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Richard Greene
Experienced User
Username: benzjag

Post Number: 160
Registered: 12-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 30 July, 2019 - 12:15:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I have a contact who wants me to use my Silver Cloud in their wedding which is carrying to bride/groom 2 miles from the church to the reception for $300.00. Has anyone used their RR as a wedding car? What are the pros/cons? I initially thought it wouldn't be worth the hassle! Let me know how you feel?

Thanks!

Richard

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Glen Poolen
Experienced User
Username: wgipps

Post Number: 183
Registered: 03-2018
Posted on Tuesday, 30 July, 2019 - 16:24:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

$300 USD for a few miles. Id be all over that.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 3410
Registered: 04-2003
Posted on Tuesday, 30 July, 2019 - 19:29:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Richard,

Be wary of the well-known problems with the abrasive nature of bridal fabrics on car upholstery especially leather. Take a look at the back seat of any wedding hire car and you will invariably find scratches, marks and whatever that you will never see in a normal car inflicted by the fabrics and adornments on Bride/Bridesmaid dresses.

This is fine for a car solely used for hire purposes however for a private owner, it is another thing altogether.

Before making a decision, I would be talking to a hire car operator about the damage to vehicles that can be inflicted by brides and bridesmaids. A check of the rear seats on any prestige car being offfered for sale is always good practice to ascertain what indignities may have been suffered by the vehicle in the past. New upholstery in the rear and obviously used in the front is a probable give-away to a past life as a hire car.
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Larry Kavanagh
Frequent User
Username: shadow_11

Post Number: 477
Registered: 05-2016
Posted on Tuesday, 30 July, 2019 - 22:46:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I occasionally drive my Silver Shadow for bridal use when requested by friends or relatives and it can be a nightmare especially when bridesmaids or brides stand on the door sills with stiletto heels on their shoes. Wet flower bouquets placed on the rear window ledge can cause stains too and other wedding guests clambering on the car for photo opportunities can lead to damage also. Then there's the risk of champagne being spilled on the upholstery or carpets and weddings tend to attract the occasional careless drunk. I need to be vigilant and stay with the car at all times. Another drawback with doing weddings is that once promised you must go regardless of weather conditions so the car could be driven in the rain when it would not normally be taken out. I never charge as that would void my insurance, carrying passengers for reward in Ireland attracts an especially expensive insurance premium and one would need a hackney licence.
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Mark Luft
Frequent User
Username: bentleyman1993

Post Number: 282
Registered: 10-2016
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 00:17:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Richard, I've used my S1 as a wedding car occasionally. I always had a good time doing it. I never had any issues with the dress or back seat. BUT, It wasn't a show car, it was a driver.
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Peter Maclaren
New User
Username: ludo

Post Number: 50
Registered: 04-2009
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 09:31:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Richard, When I owned my Shadow I used it for weddings as a way of it "earning its keep'.
However the stress of ensuring it remained pristine at the hands of brides who treated it as just a conveyance for their special day became too much.
My worst experience was when ,unknown to me, the bride repaired her nail vanish en route to the church and the varnish stripper somehow got on to the seat and stripped the colour. I ended up having to have all the seats recoloured as a result.
Your car is a beautiful looking example and I would be loathe to risk it unless I was very confident that the bridal party could be trusted to respect my car.
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Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp

Post Number: 2896
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 10:22:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

These horror stories actually amaze me (and it's not because for a moment I don't believe they're true.)

If one chooses to allow one's car to be used as a wedding conveyance, and one is not in "the business" of doing so, I would think that setting some very firm rules would be in order.

I did this once (and only once, as I haven't had any other requests) and didn't have a bit of trouble. I took the bride to the church and then, after the ceremony, took the bride and groom to their reception. That was it.

I guess I was lucky, or else genteel Southern upbringing must count for something!

Brian
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Mike Thompson
Frequent User
Username: vroomrr

Post Number: 803
Registered: 04-2019
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 15:53:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I saw a guy advertise his Rolls Royce for making porn movies. God knows what's on his seats. :-)

That's why I told Omar M. Shams that people should bring a towel before sitting down in his car.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 3412
Registered: 04-2003
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 17:53:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Mike,

I was wondering why you had mentioned the towel - now I know.

