Rolls-Royce has been a pinnacle of luxury automobile advertising for over a century and on Sunday, the company celebrated the 110th anniversary of the meeting of its founders, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. Since their first car was released in 1904, Rolls-Royce has prided themselves on creating automobiles that were, and still are, timeless classics. Long before reaching this milestone, the company touted the longevity of their cars, offering 35 years’ worth of care and maintenance advice in this 1976 ad.

The first two paragraphs of the ad read: “When most people purchase a new automobile, they already know how long the relationship will last. They recognize, from the outset, that the car they drive out of the showroom today will rapidly lose both its value and appeal.

Fortunately, there is an exception to this rule. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Traditionally, these cars have been designed, engineered and built not for the moment—but for the ages. Of all the Rolls-Royce motor cars built since 1904, more than half are still on the road. Perhaps this is why the Rolls-Royce holds its resale value better than any ordinary luxury car.”

The ad goes on to explain the life of the 1976 Rolls-Royce, emphasizing that despite aging, the car still has immense value. And by the time you reach 2011, your 1976 Rolls-Royce is 35 years old and still on the road, but “this has come to be expected from these fine motor cars.”

FUN FACT: After receiving a Rolls-Royce as a gift in 1928, Allen Smith owned and drove his car until the age of 102—in 2005—making his one of the longest car owner relationships ever recorded at 77 years. (Source: Examiner)