The American Made Rolls Royce Auto – Not a Success Story

[ad_1]

At one point in time the venerable prestige Rolls-Royce fine motor cars were made and manufactured in the U.S.A. – the United States of America. However this early example of marketing and production offshore and off home base was doomed to failure.

A bare six months after the signing of the historic contract between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce the export drive of Rolls-Royce was on its way. Early on in September 1906 Charles Royce was on his way to the United States, taking with him four cars as samples of the company’s wares. One of these cars was sold almost as soon as it was unloaded; one went straight away to Texas. The remaining two vehicles served as sales and marketing vehicles – an example of the fine craft and attention to detail that the company become world famous and known for. One of the cars was kept on the road as a demonstration model, while the other was put on display at the New York Auto Show. That first appearance at the auto show was a great success for Rolls Royce as well: an additional four orders were taken for new cars. As well an American distributor jumped to the plate.

Business grew for Rolls- Royce in America to the point that in the 12 month period before the beginning of the First World War, fully 100 vehicles were sold. By this time the owners and management of the firm had come to the conclusion of the great sales potential for Rolls-Royce motorcars in the United States. Judged on current trends and market sales information and experience, they came to the conclusion that the American market for their fine products was larger and richer than anything that they could expect to attain in their home market and current manufacturing domain – England. Import restrictions and tariffs would be the limiting factor for Rolls-Royce in terms of both added costs to the final price of the car to American consumers, who would have to absorb the import tariffs on their vehicles and the profitability of Rolls-Royce in America.

The die was cast. As promptly as possible American manufacturing facilities were set up. This was to be a full Rolls-Royce manufacturing facility in America. A factory itself was purchased in Springfield Massachusetts. Manufacturing was promptly commenced under the direct supervision of none other than Henry Royce himself. Production was done mainly by local workers, aided and supervised by a fleet of 50 tradesmen from the British Derby factory itself. These British workers actually physically immigrated to America permanently with their families as well.

Production at this Springfield plant commenced in 1921 with Rolls-Royce firmly stating that the product from this auto plant would be the equal of anything built at the home plant located at Derby England. The plan was that parts would be shipped and assembled in the US with custom made coachwork made by existing prestigious American firms. Interestingly enough over time the number of items made locally in the US, as opposed to Britain, began to actually increase, not decrease. However the consistency of the product, in terms of product line and actual product began to deviate from the strict British made product. Only the first 25 rolling chassis were actually identical to the Derby England factory items. As time went on there were more and more deviations from the strict British product. Some of this may be due to the personal preferences and procedures of the different local American coachbuilders. After each was a premium established firms with distinct products, styles and methods previously. Some was due to the requests from the American customers, their ability to individualize and personalize their American made car to their individual preferences and styles.

What did in the American Roll-Royce? For one thing cost. Substantial costs were incurred in converting the cars from right hand British drive to left hand American. As a result of the increased costs incurred, the selling price of these American made Rolls-Royces was not nearly as competitive to other automotive products available on the U.S. market for prestige automotive products. Next the primary U.S. coachmaker for Rolls-Royce, the Brewster Coachbuilding firm, fell into financial difficulties. Then along came the 1929 stock market crash. The American Rolls-Royce might of continued save for one major marketing blunder. The British parent firm introduced a dynamite model – the Phantom, The car was not made in the US nor even made available, by import of 100 cars, till a year later. The car had great reception with the prestige auto market in the USA. However by the time it was decided to manufacture this hit product to meet the American demand the actual Phantom model was replaced by an ultra high tech and sophisticated model – The Phantom II. With the retooling costs incurred the calculation was that each American Rolls-Royce Phantom II car unit produced and sold would cost the company an astounding 1 million to produce in comparison to the 1929 customer price threshold for luxury prestige automobiles of only $ 20,000.

The fate of Rolls-Royce American manufactured products was sealed. The firm honored the last 200 orders for their cars. By 1935 these orders were completed and delivered to their customers.

