The story of a secret romance is embodied in the intriguing and mysterious woman known as Spirit of Ecstasy. The widely-recognized graceful beauty with flowing hair and cape, which adorns the hood of every Rolls-Royce, was inspired by a real woman.
Lady Eleanor Velasco Thornton was the secretary of car-enthusiast Lord Montagu of Beaulieu- who was also a friend of company co-founder Charles Stewart Rolls. Many speculate Lady Eleanor was more than just Lord Montagu’s secretary.
Legend has it that in 1911 Lord Montagu commissioned sculptor Charles Sykes to create a personal mascot for the hood of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The model for the hood ornament was none other than his love interest Lady Eleanor. The original figurine depicted Lady Eleanor in fluttering robes with her finger pressed against her lips- allegedly symbolic of the couple’s secret love affair.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce vehicles didn’t have a hood ornament, so buyers attached random dolls and objects to their cars. That’s when business partners Charles Stewart Rolls and Sir Frederick Henry Royce decided to add the Spirit of Ecstasy as Rolls-Royce’s trademark ornament.
The manufacturing process today takes days of work to perfect each Spirit of Ecstasy. The symbol of class and elegance starts out as a wax figurine; it’s then dipped into melted steel and polished by hand to make it Rolls-Royce ready. No attention to detail is missed, as it takes one week to make just one Spirit of Ecstasy.
The “flying lady” as she was called by some, underwent several changes over time, but the message still remains the same. The graceful goddess is still symbolic of luxury. To everyone at Rolls-Royce, the Spirit of Ecstasy stands for relentless pursuit of perfection that goes into every car they produce.
The story of Rolls-Royce and its iconic leading lady, will be featured on the big screen in 2016. Director Martin Scorcese is producing the film aptly titled “Silver Ghost.”
Jennifer Denton of Wilson Middle School and Lilly Wisler of Barron Elementary School took home the evening’s top honor at the Plano ISD “Teacher of the Year” gala. They are the 2015 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year.
They were chosen from nearly one-hundred teachers, nominated by their peers. The Teacher of the Year Selection Committee members had the tough task of choosing the winners after interviewing all the nominees.
The Teacher of The Year winners got more than an award. They will also get to drive a brand new Lexus for the summer, courtesy of Park Place Lexus Plano.
General Manager Chris Brunner was on hand to congratulate the winners and present the “Summer in a Lexus” prize-pack, which also includes Texas Rangers tickets and Dallas Arboretum passes.
Park Place Dealerships would like to thank all the teachers for their selfless dedication and contribution to the community.
Park Place is celebrating a historic win at the races in Monterey, California. Patience and preparation put Park Place Motorsports in the top spot in the winner’s circle. The No. 73 Park Place car- a Porsche 911 GT/ Justice Brothers / Children’s Tumor Foundation Porsche 911 GT America competed at the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship during last weekend’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix in Monterey, California.
Drivers Patrick Lindsey and Spencer Pumpelly led the team to victory after a difficult start to the season.
“It is great to get the monkey off our back,” said Team Principal and co-driver Patrick Lindsey. “We’ve had really fast cars, qualified well, and bad luck has kept us from the top of the box. This is just the first win to get out of the way, there are a lot more to come.”
Good luck and careful management of resources contributed to a dominant performance. They weren’t off to the best start at the Sunday race, a slight balk on the start allowed a few competitors to get ahead during the opening laps.
As the race went on, momentum shifted as the competitors started pulling over for pit stops.
Team Park Place Motorcars knew the challenges ahead with the twists and turns of the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Californian Patrick Lindsey had a strategy in place: patience and managing his tires and fuel would be key to winning.
Patrick was able to pit from the lead with just over one hour remaining, handing the reigns to teammate Spencer Pumpelly for the rest of the event.
“The start was pretty bad for us,” said Lindsey. “If it weren’t for the guys on the pit box though, and our crew over the wall that executed just awesome pit stops, I would have been in a world of hurt. They gave me the chance to shoot out front, get a little bit of a lead and control from ahead. And Spencer got in the car and did what Spencer does best which is go out, run hard and win races.”
With Pumpelly comfortably in the lead, all attention turned to managing fuel for the rest of the race. The team’s calculations worked perfectly putting them first at the finish line and taking the first TUDOR win for the team in the process.
“This was a team effort from start to finish,” stated Pumpelly. “The car was fantastic all weekend. Everyone did a great job. Patrick drove really well this weekend and got his first pole. We proved we had a fast car, all we needed was good drives, good pit work and a little bit of luck that we haven’t had. Sure enough, Patrick gave me a huge lead. The guys got us on and off pit road, twice, faster than I’ve ever seen them do it. Just flawless. True team effort today!”
