Rolls Royce are renown the worldwide for providing luxury cars to the wealthy and the famous. Eddie Murphy, Puff Daddy, David Beckham and ‘Lord of the Dance’ Michael Flatley amongst others are well known owners of these prestigious cars. Lennon has his Rolls painted in psychedelic whirls and the Sultan of Brunei had some of his 5,000 Rolls Royces covered in golden bodywork. All of these are surely pleasing names for the famous car company to be linked with, be it their modern coupes or their vintage used Roll Royce models from the 60s and 70s.
However, there is one name that I’m sure Rolls Royce do not cherish as much as the others. That is the name of Robert Mugabe the Zimbabwean President. He is regularly seen parading in front of his starving nation in his vintage models, decked out in the highest luxury. Of course, we are all aware that Rolls Royce are the pinnacle of motoring comfort and style – and their excellence is always admired and revered. Those who dream of fame and wealth, also dream of owning the best cars available. However, leading a nation in economic collapse and with a population starving, driving about in a glimmering Rolls Royce perhaps isn’t the best example to set.
I am not saying that for a second Mugabe’s biggest crime is flaunting his automotive taste and wealth. We all know that he is far worse than that. I just wonder how Rolls Royce address such a scenario: being linked to one of the most despised men on the planet. It is like Hitler and his Mercedes Benz – a very tricky personality to distance yourself from. ‘Drive the new Mercedes Benz M Class – the car for every psychotic dictator. Admire your genocide in style!’
Another infamous face that could threaten Rolls Royce’s reputation, and ruin their credibility is that of Jason Kay. Not familiar? Remember that band Jamiroquai who had such songs as ‘Cosmic Girl’ and ‘Virtual Insanity’? Well their lead singer, the one with the long hear and obsession with hats that look like stalactites, is Jason Kay. He is a self confessed petrol head and leader of the Top Gear ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ and a full scale nit. I think one of his annoying traits is that I begrudge any man who has written such awful songs the luxury of a Rolls Royce.
I guess my point is that for every worthy celebrity spotted in a Roll Royce there is another not so worthy keeping the balance. And it is these people holding Rolls Royce back from their old status as the car you can only dream about. They used to be a car for the elite, the ultimate. Part of that mystic and charm has faded, when you see Alan Sugar, a man who invented the world’s worst computers, in one. It seems that all I have to do to get my hands on one is commit terrible human rights violations like Mr Mugabe. Or flog dodgy computers. Or pen possibly the most diabolic pop songs on this earth.
Author Resource:-
Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses Used Rolls Royce cars. http://www.sytner.co.uk/rolls-royce/used-cars.aspx
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