This possibility never crossed my mind........
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Graham Phillips
Experienced User
Username: playtime

Post Number: 140
Registered: 03-2019
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 19:30:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

G'day everyone,...


Ok, this may be an obvious question but why not just put a seat cover on to protect the seats?






Graham.
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Omar M. Shams
Prolific User
Username: omar

Post Number: 1860
Registered: 04-2009
Posted on Wednesday, 31 July, 2019 - 20:19:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Aha.... The famous towel trick.... That one went right over my head.
I will carry towels in my car as a matter of course from now on...
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Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp

Post Number: 2898
Registered: 06-2009
Posted on Thursday, 01 August, 2019 - 00:09:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Or, in the case of weddings, use an elegant throw?

That's what I did, as SRH33576 is a driver and the back seats were far from pristine to begin with. They looked better when draped.

Somebody spent a fortune on those seat covers (and that could be the interior of SRH33576 based on the color scheme) and I hope they love them.

Brian
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Mike Thompson
Frequent User
Username: vroomrr

Post Number: 806
Registered: 04-2019
Posted on Thursday, 01 August, 2019 - 17:30:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Or

poop
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Richard Greene
Experienced User
Username: benzjag

Post Number: 162
Registered: 12-2012
Posted on Friday, 02 August, 2019 - 03:04:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

I've decided NOT to use my cars for weddings. I just don't think it is worth the hassle! The back seat in the Cloud is orginal & currently in mint condition. I want to keep it that way!

Thanks to all the feedback!

Our forum is awesome in many ways!

Richard
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Trevor P Hodgkinson
New User
Username: wm20

Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 20 August, 2019 - 11:42:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Probably a good idea Richard
Before the Howard Government threw money at the State governments ( the NSW Carr government in my case ) I ran a quite successful wedding hire business.
In NSW it is illegal to take money for hire unless you have a hire license ( UBER is a ride sharing service not a hire service ).
The damage that brides do to well kept upholstery is minimal.
We applied a leather finish after every wedding and kept leather wipes in the boot.
Flower petal staining was a big problem, particularly on the rear window sill.
Stiletto damage no problem, particularly if the driver assisted every one out of the car as he should.
The biggie however was scratches from rings, particularly to the seat where the girls flattened their skirts out after sitting down.
Nothing should ever be eaten or drunk while driving.
We passed some wrapped chocolates to the bride & groom between the wedding & photos and that was it till every one was out side the car.

Then it depends upon why you own the car and your philosophy behind it.
IMHO a vehicle is only original & pristine on the show room floor .
After that it is a vehicle so minor wear is part of the vehicles history.
Other people have different ideas, it is a big world , we are all different and entitled to be so.
I put carpet on my house floors because it is nice to walk on and easy to clean.
Because I walk in shoes, it is patterned in a fairly dark colour.
My friends wonder why I don't come over to visit them .
They have artic white carpet so it is socks only in the house to protect the carpet then slide flat on your bum in the bathroom in your socks on the polished marble floor.

Wedding hire was great, I loved every minute of it, but I am more of a people person that a car fanatic.
I would go back into it tomorrow if I could get a fair & reasonable price but now days people expect to pay less for a Rolls Royce per hour running, that the standing rate for a Sydney taxi.
The $ 300 for 2 hours was about the right price if they did not expect refreshments or the car to be detailed before the wedding as there is 2 to 4 hours in doing that which needs to be factored into the price.

Just thought I would add this as there were so many negative posts.
Like most things in life there are skills required to operate a wedding car, more than just opening a door.
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Trevor Pickering
Experienced User
Username: commander1

Post Number: 112
Registered: 06-2012
Posted on Tuesday, 20 August, 2019 - 16:29:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Insurance is the big problem here!

If you use your car for "hire and reward" your private policy will not cover you.
I used to do a few weddings in WA but gave it up after a year as it is a PITA and not worth the hassle and stress.
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Eric Molenaar
New User
Username: aussiewraith78

Post Number: 15
Registered: 06-2021
Posted on Sunday, 19 December, 2021 - 11:18:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Hello all,
I have been operating taxi's and chauffeured vehicles in Adelaide for 35 years. I am the third generation custodian of our family business and started when I was 7 years old applying boot polish to the tyres of my grandfather's 600 S Mercedes-Benz (wish we still had it)

The one thing that really gets me cross is unsightly squashed, flapping loose ribbons blowing in the breeze, not to mention dangerous to the drivers vision. Also ribbons do chafe paint work on the bonnet.