That was the ending of the Rolls-Royce experiment of producing an American made prestige car product.

[ad_2]

Source by Terry E. Voster

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Seized Car Auctions

[ad_1]

Nowadays, if somebody drives a posh car, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is rich – the luxury vehicle might have been bought at one of the numerous seized car auctions held regularly.

As the name suggests, seized car auctions offer vehicles that were seized by the government or the police due to some illegal activity. Apart from criminals, automobiles at repossessed vehicle auctions come from people failed to pay the mortgage, defaulted on tax payments, etc. The goal of the government is not to cash on these vehicles, but rather get rid of them quickly and avoid storage and maintenance expenses.

Seized car auctions as well as other types of similar auctions have their own advantages and disadvantages. Being aware of them will help you decide whether or not this is the way you want to purchase your vehicle.

Advantages of Seized Car Auctions

1. Unbelievably low starting bid. You can expect 80 and even 90% discount – a great bargain if you compare it with the retailer price.

2. Good condition. Most vehicles sold have been in use not more than 5 years. Quite often, there are cars in a “close to new” condition.

3. History reports available. Ideally, every such auto auction will provide free Car Fax VIN reports. Additionally, you can use an Auto Check Vehicle History to make sure that the car was not damaged in an accident.

4. Possibility to find a rare model. If you are on a lookout for a particular model, especially rare or imported one, chances are you will find it at such an auction. Check online seized car auctions as well – they have an impressive number of listings, so it is really not so hard to find what you want.

Disadvantages of Seized Car Auctions

1. Sold “as is”. After acquiring a vehicle, it is impossible to exchange or return it for a refund. Therefore, take time to assess the vehicle’s condition and check its history.

2. Hard for beginners. If you are a first-timer, a repossessed vehicle auction may seem to be a tough place to you. Needless to say, it is difficult to keep up with experienced car dealers. A friend who is not new to seized car auctions would be of great help. Or, turn to online auto auctions – they are easier to control the bidding process.

3. Time consuming. Searching for the seized car auctions in your area, registration, preliminary checking, attending one (especially if it is quite far from your place), and getting all the necessary paperwork done later may take up to a few weeks. Again, participation in an online auction is easier, though involves more risks and concerns.

With these knowledge in hand, you are in a better position to buy a vehicle that is auctioned. For more details on where and how to pick up your dream car from seized car auctions, read up my blog.

[ad_2]

Source by Davion Wong

How Should a Mobile Car Wash Price Car Lot Washing Contracts – Price Per Car Strategies

[ad_1]

Okay so, you run a mobile car washing business and you want to increase your revenue generation by adding some car dealership lot washing contracts. That makes sense because the car dealerships have lots of cars, and they must be cleaned to sell; no one wants to buy a dirty car right? Sure, so your next question is what price point can you charge and still make money. Not long ago, I was asked about this by an already successful car washing entrepreneur;

“I noticed on one of your posts [articles] you suggested $.85 for twice a week. Wow, can it be done for that without have the contract for detailing as well?”

He was referring of course to the synergy gained by detailing for auto dealerships and also maintaining the washing contracts as a bundled service, which is the favored strategy for mobile auto detailers and mobile car washing companies. But what if you only had the lot washing contract and not the detailing contract; does it still make any sense?

Well, yes, in fact, we had many accounts which were only wash accounts at between.65 and $.85 per car, where we did not have the detailing contract yet, for the auto dealership. For instance at the Sacramento Auto Mall, all the car lots are set on the street that looks like a giant circle, and we would have the crews going different directions on that street, and we would never quit. By the time we got done with one side of the street, it was time to start over, they just watched every day all day long.

Some of the other dealerships wanted us to be off of the lot by 10 AM so they could sell cars, which makes it tough in the winter because of the ice formation when you put water on the cars in many areas.