Up next for the team is the highly challenging Grand Prix of Detroit at the beautiful Belle Isle circuit on May 30th. We wish the team all the best as they prepare for the race. Be safe and Good Luck!
About Park Place MotorsportsPark Place Motorsports is an extension of Park Place Dealerships.Park Place Motorsports augments the unparalleled attention its dealerships provide by offering customers a premium level of support in relation to their motorsports activities. Services include maintenance and repair, driver and racecar support, and parts engineering and distribution. These offerings are authentically promoted by Park Place Motorsports’ flagship GT Daytona team in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
Thrill-seekers with the need for speed and super-car enthusiasts alike put the pedal to the metal and gave the McLaren 650S the ultimate road test. Park Place McLaren clients were invited to what can be best described as a country club for fast cars- the Motorsport Ranch outside Ft. Worth.
Park Place McLaren Dallas sponsored the event and provided two McLaren 650S super cars for a day in the fast lane.
An old cow pasture is now home to hairpin turns and straightaways where drivers left the rules of the road at the gate and brought out the true grit of the ultimate super car.
A professional driver rode along in the car to ensure enthusiasm behind the wheel and speed didn’t go extremely out of bounds. Helmets were required as well.
The excitement and hype was kicked up a couple of notches when an all-black McLaren P1 pulled up for its turn on the track.
The McLaren P1 put on a spectacular show handling every hairpin turn and each curve like a pro, proving it was born on the race track.
That day, everyone left with an adrenaline rush fueled by countless laps around the track and the satisfaction of having experienced their super-car’s super power!
Check out the super-fast and super sleek McLaren 650S, and see the rest of the McLaren line-up at Park Place McLaren.
Accolades keep pouring in for Jaguar. The automaker has been recognized by J.D. Power as the highest achieving automotive luxury brand in the United States for customer satisfaction with retailer service for vehicle maintenance and repair. According to the 2015 J.D. Power CSI study, Jaguar retailers provided the highest ranked service of any luxury auto brand in the U.S. to customers during the first three years of ownership.
“The Jaguar brand has undergone a tremendous transformation over the last few years with new models like the F-TYPE, increased focus on customer care and tremendous investment from our retailers in their facilities and processes,” said Joe Eberhardt, President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC.
“It is especially gratifying to have our customers recognize, through J.D. Power, the high quality of their Jaguar vehicle service experience. Our plan is to build on this momentum even further with new products and customer first programs on the way.”
Scores were based on service initiation, service advisor, service facility, vehicle pick-up and service quality. Jaguar ranked highest among luxury brands in the industry.
Last year, Jaguar was recognized as a J.D. Power Customer Champion, an honor received by only 50 companies in the U.S. for their ability to provide the highest level of customer service based on five key areas identified as the J.D. Power 5 Ps: People, Presentation, Price, Process and Product.
The Jaguar lineup is set to expand in the near future with the Jaguar XE sports sedan and the Jaguar F-PACE performance crossover, both coming in 2016.
A hot, brand new Swedish model with curves to die for created quite the stir.
All eyes were on the sleek physique draped in a semi-sheer silver cover-up, sitting in a dimly lit lounge at Park Place.
The energy and anticipation were palpable…. The countdown finally culminated in the Fresh Faces of Fashion unveiling the exciting all-new 2016 Volvo XC90.
2016 Volvo XC902016 Volvo XC90
The design is bold yet elegant while the engine is powerful yet efficient. The XC90 is pure luxury all around, offering comfortable seating for seven.
You can pre-order the XC90 right now at Park Place Volvo. Only three-thousand all-new XC90s will be available in the U.S. If the excitement in the room after the unveiling is any indication, most of them will soon call Dallas home.
2016 Volvo XC90
To celebrate Volvo’s new addition to the line-up Park Place Volvo partnered with Stanley Korshak and Modern Luxury Dallas. The event was also a Wrap party for 2015 Fresh Faces of Fashion- a group of influential women dedicated to fashion, the community, and giving back.
2015 Fresh Faces of Fashion
Throughout the evening guests enjoyed a smorgasbord of Swedish-inspired treats and a preview of the latest Swedish fashion. The high-fashion lounge of Carin Rodebjer featured the designer’s latest fashion meanwhile Absolut ElyxVodka served up delicious martinis…shaken, not stirred.
Stanley Korshak fashion lounge. Fashion by Carin Rodebjer.
For the gentlemen, an Eton Shirt Suite showcased menswear and accessories from Eton and offered Glenlivet and Chivas High Marque tasting.
