Deutsche Automobil Beschreibungen (German Motoring Language)

In 1965 Rolls Royce exhibited their newly launched Silver Mist luxury car at the German Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (motor show) in Munich. Considered to be the country's premier motor show event.

Mist being an unfortunate choice of name as in German it roughly translates to Shit. Specifically cow shit.

The Germans had a field day and their newspapers and journals lambasted Rolls Royce Motors mercilessly. Somewhat unfairly so many in Britain thought.

From memory I think it was the Times or Sunday Times who chose to retaliate. Creating a list of mock new German words for motoring and car related subjects. Nehmen den Pisse (Taking the piss) as it were, for the well known ridiculous German penchant for creating tiresomely long words comprising linked nouns and adverbs. Britain gave as good as it got! Rolls Royce quickley renamed their new creation Silver Shadow. The wonderful car remained in production until late 1980.

I was 16 years old at the time but the article seared an impression into my brain that has never since been erased. Here goes:-

Mistral's commitment:
Bringing benefits of computerisation to our RAC industry - without the commonly associated problems.

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