Representing everything that a luxury car should be, a Rolls Royce is a symbol of opulence and refined taste. Setting a high standard for the competition to meet, the British car manufacturer produces vehicles that combine old world charm and modern technology.

Formed in 1906, the company released its first exotic car rental that very year. Riding on a six-cylinder engine, the Silver Ghost blew away cars produced by other automakers in both speed and style. Quickly labeled the best car in the world, the Silver Ghost featured several details the car world had not yet seen and was incredibly reliable and, most importantly, easy to drive.

The company moved to the United States during the 1920’s, where they opened up a second factory in order to meet rising demands for the luxury car rental. Powered by a new, pushrod-operated overhead valve engine, the Phantom I featured detachable cylinder heads and was an incredibly advanced ride for its time.

Despite their popularity, the company fell on financial hard times and was forced to file for bankruptcy in the 1970’s. However, after being purchased by Vickers PLC in 1980, Rolls Royce made a comeback with the Silver Spirit, designed to appeal to a younger generation with a cleaner look that was more representative of the times.

Since then the company has continued to flourish. And what makes Rolls Royce stand out from other car manufacturers is that, since the end of World War II, the company has produced every aspect of a vehicle in-house. From the engine and the interior to the body, everything is handcrafted and made by the company rather than outsourced to others. Though this raises the price of the extravagant cars, auto enthusiasts know the attention to detail is well worth the money.