All the pictures I have seen of ribbons on Rolls-Royce have been squashed around the base of the Spirit of Ecstasy. So this is what I have come up with my good friend Stuart.

This is the first prototype and has felt underneath and around the ring section no movement and therefore no scratches.

Must say looks and performs as expected.

Wedding ribbon support device
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Eric Molenaar
New User
Username: aussiewraith78

Post Number: 17
Registered: 06-2021
Posted on Sunday, 19 December, 2021 - 13:28:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Improvements to come will be hex head screws to help eliminate scratches in case the screwdriver slips whilst fastening.

Here's another photo.

Your comments and feedback welcome.

Wedding ribbon support device
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 4046
Registered: 04-2003
Posted on Monday, 20 December, 2021 - 08:06:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Eric.

One suggestion if I may as a past Stainless Steel trouble shooter.

Stainless steel's corrosion resistance is completely dependent on exposure to Oxygen to form the protective layer that makes the steel "stainless" which, of course, it isn't.

Wherever stainless steel is in close contact with another material in an environment where it gets wet and corrosive elements may also be present, a process known as differential aeration corrosion can occur which results in "frosting" or pitting with associated staining of the surface finish.

This is easily mitigated by having a small gap between the radiator shell and your mascot and absolutely [and I mean absolutely] no felt or anything else that will hold moisture from rain and/or car washing by either using small surface area "buttons" between the shell and the mascot base made from non-metallic, non-electrically conductive material or an extended mounting stud on your mascot base.

Keep in mind, it is still possible for "frosting" to occur under these buttons from the aggressive Adelaide tap water which used be a real problem in my days as a Metallurgist with the Commonwealth Steel Company.

My preference would be to make an adaptor that screws into the mounting connection for the Spirit of Ecstasy and holds your mounting plate with a clearance of approximately 2mm between the radiator shell and the bottom of your mounting plate.

Whatever you do, be very aware that if you do get "frosting" or pitting corrosion of the radiator shell, polishing it out can be a tedious and frustrating process with a high probability that it will not completely restore the original finish.
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Trevor Hodgekinson
Frequent User
Username: wm20

Post Number: 272
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, 20 December, 2021 - 09:12:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

FWIW on the 4 cars that did not have a flag post on them I tied the ribbon to the statue with a simple crane hitch
Inside the car they were anchored to the sun visor pivot with a plastic bracket for back pack straps. thus they could be tensioned then have the door closed upon them
This does cause some damage to the paint on the front pillar which has to be kept well waxed to counter the abrasion.
We were experimenting with a bracket that sat on top of the window
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Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey

Post Number: 2301
Registered: 05-2012
Posted on Monday, 20 December, 2021 - 09:32:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

There's a youtube video where they say you can tell if a rolls has been used as a wedding car by feeling the mascot. No boobs means it's a wedding car. The ribbon acts as a sanding belt as the car is driven.
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Eric Molenaar
New User
Username: aussiewraith78

Post Number: 18
Registered: 06-2021
Posted on Monday, 20 December, 2021 - 20:55:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Thank you gentlemen for your feedback, David you make complete sense with your fantastic background with all things metal, I only intend to use the holder for the duration of the wedding only 2 to 3 hours then it comes off to leave the lady as she should be. Trevor, yes I do the same regarding the sun visor method. And Geoff I will be touching her up to see if she has had a checkered past lol. Can't beat a good set of boobs.
Cheers Eric.
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David Gore
Moderator
Username: david_gore

Post Number: 4048
Registered: 04-2003
Posted on Tuesday, 21 December, 2021 - 08:25:   Edit PostDelete PostView Post/Check IP

Eric,

Thanks for the compliment but I do what I can as a continuation of the service and help I received when I assumed responsibility for my then deceased father-in-law's 1973 Corniche DRH14434.

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