Rolling back the years

A history of Rolls-Royce and Bentley:

1902 - Hon Charles Stewart Rolls starts C. S. Rolls and Co.

1904 - Henry Royce builds his first car and founds Royce Ltd in Manchester; Charles Rolls signs an exclusive distribution agreement with Royce, and Rolls-Royce is founded.

1910 - Charles Rolls dies in flying accident.

1919 - Walter Owen Bentley opens London office to design and build sporting cars; exhibition chassis shown at London Motor Show.

1921 - The first Bentley model, the 3-litre, is built in Cricklewood.

1923 - Bentley contests first Le Mans 24-hour race and finishes fourth.

1924 - Bentley wins Le Mans.

1927-30 - Bentley wins Le Mans four years in a row.

1931 - Depression hits Bentley sales and the company goes into liquidation. A bid by carmaker Napier to acquire Bentley is beaten by Rolls-Royce. Bentley production moves to Derby, and Walter Bentley remains with the company as a consultant.

1933 - Henry Royce dies.

1946 - Production moves from Derby to Crewe. The first car built there is a Bentley Mark Vl.

1952 - R Type Continental launched.

1971 - Walter Bentley dies.

1971 - Rolls-Royce suffers crippling losses following technical problems with RB211 jet engine. British Government rescue plan splits aerospace and automotive divisions; rights to Rolls-Royce trademark stay with Rolls-Royce Plc. Rights to Rolls-Royce grille and Spirit of Ecstasy belong to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars licenses its name from Rolls-Royce Plc.

1980 - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is acquired by Vickers Plc, a defence and engineering corporation.

1991 - Vickers discusses sale of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

1992 - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars contracts with BMW for supply of air bag systems.

1993 - Rolls-Royce in discussions with Mercedes-Benz on engine supply.

1994 - BMW and Rolls-Royce reach an agreement for BMW to develop engines for the new line of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars.

1997 - Vickers Plc puts Rolls-Royce Motor Cars up for sale. BMW, in aviation engine joint venture with Rolls-Royce Plc since 1990, is considered the most likely buyer.

1998 - In April, Vickers Plc formally accepts £340 million ($1.13 billion) takeover offer by BMW. Volkswagen AG immediately announces better offer and in June agrees to pay Vickers Plc £430 million for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, including Bentley Motors subject to shareholder approval. 5.1 million shareholders vote for VW and 109,000 against. VW also agrees to acquire Cosworth Engineering from Vickers Plc for an additional £120 million, and then announces a £500 million product development programme for Bentley Motors at Crewe. In July, an agreement is reached: BMW acquires Rolls-Royce name and logo from Rolls-Royce Plc for £40 million, and licenses VW to use name to the end of December 2002. Launch of Bentley Arnage Green Label and Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph follows.

1999 - Launch of Bentley Arnage Red Label. Bentley Motors announces decision to launch new car, codenamed MSB, confirmed later as a GT coupe.

2000 - The new Rolls-Royce Corniche is launched in January in Los Angeles. In March, the Rolls-Royce Park Ward is unveiled at Geneva Motor Show.

2001 - Bentley returns to Le Mans and takes third place overall. Last Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph models announced.

2002 - Last Corniche and Park Ward models announced. Last-ever Rolls-Royce (a Corniche) is unveiled on August 30 at Crewe. The Corniche remains property of the factory.

* On December 31, the Rolls-Royce marque will leave Crewe and become part of BMW. Bentley, owned by Volkswagen, will remain at Crewe. The next day, BMW officially assumes the rights to Rolls-Royce.