# Spirit of Ecstasy (DD-183)

> Rolls-Royce Limited was founded in 1906 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce in Britain. It built luxury cars and, from the First World War, aircraft engines. In 1971 the company went bankrupt and was nationalized; the car business was later separated, and since 2003 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been owned by BMW, while Rolls-Royce Holdings makes aircraft engines. The Spirit of Ecstasy hood mascot, sculpted by Charles Sykes, has appeared since 1911. Rolls-Royce describes the smooth ride of its cars as a 'magic carpet ride'. The footage shows Rolls-Royce cars and interiors, with the presenter.

- Department: Cars (also History)
- First published: 2024-01-15
- Last updated: 2024-01-15
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/spirit-of-ecstasy/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1906**: Rolls-Royce Limited is founded
- **1911**: The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot appears
- **2003**: BMW takes over Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=spirit-of-ecstasy

## Quick facts

- **DD-183-F01**: Rolls and Royce founded the company in 1906. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (1906))_
- **DD-183-F02**: It built aircraft engines from WWI. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Aircraft engines))_

## Write-up

Rolls-Royce's mascot dates to 1911. The 1906 company later split into car and engine firms.

1. **1906**: Rolls and Royce founded the company in 1906.
2. **Aircraft engines**: It built aircraft engines from WWI.
3. **BMW**: BMW has owned the car maker since 2003.
4. **Spirit of Ecstasy**: The mascot dates to 1911.
5. **Magic carpet ride**: Rolls-Royce markets its ride as a 'magic carpet ride'.

## Related case files

- [Torque Conversion (DD-075)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/torque-conversion/): I linked more car engineering
- [Hypercar Luxury (DD-182)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/hypercar-luxury/): I paired it with another historic luxury marque

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: Rolls-Royce cars and Rolls-Royce aircraft engines are now separate companies; the car maker has been owned by BMW since 2003.

## Video: Spirit of Ecstasy: Rolls-Royce's Mascot Dates to 1911

- Duration: 45.9 s · Published: 2024-01-15
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C2JawJUtn-P.mp4

### Transcript

Rolls-Royce, a legendary British luxury automobile and aerospace manufacturer, has epitomized excellence, craftsmanship, and opulence for over a century. DID YOU KNOW? Founded in 1906 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce, Rolls-Royce quickly gained reputation for producing some of the world's most luxurious cars. The brand's iconic spirit of ecstasy, mascot, and distinctive grille have become symbols of automotive elegance. Rolls-Royce cars are renowned for their handcrafted interiors, using only the finest materials, such as hand-stitched leather, real wood veneers, and metal accents. Under the hood, Rolls-Royce vehicles are powered by high-performance engines, delivering a smooth and powerful driving experience. The famous magic carpet ride refers to the exceptional comfort and smoothness of the suspension, providing passengers with an unparalleled sense of luxury. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: Who founded Rolls-Royce?**  
A: In 1906. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (1906) · Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Limited)_

**Q: What else did the company build?**  
A: From WWI. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Aircraft engines) · Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Limited)_

**Q: Who owns Rolls-Royce Motor Cars?**  
A: Since 2003. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (BMW) · Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)_

**Q: When did the Spirit of Ecstasy appear?**  
A: Sculpted by Charles Sykes. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Spirit of Ecstasy) · Wikipedia: Spirit of Ecstasy)_

**Q: What is the 'magic carpet ride'?**  
A: Marketing for comfort. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Magic carpet ride) · Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Limited](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Limited)
- [Wikipedia: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Motor_Cars)
- [Wikipedia: Spirit of Ecstasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_Ecstasy)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Spirit of Ecstasy." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-183, last updated Jan 15, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/spirit-of-ecstasy/