Frost 321 cranked up the cool factor with their signature frozen drinks made by combining liquid nitrogen ice cream and cocktails.
Perrier-Jouet provided champagne for the Stanley Korshak Beauty & Bubble Bar where guests sipped champagne while make-up artists worked their magic doing make-up.
The celebration didn’t end there. Park Place Volvo and Modern Luxury Dallas donated $5,000 to The Salvation Army Echelon group- an organization of young adults who are rising up to serve The Salvation Army through donations and fundraising.
A big thank you to all our partners and everyone who helped Park Place Volvo reveal the all-new 2016 Volvo XC90.
As the best-selling sedan model in Lexus’ impressive stable, the ES has come to define the very essence of luxury sedan. It’s evident that this trend will continue as Lexus unveiled the exciting new 2016 ES at the Shanghai International Motor Show on Monday.
2016 Lexus ES. The ES200- featuring a 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine is new for 2016 in Asia and Russia. In the U.S. the ES350 will continue with its exceptionally smooth 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a gasoline-electric hybrid.
The 2016 ES, also available in hybrid, features an exciting, sportier attitude, highlighted by elegant yet progressive exterior styling, an enhanced luxurious interior and the new safety system, Lexus Safety System+. Enhanced dynamics and upgraded technology packages will keep the ES on the forefront, giving both drivers and passengers the confidence to traverse any distance in safety and utmost comfort. “Our development concept was ‘Take the ES to the next level of elegance and progressive luxury,’” said Toshio Asahi, ES Chief Engineer. “The Lexus ES is renowned for its innovative exterior and interior design. We wanted to build on that and make it more elegant, and tailor the car with the latest technology Lexus has to offer. We’re confident that the new Lexus ES will be a leader in its class and attract a lot of attention.”
For 2016, Lexus designers have cast a daring new form with the refreshed ES. A commanding front fascia that features Lexus’s trademark spindle grille, framed in combination with accentuated brilliant satin chrome, gives this new ES a new sense of luxury and instantly distinguishes it from the crowd. Accompanying the grille is a pair of newly designed headlights, now equipped with LED projector technology, while iconic “L”-shaped arrowhead Daytime Running Lights extend outside the headlight element for a distinctive look that links it with other Lexus models. Also, redesigned fog lamps areas have been relocated to the outer lower corners of the front fascia and amplify the vehicle’s wide stance. A re-sculpted front fascia connects to the hood adding the sensation of motion even when the car is standing still.
The sleek shape continues with the ES’ graceful roofline that flows effortlessly to the rear, where an improved, modern taillight design evokes the “L”-shaped theme furnishing an instantly recognizable nighttime glow.
Spanning the rear is a re-stylized chrome license plate garnish that flows visually into the clear elements of the lamps to communicate the vehicle’s on-road stability. Adding a considerable amount of flair to the vehicle’s already sporty attitude are newly sculpted chrome-tipped rectangular exhaust ports.
The 2016 model takes luxury to the extreme with a new color palette offering four new exterior colors as well as new interior trim combinations, featuring Shimamoku ornamentaion- previously available on higher-end GS and LS models, and a matte option for the Bamboo finish.
When it comes to luxury and refinement, Lexus has no equal. Engineered to provide driving confidence and the ultimate in comfort, the ES surrounds its occupants with a luxurious, contemporary cabin.
Furthermore, an embossed pattern has been added to the comfortable-yet-supportive seats. Additional trim enhancements to cabin-facing door surfaces and the center console unite the interior in upscale feel and design cohesion. Color-matched upholstery appears along the center console as well, coupled with a new leather boot-enclosed gear selector.
A new, sporty steering wheel provides better driving engagement. A larger 4.2-inch color multi-information display conveniently places vital vehicle and route information as well as multimedia information front and center. To further enhance Remote Touch Interface control, the 2016 ES adds “Enter” buttons on either side of the interface controller.
Since its inception, Lexus has offered quiet and smooth driving vehicles. The 2016 ES upholds that tradition with a host of improvements to provide the driver with an exciting experience. For the new 2016 ES, Lexus engineers applied structural reinforcements to foster stiffness in the vehicle’s unibody construction. Adapted from the Lexus IS sports sedan, this form of chassis tuning arms the ES with enhanced ride quality and handling. Moreover, this ES adds a sound-reducing layer behind the dashboard to better isolate engine noise from the cabin.
“With improved performance, an expanded engine lineup and a quieter and thoroughly luxurious interior wrapped in a freshened chiseled body, the new ES builds efficiently on what has made it one of the most popular luxury sedans in the world, and we are confident that this latest version of the ES will build upon its past successes,” said Asahi.
