The Weekly Classic Newsletter: http://weeklyclassic.hassettstudios.com/🎥 Video Description:The Heist of the Century — How BMW Stole Rolls-Royce from VolkswagenIn this episode of Automotive Storytime, Jason dissects the most bizarre, ego-driven, and legally complex acquisition in the history of the car industry: the battle for Rolls-Royce and Bentley.The year was 1998, and the "Crown Jewels" of British motoring were on the auction block. On one side stood Ferdinand Piëch, the terrifyingly brilliant technocrat of Volkswagen, looking to crown his imperial expansion with the ultimate status symbol. On the other stood BMW, the preferred partner who believed they owned the brand by right of succession. What should have been a polite transfer of power turned into a corporate bloodbath. Volkswagen brought the cash—a staggering £430 million "knockout" bid—but BMW brought the lawyers.We trace the timeline of a deal that went spectacularly wrong for the highest bidder. While Volkswagen celebrated buying the historic Crewe factory, the workforce, and the famous Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, they failed to read the fine print regarding a dormant trademark clause from 1971. In a move that humiliated the Wolfsburg giant, BMW utilized a connection with the aero-engine division to "steal" the Rolls-Royce brand name for a mere £40 million—less than 10% of what VW paid for the rest of the company.This is the story of the "Green Label" hell, the awkward four-year divorce where VW was forced to build cars for their rivals, and the secret "Project Rolls-Royce" that gave birth to the modern Phantom. We look at how this comedy of errors eventually saved the British luxury industry, creating two distinct powerhouses—Bentley and Rolls-Royce—out of the wreckage of a feud between two Austrian billionaires.🔖 Hashtags: #RollsRoyce #Bentley #BMW #Volkswagen #AutomotiveStorytime #CarHistory #BusinessWars #FerdinandPiech #V12 #LuxuryCars