The detailing contracts for auto dealerships are very good when the economy is good, but you must understand that auto dealerships are very slow to pay and you don’t want to become a bank where you are doing services for them and they are paying you for three months. That just costs you a lot of cash flow and all that labor until you get your money.

Remember in a service business “cash flow” is king, everything else is just talk. You’re better off to go find something else to wash rather than letting some company string you out on payments and receivables. And remember that God made dirt on the first day, and that gets all over everything so you should be able to find something to wash other than just car lots.

It appears the mobile car washing entrepreneur agrees and is thinking here too. We used to consider car lots as busy work, keeping our crews busy and thus making money, but it was hardly our best profit center. Please consider all this.

[ad_2]

Source by Lance Winslow

The Importance of Car Computers and the Engine Control Module

[ad_1]

Almost all modern cars these days cannot run without a car computer. It is an engine control module, a very important part of every vehicle. Without it, the car would be dead. So why are car computers and engine control modules important?

You must understand that an automobile is a complex matter. It is composed of a lot of sensors and these sensors go through these car computers. This is why computers are important, because it is the way to know if there is something in the auto that does not function well.

Take for example the fuel injection in a car. The one that regulates and monitors this function are the computers. If the fuel intake of a vehicle is not in its proper state, the most probable thing to happen is either it will consume too much and therefore be not so fuel efficient or it could consume too little and the car won’t run properly.

Computers and engine control modules also take care of the ignition timing. You see here that when a fuel is injected, the next thing to do is to ignite it. So without computers to maintain the timing of fuel inject and ignition, what will happen is an imbalance and the car would not run.

Car computers and engine control modules are very important because it gathers all the data necessary for a car to run at its best. It will help you get better mileage and it will also help you increase the power of your engine.

Another thing why car computers are important is because it will help you be an environmentally friendly citizen. Why? Because computers can help you decrease the emissions of your car.

So if you think there is something wrong with your car, better check the car computer. Now, when there is a need to get a replacement of these computers but you are on a low budget, then you might want to consider getting a pre-owned computer. There are many out there that sell high quality pre-owned computers.

Do not try to compromise the performance of your vehicle. Taking care of your automobile will keep you safe at all times. You cannot just neglect problems that may cost your life or others.

[ad_2]

Source by Andie Riley

Anyone Can Clean Their Car, But What About Those Cloudy, Yellow Headlights?

[ad_1]

It is a very common occurrence. We see then every day. Its like a disease – yellow, cloudy headlight lenses in drastic need of repair. I even saw them on cars at the local carwash. It befuddled me that these people would take such great care – washing, vacuuming the interior, removing the floor mats and even hand drying their cars, but they still had those yellowed, cloudy headlights. Its not just a problem on old, very used cars. It is prevalent on 2 – 3 year old cars also. It doesn’t matter if it is a Dodge, Ford, Mercedes, or a Porsche.

When questioned, most said they couldn’t afford, or didn’t want to pay the high prices of replacements from their local auto dealer. The average price for a pair of replacement plastic headlights at local auto dealerships was around $450 – that didn’t even include installation and alignment (that would be another $60-120). After market headlights do exist, but have received mixed reviews, and the savings aren’t that great, quality and fit is lagging, and then you still had to have them installed and aligned. And for what so you can do it again in another year or two?

There is another solution, there are headlight repair, cleaner and restorer kits available for under $30 (look up headlight cleaner and/or headlight restorer on Google), much less expensive than replacement lenses, and they work!

Plastic headlight lenses are the norm in the automotive industry now – every car has them. Some have fancy names like plexan and Lexan, but they all have the same problems. The sun, acid rain, harsh weather conditions, chemicals (brake fluid, power steering fluid, hot radiator fluids, hot water, harsh cleaners, etc…) will all cause the plastic lenses to degrade and weaken quickly. Some manufacturers have gone to including a protective film on the lenses. Regardless, they are all susceptible to this weakening and yellowing over time.