The 2016 Lexus ES is expected to arrive to Park Place Lexus Plano and Grapevine late this year.
From the big stage of New York City, the McLaren 570S arrived in Dallas for a more up-close and personal appearance.
Cloaked in secrecy, the newest addition to the McLaren family found the perfect spot at the Park Place Premier Collection.
A crowd of sports car enthusiasts anxiously awaited to see the McLaren 570S up close.
The 570S was unveiled to a true Texas welcome. Cheers and applause filled the showroom as the shiny, bright orange sports car made its first public debut in Dallas.
The 570S is touted as the first attainable McLaren, coming it at around $100,000 less than its super-car sibling, the McLaren 650S.
Don’t let the “sports car” title fool you. The McLaren 570S delivers super-car dynamics, super-car performance, and an engaging drive, offering a 0-62 mph sprint in just 3.2 seconds.
Meanwhile, you can configure your own McLaren 570S to your liking and just come by the Park Place Premier Collection to place the order for your unique, custom-designed McLaren 570S.
An innocent bystander caught in a police shoot-out in Lewisville, Erica Montes was lucky to get out alive; her Honda CR-V however, sustained a lot of damage. Adding insult to injury, her claim for repairs was denied.
After several months of back-and-forth with the insurance company, Ms. Montes came to terms with her SUV being riddled with bullet holes.
What she didn’t know is that her story caught the attention of Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth- General Manager, George Johnson, and things were about to get a lot better.
Mr. Johnson reached out to the manager of Park Place BodyWerks Fort Worth, David Norris, who invited Erica to stop by the body shop for the necessary repairs; oh and those repairs…they’re on the house.
Having been through so much, Montes was thrilled with the offer and knowing that her car will be restored.
In 2-weeks, Park Place BodyWerks fixed the damage from the shoot-out, but that’s not all they did.
Having taken panels and bumpers off, the body shop technicians noticed several other bumps and bruises on the CR-V that needed to be fixed or tended to. They fixed and replaced a laundry-list of small items that made a big difference. The icing on the cake- a complete detail and a full tank of gas; also compliments of Park Place BodyWerks.
When Erica came to pick-up her CR-V, it was unrecognizable.
It was no longer the dull silver SUV with rusty bullet holes she dropped off just 2-weeks ago, it was whole again and shiny.
There was more than a car restored that day. Montes’ smile was back on her face and that put a smile on ours!
An experience to last a lifetime and a permanent grin to prove it.
Park Place teamed up with the Make-A-Wish foundation to make 7-year-old Michael Hollis’ dream come true.
His dream…worth nearly $3 MILLION!
Watch Michael Take The Ride Of His Dreams!
The young boy, battling leukemia, is a fan of fast cars and auto-racing video games.
Naturally, he wanted to experience a Bugatti Veyron for himself.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse
Michael, along with his mom and dad flew in from San Antonio for the big surprise, arranged by Park Place Premier Collection, Make-A-Wish and Bugatti.
They pulled up for Michael’s big surprise in a white stretch-limo.
Michael had no idea what was in store for him till he saw his dream car…a black and blue Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse…with a Bugatti factory driver.
The driver wasn’t just any driver, it was Butch Leitzinger- a race car driver who won the famed Rolex 24 at Daytona three times.
Butch Leitzinger- Bugatti Factory Pilot
Michael- stunned and excited, climbed into the Bugatti, taking it all in while Butch explained what each button does and how the super car, packing 1200 horsepower- taking it from 0-60 in under 3 seconds, works.
After a thorough overview and Michael’s Bugatti hat on, the duo was off for the ride of a lifetime.
Although the car tops out at 255 mph, Leitzinger didn’t go quite that fast.
Michael, taking it all in during the ride was all smiles, waved to cars as they passed.
After the ride, Michael and his family got a personal tour of the Park Place Premier Collection- checking out Rolls Royces, Bentleys and other awe-inspiring luxury vehicles.
Michael Hollis in a Rolls RoyceMalcolm Gage- Park Place Premier Collection New Car Sales Director with Michael Hollis and a BentleySimon Crossley- Park Place Premier Collection Sales Consultant showing a McLaren to Michael Hollis
Bugatti and Park Place didn’t let Michael leave empty handed. He received quite the swag bag full of goodies from Bugatti to ensure he’ll have plenty to remind him of his experience of a lifetime.
(L) Heath Strayhan- General Manager Park Place Premier Collection (M) Michael Hollis (R) Butch Leitzinger- Bugatti Factory Pilot
