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This exploding Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is angering, mesmerizing

Between Las Vegas and the emirates of the Persian Gulf, we're sure there are Rolls-Royces to be found in the desert all the time. And we don't doubt that, given those locations, one gets torched every so often. There'd probably even be someone in a tuxedo or evening gown running for cover when it happens, too. The thing is that we're seldom if ever there to watch it go down, much less capture it in stunning high-definition, frame-by-frame video when it does.
That's where this four-minute clip by Tyler Shields comes in. The American photographer and filmmaker staged and captured this Silver Shadow being doused in gasoline (or at least what we're supposed to believe is gasoline) and set afire in the Mojave Desert, along with actor Cru Ennis and actress Ana Mulvoy-Ten.
It's heartbreaking but mesmerizing, and you'll want to watch the video for yourself to see which side you fall on. If it's the former, take solace at least in the fact that the Silver Shadow is far from a rare beast. In fact, it remains by far the most prolific Rolls-Royce ever, with over 30,000 made between 1965 and 1980... so we doubt this one will be missed terribly.

Rolls-Royce bestows Canton Glory Ghost upon Guangzhou

Wonder why Rolls-Royce makes so many special editions for the Chinese market? Probably because China is fast becoming its largest market, with the dealerships in Beijing and Shanghai regularly proving able to move more high-end metal than any other Rolls dealer in the world. Little wonder then that, less than two months after releasing the Golden Sunbird edition, Rolls-Royce Bespoke is back again with another special Ghost just for China.
This time it's called the Canton Glory edition. It was introduced recently at Auto Guangzhou, and pays tribute to the Canton Tower in the same city. Two examples were made with a two-tone color scheme contrasting burgundy with either a blueish silver or white. Other features include Guangzhou's Five Rams emblem in the coachline, veneer panels, headrests and dashboard.
We don't doubt Rolls will find (or probably already has found) a pair of Chinese industrialists to gladly take these special editions home. But for those looking for their own unique touches, the British automaker has also brought its Bespoke Atelier to China for the first time, outlining the range of possibilities open to their moneyed customers.

Man drives Rolls-Royce for 78 years then makes museum donation to ensure its preservation

Mr. Allen Swift died in 2005 at the impressive age of 102, but his automotive story is even more remarkable. Not only is the gentleman credited with owning a Rolls-Royce automobile longer than anyone else in the world, but he had the forethought and funds to ensure its future preservation after his death.
In 1928, while living in Springfield, Massachusetts, Swift's father gave him a 1928 Rolls-Royce Piccadilly P1 Roadster as a graduation present (Springfield and Rolls-Royce have a history - from 1920 to 1931, the British automaker built 2,944 vehicles in the city as part of its attempt to establish a US plant). The young man was passionate about his green-over-green softtop convertible, not only driving it on a regular basis, but maintaining it meticulously over the decades (the two door-received a complete body-off restoration and engine rebuild in 1988).
Rolls-Royce acknowledged Mr. Swift in 1994, awarding him a crystal Spirit of Ecstasy award for his length of ownership. By 2005, Swift had logged more than 170,000 miles on its analog odometer and he was recognized as the oldest living person to have owned a car from new. He passed away that year.