With these headlight repair, cleaner and restorer kits even junk yard car lenses have been repaired and restored to brand new (as evidenced on some websites). These same lenses used to be discarded and now have become new profit centers for salvage yards. The treatments are similarly applied to the exterior of the headlight lens where the damage is worst and it doesn’t take a mechanic to repair it.

These kits can easily be found under headlight cleaner and headlight restorer on Google. So now you know there is a very economic solution to the problem of yellow, cloudy, worn headlights – repair, clean and restore them to new again. There’s no excuse now to not have sparkling clean headlights. Car dealerships have been using these headlight repair, cleaner and restorer on their cars and you can too.

[ad_2]

Source by David Maillie

Tinting Your Car Windows to Protect Your Leather Seats

[ad_1]

Having window tint professionally installed onto your vehicle will provide you with a stylish and sleek look. But having your car windows tinted will also serve a more useful purpose: protecting the interior of your vehicle. This is especially beneficial if your car has leather seats. Leather will eventually become brittle and crack if it is exposed to sunlight for too long. Protecting your car’s interior with tinted windows can significantly prolong the life of your leather upholstery and trim, which will improve the resale value of the vehicle.

Leather seats are abundant in luxury cars and SUVs. These vehicles cost a lot of money, so it would be wise to protect your investment by shielding the interior of your vehicle from harmful UV rays. UV rays will not only cause the leather to dry out and crack, but it can also fade the color of your interior, including carpeting, fabrics and plastic trim.

Without tinted car windows, you and your passengers risk being burned by the super-heated leather seats on a hot day. Everyone has entered a vehicle after it had been sitting in the sun for a while. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause the leather interior to become so hot that it can actually cause severe burns to the driver or passengers. When your vehicle windows are professionally tinted, your interior will have protection from direct sunlight and the leather will not be able to reach such a dangerous temperature.

Furthermore, tinted windows can protect your vehicle by warding off break-ins. Criminals will not want to break into a vehicle if they can’t see what’s inside. While you should never leave valuables in your car, having tinted windows will provide the necessary privacy you need for your belongings. Thieves will be deterred from breaking into your car simply because they can’t see through the window tinting.

You should always hire a professional window tinting company to install your window tints. They have the equipment to do the job correctly and have years of experience installing window tint on all types of vehicles. The do-it-yourself kits should be avoided – especially if you have no experience installing window tints – because often times they result in air bubbles and a tint that will only last a few years.

Every state has laws regulating the tint darkness grade allowable. Bring your vehicle to a reputable automotive tinting shop and they will be able to offer your window tinting solutions that are within the boundaries of your state’s laws.

Protect your vehicle and your leather interior with professional automotive window tinting. You can keep your car private, cool and shielded from dangerous UV rays – all while giving your vehicle a classic and sleek look.

[ad_2]

Source by Budda Oliver

Forklift Training – What to Expect on Your Forklift Test

[ad_1]

Before you go on a forklift training course you do need to find out what you will be taught. A good course will have a training plan and should incorporate the following:

Pre Shift / Pre operational checks

Workplace Hazards

Safe operation of a Forklift

Training routines driving skills

Attachments

Refuelling

General safe practices

Racking, pallets, roll cages, handling symbols

The Forklift Assessments theory and practical

Before a Practical Assessment can occur you must have received formal training and have completed the Forklift Theory Assessment. Once that has been completed you then can attempt the practical assessment. A forklift operator must be trained and hold the relevant Certificate of Competency to operate a forklift in the workplace.

Forklift Check

Before you drive the forklift you must check it to make sure it is safe to use, the forklift can be a dangerous machine if it is faulty or if the operator does not fully understand how to use it.

Read the operators manual and manufacture’s handbook before attempting to complete the checks needed and to familiarise yourself with the components of your forklift.

The main purpose of pre operational checks:

• Identify and report damage or faults

• check for leaks

• Prevent accidents

• Maintain the forklift

Making sure that the forklift is in a safe area, away from pedestrians and overhead obstructions, you can split the checks into three sections-

1. External check

2. Internal check

3. Operational check

Forklift Test

What is involved in the Forklift Test? What are they going to get me to do?

