rolls-Royce continued to produce some of the finest and most advanced cars in the world, and maintained its identity and heritage. One of the main achievements of this era was the launch of the Silver Spirit series, which replaced the Silver Shadow as the main model of Rolls-Royce. The Silver Spirit series consisted of four models, from the Silver Spirit to the Silver Spirit IV, which were produced between 1980 and 1998. The Silver Spirit series was characterized by its contemporary and refined design, its powerful and smooth performance, and its luxurious and comfortable features, such as cruise control, climate control, and airbags.

The museum displays several examples of the Silver Spirit series, such as the Silver Spirit, which was the first model to have a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, the Silver Spirit II, which was the first model to have a fuel injection system, and the Silver Spirit IV, which was the last and most improved model of the series. The museum also exhibits some of the special and rare Silver Spirit models, such as the Silver Spirit Hooper Empress II, which was a custom-made model that had a distinctive and extravagant body style, and the Silver Spirit Park Ward, which was a long wheelbase model that had a glass roof.

Another major achievement of this era was the introduction of the Phantom series, which replaced the Silver Spirit as the flagship model of Rolls-Royce. The Phantom series consisted of two models, the Phantom VII and the Phantom VIII, which were produced between 2003 and 2017. The Phantom series was characterized by its majestic and imposing design, its impressive and dynamic performance, and its sophisticated and state-of-the-art features, such as LED headlights, satellite navigation, and night vision.

The museum displays several examples of the Phantom series, such as the Phantom VII, which was the first model to be produced under the ownership of BMW, the Phantom VII Drophead Coupe, which was a convertible version of the Phantom VII, and the Phantom VIII, which was the latest and most advanced model of the series. The museum also exhibits some of the famous and unique Phantom models, such as the Phantom VII EWB, which was a extended wheelbase version of the Phantom VII that was used by the British royal family, and the Phantom VIII Zenith, which was a limited edition model that was made to celebrate the end of the Phantom VII production.

The museum also showcases some of the other models that were produced by Rolls-Royce during this era, such as the Ghost, which was a smaller and cheaper version of the Phantom, the Wraith, which was a fastback coupe that had a sporty and powerful performance, and the Dawn, which was a convertible version of the Wraith. The museum also exhibits some of the new and upcoming models, such as the Cullinan, which is the first SUV model of Rolls-Royce, and the Vision Next 100, which is a concept model that showcases the future of Rolls-Royce.

Dornbirn, Austria