Rolls-Royce High rolling

Imagine the delight of the salesman who took this order: 'Fourteen Rolls-Royce Phantoms. Oh, and you want the Extended Wheelbase model? OK, just sign here please.'

The best bit is the salesman would only have to fill out one form and photocopy it for the other 13 cars, because all 14 have been ordered in identical specification for the Peninsula Hong Kong hotel.

The Peninsula is famous for its fleet of green Rolls-Royces, and the Phantoms are the latest in a long line of Rollers run by the hotel since it first ordered seven Silver Shadows in 1970.

But not content with ordering standard cars, the Peninsula's have a few special additions and alterations, which required 25 Rolls-Royce engineers and designers to work on the cars.

First up is a cool box to stow chilled hand towels, while an enlarged luggage compartment helps with those bulky suitcases on the way to the airport. Even the screws used in the boot have been changed to special counter-sunk ones, to eliminate any risk of expensive luggage being scratched.

The rear air conditioning controls have also been moved for the Peninsula's car's, shifting to the rear arm rests for easier access.

It's not just the cars that have come in for special attention. The Peninsula's team of chauffeurs have been flown to the UK for special training at Rolls-Royce's own chauffeur school, and all of the Phantom's operating manuals have been translated into Cantonese for the drivers.

No one's saying just how much it has cost to supply the 14 Phantoms, or if the Peninsula got a discount for bulk ordering, but reckon on a bill for around £5 million if you want to kit out your B&B with a similar fleet.

© Source: article on topgear