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Rolls-Royce opened its present headquarters in Goodwood, England, in 2003, nevertheless it had already began making automobiles there earlier than the plant formally opened. It produced a soapbox racer referred to as RR-0.01 in 2001 and a second instance referred to as RR-0.02 the next 12 months. These one-offs have been raced on the Goodwood Competition of Velocity and have been largely forgotten till given a full restoration in 2024.
It might sound unusual for a model that has developed among the world's most spectacular automobiles to create a soapbox racer. Rolls-Royce explains that its entry into the Goodwood Competition of Velocity's Soapbox Problem was a means of previewing a brand new chapter in its historical past. Inside just a few years, it was bought by an organization referred to as Vickers to Volkswagen and after intense negotiations it was bought once more to BMW. It was separated from its long-time sister firm Bentley and was compelled to construct a brand new plant, a brand new headquarters and develop a brand new vary.
Soapbox racers have been constructed by among the similar employees who constructed later fashions just like the Phantom, they usually featured a Rolls-Royce-esque design, primarily as a consequence of a vibrant grille with vertical slats. It ought to come as no shock that these weren’t your typical home racers, constructed on rough-riding lawnmower chassis. For instance, Rolls-Royce used carbon fiber, fiberglass, and aluminum to maintain the 0.01's weight underneath management, whereas the 0.02 featured a Formulation Racing-style steering rack, wooden trim, in addition to leather-based upholstery. Each racers additionally emerged with a number of uncommon design cues: 0.01 wore a green-shaped hood decoration whereas 0.02 wore a “??” Emblem above the grill.
Rolls-Royce says its soapbox racers final competed in 2013; Through the occasion, 0.02 reached as much as 72 mph, which is exceptional (and slightly scary) as a result of it's powered solely by gravity. They have been saved in the identical situation till the corporate requested a crew of apprentices to fully restore them. Work carried out included repairs to elements broken throughout racing, together with the 0.01's grille and 0.02's picket cowl.
Each lately restored racers shall be displayed on the headquarters of the Rolls-Royce Lovers Membership in Northamptonshire, England.