Bentley Motors chairman and chief executive Franz-Josef Paefgen today presented the Bentley State Limousine to The Queen at Windsor Castle. Presented on behalf of a consortium of British based automotive manufacturing and service companies, the Bentley is a gift to The Queen in recognition of her Golden Jubilee year. The occasion marked an important milestone in the history of Bentley Motors, and signals the continuation of the Crewe tradition of supplying fine, bespoke and beautifully crafted cars for royal occasions.
Work first began on the Bentley State Limousine in the spring of 2000 after the proposal to build a Bentley for The Queen, as part of the celebrations for the Golden Jubilee, was first presented to royal officials.
This was not the first time that Bentley’s craftsmen and women have been involved in building a Royal car. The most recent, in 1987, was a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI ‘standard limousine.’ However, this was preceded by a presentation of a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI State Limousine to The Queen in recognition of her Silver Jubilee year. This project was funded by The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The car was a variation of an existing Rolls-Royce Phantom VI model, which had been adapted to accommodate a higher roofline and larger windows for State use.
The design and manufacture of today’s Bentley however has been a complete contrast. Uniquely this car has been designed for State duties, it is also the first ceremonial Royal vehicle to have been developed using the latest computer aided design techniques and will be the first ever Bentley in the Royal fleet.
The new Bentley State Limousine will be used extensively during The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Tour. The first official journey will be on Tuesday, 4th June when the car will transport The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh from the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
The Bentley State Limousine has been built in the workshops of Bentley Mulliner, the specialist division of Bentley Motors. With an array of technical and coachbuilding skills at its disposal, Bentley Mulliner provides a wide variety of bespoke services for its customers ranging from exotic veneers inlaid with personalised marquetry to the latest entertainment and business office facilities.
Text and photos courtesy of Bentley Motors Limited
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