Rolls-Royce Alpine Trial Centenary collection car makes American debut

The Alpine Centenary Collection Car unveiled to North Americans at the Qual Motorsport Gathering during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. This beautiful ride gives homage to the Rolls Silver Ghosts climbing the competitive Alpine Trials of times past.

A hundred years ago, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts embarked on the Austrian Alpine Trials. At the time, this was the most arduous automotive endurance test imaginable and just finishing was considered a mark of triumph for an automaker, proving the durability and strength of their machines. The Rolls-Royce Works Team and privateer James Radley completed the 1,820 mile, mountainous drive with all four cars, etching the Rolls-Royce marquee into the stone of reliability globally. The reputation for mechanical excellence they won has been with them ever since.

This year, the Bespoke department at Rolls celebrated those endeavors by building the Alpine Trial Centenary Edition. This year's Alpine Trials featured not only the car that debuted in North America this weekend at Pebble Beach, but also a 1913 "Radley" car, a distinctive, black-grille'd Silver Ghost, will be making the run as well. In all, 47 Rolls-Royce motorcars made the Alpine Trial rally this year.

The new Rolls-Royce Alpine Trial Centenary features a dash clock displaying the stages of the rally and timings and inlays and rear picnic tables depict the topography and distances of the Trials route. Every element is hand-crafted in Rolls style and detail. The coachline has been hand painted to reference the four Rolls-Royces that took part in the 1913 rally and the hood is color matched to Radley's car.

"The 1913 Alpine Trial was an extraordinary moment in the rich history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "The standards of engineering and pioneer spirit required to achieve such feats stands as inspiration to everyone associated with the marque. The Bespoke Alpine Trial Centenary Collection is a fitting tribute to these achievements. It is testament to the enduring quality of a Rolls-Royce motor car that this 2013 car will be joined by a participant in the original trials, the 1913 Radley Silver Ghost."