With regards to the Forklift Test, I will try and make it simple and easy to understand.

Before an applicant can undertake a practical test they must have completed their structured training and also on the job training documented in a log book and signed off by a licenced Supervisor.

Think of the forklift test in three parts:

Element 1

• Pre Operational Check of the Forklift Truck.

• Inspection of the work site

• identification of work site hazards and the selection of control measures

• Checking controls on Equipment

Element 2

• Operation of Forklift Truck, including the movement of various loads, pick up and placement of loads from low, medium and high level racking

• Shifting & Stacking Loads

• Loading and Unloading

Element 3

• Correct shut down and parking procedure for Forklift Truck.

• Securing the site

You will be asked some questions either during or after the assessment to establish the reasons for your decisions and actions.

Don’t be frightened as the assessor will use his / her discretion in assessing competence under each criteria.

[ad_2]

Source by T Arkitim

Car Accidents Can Alarm Encounters – Regularly, in Any Event, a Portion of the General Population

[ad_1]

Car Accident

Car accidents can alarm encounters. Regularly, in any event, a portion of the general population included are harmed, now and again seriously, and the cars that slammed are harmed.

A solitary vehicle impact or single-car accidents are, as the name infers, a car accident in which one and the only vehicle is included. This can incorporate car accident like running off the street, slamming into fallen rocks, running over flotsam and jetsam out and about, losing control of the vehicle and moving it, hitting creatures, et cetera.

How a Car Accident Case Works

Car accident law is a blend of activity and individual damage law. Somebody who is harmed in a car collision can enlist a lawyer who will consult with alternate drivers to figure out who ought to pay for the harm, and if essential, the lawyer will document a claim. The courts will sort out precisely what happened to utilize police reports, photographs, and other confirmation, and after that utilization, the neighborhood movement laws and additionally lawful ideas, for example, to figure out who created the mischance. Whoever is to blame generally hosts to remunerate the other get-together for therapeutic and property costs, and in addition for mischief, for example, lost wages and torment and enduring.

Stay at the Scene

Never leave the mishap scene until it’s proper to do as such. On the off chance that you leave, especially where somebody has supported wounds or was executed, you can confront genuine criminal punishments for being an attempt at manslaughter driver.

Check on All Drivers and Passengers

Before evaluating property harm, ensure everybody required in the mishap is alright. Get therapeutic consideration for any individual who needs it. On the off chance that a man is oblivious or has neck or back agony, don’t move them until qualified therapeutic help arrives, unless a peril requires moving the individual.

Determining Who Is At Fault

The laws on who is to blame differ contingent upon the sorts of vehicles included. Most states give more insurances to people on foot and bicyclists, since they are more powerless against wounds from an impact. Likewise, motorcyclists may have more noteworthy wounds, however motorcyclists additionally should take after various activity rules since they can be speedier and more agile than a car. Truck drivers are normally professionally prepared and ensured, and need to drive more precisely than most different drivers. Figuring out who pays for the harm after a crash with a truck is somewhat more convoluted than different sorts of mishaps since trucks are regularly financially possessed, so the risk may lay on the driver, as well as on the proprietor of the truck too.

Call the Police

On the off chance that there’s huge property harm, physical damage, or demise, you have to call the police. Ask that a police report be documented in circumstances where cops do touch base at the scene, and acquire the name and identification quantities of the reacting officers.

Be that as it may, this is not generally a straightforward count, since once in a while both drivers are to blame. Every state has marginally unique standards for circumstances in which there is more than one individual in charge of the crash. A few states require that one gathering pays every one of the bills, though others permit the two gatherings to part the bills as indicated by the sum every gathering is to be faulted.

