"Nothing Opens Doors Like a Rolls-Royce"

So said a the owner of a health-food chain to me, nearly three decades ago.

And it's true.  Nothing quite says "I've arrived" like the carriage in which one arrives, especially if said carriage is a Royce (as engineers are wont to call them).

Of course, one might well call the opulence of a Royce a tad excessive, especially in these straitened times - but then in many ways, proof that you are still in the affluent circles you wish to cultivate for others suggests that you can do as much for them.  It also gives people the idea that you would be useful for them to cultivate as a stepping-stone for others, which may be seen as a position of power and influence.

Of course, one of the great things about a Royce is that, by their very nature, they are not as plentiful a car as, say, a Fiat Cinquecento.  Of course, living in an affluent part of London does rather spoil one for choice of the new Phantom and its derivatives - but still, the older cars are less evident.  And whilst the BMW-derived models do pall somewhat when one considers Rolls-Royce's new operational model of selling to just anyone regardless of whether they have as much sense as money, and yet indulging those lacking in the sense department by plastering their artworks with whatever fantastical and/or ludicrous daubs that lack of sense dictates.

But the older cars - now these are something special.

Naturally, many cars have been ill-kept, and have suffered from the abuse.  Some have been scrapped, especially during those periods when the parts would have fetched more than the complete car.  But a well-sorted bygone Roller is a joy to behold, and a pleasure to drive - or be driven in.  These were the carriages of Kings, and Rolls-Royce was reputedly keen to ensure that every purchaser of new cars was able to maintain its reputation.  They were sniffy when Barbara Cartland wanted her Royce in white - a colour not previously countenanced - and they were positively irritated when John Lennon went psychedelic on his Phantom V.

Buying an older Royce can be a minefield.  The accepted wisdom is to buy the most expensive car you can find in the range in which you are interested.  That said, it's more a question of provenance.  Royces never really go terminally wrong if they're looked after, so the essence is service history.  Because of the nature of the cars, there is a lot which can go wrong if service schedules aren't maintained.  Then again, if you look beyond service history and read about minor niggles fixed between-times, then you'll know the car has been cosseted, and you can be as sure as you can be that what should be a trumpet of reputation doesn't end up as an embarrassment.  Originality is always good, but a car that has been restored by a reputable workshop, preferably a Rolls-Royce/Bentley specialist with factory-trained staff is often better.

We have one-such specialist as a client.  They have many vehicles - some customer cars, others restored by them.  They operate around the world, but have their base in London.  Factory trained, and having been in business for nearly forty years, they are a trusted name with whom a prospective purchaser cannot go wrong.

Our clients can source any Rolls-Royce or Bentley you wish to purchase, even new models.  But amongst their current stock list is a rather lovely Rolls-Royce Camargue.  In white with a beige leather interior and a wooden steering wheel, this 1983 model has all the refinements you would expect of the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce craftsmanship of the era.  Styled by Pinninfarina, and bodied by Rolls-Royce's Mulliner coach-builders in London, this is a rare care of which just north of 500 were made.  It features a gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy atop the famous Royce grille, and is made to impress.  Truly, this is a car which will make people take notice of you, for all the right reasons.

It comes with a full service history, naturally, and my client assures me that it can be fitted with alloy wheels, should you wish.  You can purchase the car for just £65,000, but it'll be an asset for anyone who buys it: not only are the values for these transports of delight likely to rise, but the increased business it will net you will far exceed what you pay.

To begin opening doors as you've probably never opened them before, just contact me on andrew@busineversity.com and I'll put you in touch.