For the most discerning clients who are neither satisfied with the Black Badge top end of Rollls-Royce’s production range nor one-off versions of the flagship Phantom, there are Coachbuild commissions—multimillion-dollar, completely customized vehicles.
The latest is the second Rolls-Royce Boat Tail commission, “one of just three that have been, and ever will be made,” the marque puts it quite dramatically. Forbes reports that the last one was ordered by Beyonce and Jay-Z for a reported $30 million. All three are inspired by racing yachts of the 20th century and the legendary Rolls-Royce Phantom II Boattail from 1932.
The exterior finish is among the most complex ever created by Rolls-Royce. A foundational coat featuring oyster and soft rose hues with flakes of white and bronze mica contrasts with a bespoke cognac-colored hood. Rolls’ famous Pantheon Grille is milled from a single piece of aluminum and topped with a rose gold Spirit of Ecstasy ornament in this special appointment.
The rear deck houses the most eye-catching design element—a butterfly-doored hosting suite trimmed in Royal Walnut and filled with dishes, cutlery and fine libations. The same material serves as the interior’s veneer, across from oyster leathers, rose gold and pearl accents, and gold pinstripes. The cockpit’s centerpiece is a stunning custom clock made from mother-of-pearl supplied by the client.
Alex Innes, head of Rolls-Royce Coachbuild Design, said, “Boat Tail is a step-change in ingenuity and creative liberty. Building a motor car by hand offers a new realm of exploration and possibility: we can accomplish things and resolve challenges that normal industrialized methods would prohibit. This is the tale of two worlds: a modern motor car of contemporary design, made possible by historical techniques and time-honored craft. It is truly, one-of-a-kind.”
The exact price is unknown…and for the client, of little consequence.
“For the clients it is not about price,” Rolls-Royce chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos told Forbes. “We never have any discussions about ‘oh, what is this? What will you charge me for that?’ This is not what we are in for. The clients tell us what they want and we never talk about price. The price is the price.”