[ad_2]

Source by Md Amin Hossain

How to Ollie Onto Ledges, Boxes, and Rails

[ad_1]

Ledges. Find a ledge that you would be able to ollie onto. Get some speed and approach the ledge facing it and at a smal angle. Once you are along side with it pop your ollie and bring your back trucks on tops of the ledge than your front truck. You have ollied onto a ledge.

Boxes. Ollieing onto boxes is all about timing. Find a box that you can ollie onto. Then a approach it at comfortable speed. As your about a foot and half in front of the box pop your ollie. If its a high box make sure to keep your knees extra bent. Land on the box.

Rails. There are many different ways you can grind on a rail but for now we are going to focus on a very basic grind called the 50-50. Find a rail that you can ollie onto. Approach the rail at a comfortable speed and at a little angle ( note you should be facing the rail). Pop your ollie just a little higher than the rail and lock your back truck onto to it, then your front one. You ollied onto a rail.

Conclusion:

Being able to use you ollie to ollie onto ledges, boxes, rail, will allow you to be able to skate more obstacles as well as open up new tricks for you to learn.

My Big Tip:

My biggest tip would be to be 100% confident with your ollie on flat ground before trying to ollie onto objects

Trouble Shooting:

Question: I can’t lock my trucks onto the rail.

Answer: This is a very common problem. A good way to get better at locking your trucks onto the rail is to move the rail onto the grass and just practice ollieing and locking your trucks onto the rail on the grass.

Question: I have trouble landing my ollies on boxes. I can get on top of them but i just can’t land them.

Answer: Make sure you keep your knees bent instead of extending them for the landing.

[ad_2]

Source by Bob Slattter

Car Donation Services

[ad_1]

If you are looking for a way to get ride of an old vehicle, you may want to consider a car donation. To donate a car, you simply have to contact a car donation services and they take care of everything else. Thus, donating your car to charity rather than selling it is more convenient and fast. Moreover, you help those who are in need of assistance when you donate your car and benefit from it through tax benefits in return. The IRS allows a deduction to your taxes payable equivalent to the proceeds from your car donation.

Before you donate your car to charity you will probably want to know how much will your tax deduction be. The amount of your car donation tax deduction is covered by the 2005 revised federal tax legislation on car donations. This legislation describes two possible amounts for your car donation tax deduction- the gross sales amount and the fair market value of your car.

Car donation services usually either refurbish donated cars first or sell them as is at auctions where the true fair market values of the cars are considered. So if the cars were donated to them at a bloated fair market value, the amount that the car was sold for did not match this bloated value The 2005 car donation tax legislation revision corrects this error by allowing only the gross sales amount of the donated cars as the donor’s tax deduction.

Car donation services do not always sell donated cars. They may either use the car for their charitable causes or assign the car to a needy family or individual. If the donated car is used this way by the car donation services, the revised car donation tax legislation allows that the fair market value of the car is used as the donor’s tax deduction.

The legislation however, still allows that the fair market value of the donated car be used as the donor’s tax deduction provided that they meet certain conditions and paperwork. The fair market value of a car donation is the amount used for the donor’s tax deduction. However, the IRS found out that donors were claiming fair market values of donated cars based on the make and the model without considering the car’s condition. Since the fair market value is the amount agreed upon by the donor and the car donation services, the donors usually considered the book value of the car as the fair market value without taking account of depreciation and the needed refurbishing.

The necessary paperwork that the IRS needs for the fair market value tax deduction is an acknowledgment receipt issued by the car donation services. This paper must state that the car is used directly for their charitable causes, the donor’s tax identification number or social security number and the car’s identification number. Moreover, the IRS may also require that the document contain a phrase restricting the donated car to charitable uses only and not to any future sale.

Donating a car and reducing your taxes is very convenient and easy. There are already numerous car donation services online. All you have to do is: call their toll-free number, fill out the application form, and wait for your car to be picked up but before that, you may want to check for a 501(c) (3) charity organization classification. This way you can be sure that your donation goes to charity and be assured that your car donation tax deduction is valid.

[ad_2]

Source by George V King