Rolls Royce Phantom Spirit of Ecstasy Flying Lady Mascot History Legends Carjam TV 2014

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The "Spirit of Ecstasy", also called "Emily", "Silver Lady" or "Flying Lady", was designed by "Charles Robinson Sykes" and carries with it a story about a secret passion between John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, (second "Lord Montagu of Beaulieu" after 1905, a pioneer of the automobile movement, and editor of "The Car Illustrated" magazine from 1902) and his secret love and the model for the emblem, "Eleanor Velasco Thornton". Eleanor was John Walter's secretary, and their love was to remain hidden, limited to their circle of friends, for more than a decade. The reason for the secrecy was Eleanor's impoverished social and economic status, which was an obstacle to their love. John-Walter, succumbing to family pressures, married "Lady Cecil Victoria Constance", but the secret love affair continued.

Eleanor died on 30 December 1915, going down with the SS Persia, when the ship was torpedoed off Crete by a German submarine, whilst she accompanied Lord Montagu on his journey to India, four years after she had been immortalized by her bereaved lover.
The Whisper

When Montagu commissioned his friend Sykes to sculpt a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Sykes chose Eleanor Thornton as his model. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of her in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips - to symbolise the secrets of their love. The figurine was consequently named The Whisper and is on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu along with other Spirit of Ecstasy figurines.

The very first Rolls-Royce motorcars did not feature radiator mascots; they simply carried the Rolls-Royce emblem. This, however, was not enough for their customers who believed that such a prestigious vehicle as a Rolls-Royce motorcar should have its own luxurious mascot, and by 1910 personal mascots had become the fashion of the day. Rolls-Royce were concerned to note that some owners were affixing "inappropriate" ornaments to their cars. Claude Johnson, then managing director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, was asked to see to the commissioning of something more suitably dignified and graceful.


The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is a British handmade convertible manufactured by Rolls-Royce that debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, on 7 January 2007.[1] The platform is based on the 2003 Rolls-Royce Phantom and has styling heavily derived from the 100EX, a concept car unveiled to celebrate the company's centennial in 2004. It is currently the most expensive rolls-royce model at $443,000.