However, not all the statues were so solemn in nature. You can easily imagine the twinkle in the eye of the owner who decorated his Ford with a radiator cap shaped like a pot-bellied policeman or a tiny devil thumbing his nose at the world.
Rolls-Royce execs weren’t too impressed by the idea of one of these frivolous mascots garnishing the palladium-style radiator of a Silver Ghost. To solve the problem, Claude Johnson, whom historians often refer to as the “hyphen” in Rolls-Royce, launched a project to create a hood ornament that would represent the brand.
This marketing genius, who came up with the slogan “The Best Car in the World” to identify the Silver Ghost, introduced in 1907, commissioned British sculptor and illustrator Charles Sykes to create the mascot that was destined to become an icon.
Several historians agree that it was Claude Johnson’s secretary, the beautiful Eleanor Velasco Thornton, who served as a model for the elegant emblem. And for one very simple reason: Eleanor and Sykes were reportedly romantically involved.
In any case, on February 6, 1911, the statue created by Charles Sykes became a registered trademark of Rolls-Royce.
Since then, nothing and no one has confirmed the juicy rumour about the relationship between the artist and his model. Neither the written works left by Sykes after his death in 1950, nor his daugher Josephine.
Someone once asked Josephine Sykes to shed some light on the subject. But when asked about Eleanor, her father and the Spirit of Ecstasy, Josephine is reported to have replied: "Eleanor was a lovely person. It is an interesting story and if it makes you happy, let the myth prevail".
Six amusing anecdotes
1) A Facebook page has been dedicated to the Spirit of Ecstasy: http://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/The-spirit-of-Ecstasy/110934032268875.
2) The mascot still inspires novelists today, who title their works after her. It was recently the case of Carolyn Charles (2002), Bernard Veale (2009) and Spanish writer Josep Munoz Redon (2002).
3) Musicians have also chosen her name as the title of their albums: Ake Hodell (1980), Tony Thomas (2007), Tom Bliss (2008) and James Kelly (2010).
4) At a London auction organized by H&H Sales in July 2008, a Spirit of Ecstasy ornament suitable for a 1912-1914 Silver Ghost 40/50HP was sold for some 1,012 sterling pounds, about the equivalent of 1,500 CAD today.
5) Three Rolls-Royce models delivered to celebrities after 1911 weren’t adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy. The Phantom presented to Lord and Lady Baden-Powell by the Scouts at the 1929 World Jamboree held in London featured a radiator topped by a cap in the shape of a Scout arrowhead accompanied by the moto “Be Prepared,” the Phantom IV presented to Princess Elizabeth in 1950 featured a statue of a mounted Saint George slaying a dragon, and the 1954 Phantom IV belonging to Princess Margaret was decorated with a statue of Pegasus.
6) French singer Serge Gainsbourg dedicated a song to Rolls-Royce on his mythical 1971 album, L’histoire de Melody Nelson, where he poetically describes the statue. Interestingly, Gainsbourg didn’t have a driver’s licence when he penned that particular piece.
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| Some historians believe that Eleanor Thornton and Charles Sykes were romantically involved. They’re pictured on the far left, arm in arm. (Photo: Rolls-Royce) |
Rolls-Royce execs weren’t too impressed by the idea of one of these frivolous mascots garnishing the palladium-style radiator of a Silver Ghost. To solve the problem, Claude Johnson, whom historians often refer to as the “hyphen” in Rolls-Royce, launched a project to create a hood ornament that would represent the brand.
This marketing genius, who came up with the slogan “The Best Car in the World” to identify the Silver Ghost, introduced in 1907, commissioned British sculptor and illustrator Charles Sykes to create the mascot that was destined to become an icon.
Several historians agree that it was Claude Johnson’s secretary, the beautiful Eleanor Velasco Thornton, who served as a model for the elegant emblem. And for one very simple reason: Eleanor and Sykes were reportedly romantically involved.
In any case, on February 6, 1911, the statue created by Charles Sykes became a registered trademark of Rolls-Royce.
Since then, nothing and no one has confirmed the juicy rumour about the relationship between the artist and his model. Neither the written works left by Sykes after his death in 1950, nor his daugher Josephine.
Someone once asked Josephine Sykes to shed some light on the subject. But when asked about Eleanor, her father and the Spirit of Ecstasy, Josephine is reported to have replied: "Eleanor was a lovely person. It is an interesting story and if it makes you happy, let the myth prevail".
Six amusing anecdotes
1) A Facebook page has been dedicated to the Spirit of Ecstasy: http://fr-fr.facebook.com/pages/The-spirit-of-Ecstasy/110934032268875.
2) The mascot still inspires novelists today, who title their works after her. It was recently the case of Carolyn Charles (2002), Bernard Veale (2009) and Spanish writer Josep Munoz Redon (2002).
3) Musicians have also chosen her name as the title of their albums: Ake Hodell (1980), Tony Thomas (2007), Tom Bliss (2008) and James Kelly (2010).
4) At a London auction organized by H&H Sales in July 2008, a Spirit of Ecstasy ornament suitable for a 1912-1914 Silver Ghost 40/50HP was sold for some 1,012 sterling pounds, about the equivalent of 1,500 CAD today.
5) Three Rolls-Royce models delivered to celebrities after 1911 weren’t adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy. The Phantom presented to Lord and Lady Baden-Powell by the Scouts at the 1929 World Jamboree held in London featured a radiator topped by a cap in the shape of a Scout arrowhead accompanied by the moto “Be Prepared,” the Phantom IV presented to Princess Elizabeth in 1950 featured a statue of a mounted Saint George slaying a dragon, and the 1954 Phantom IV belonging to Princess Margaret was decorated with a statue of Pegasus.
6) French singer Serge Gainsbourg dedicated a song to Rolls-Royce on his mythical 1971 album, L’histoire de Melody Nelson, where he poetically describes the statue. Interestingly, Gainsbourg didn’t have a driver’s licence when he penned that particular piece.
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| Highly popular with thieves the world over, today the Spirit of Ecstasy is protected by a sophisticated security system, and it disapears into the grill at the slightest twist. (Photo: Rolls-Royce) |
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