Rolls Royce has unveiled the bespoke coach built, the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail. Commissioning of the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail confirms that the Coachbuild division will become a permanent fixture in its future portfolio. Through Rolls-Royce Coachbuild, the company can interpret the lifestyles of its clients. Now the Boat Tail becomes the first completed project since the brand revealed its bespoke division.
The Rolls Royce Boat Tail takes its name from rare Rolls-Royce cars from the 1920 and 1930s. But the design inspiration comes from the Rolls-Royce Sweptail showcased in 2017. The Rolls-Royce Sweptail is the initiation point of the modern coachbuilding, and it set new benchmarks in the luxury and automotive possibility. The Sweptail was also instantly blazoned as one of the finest intercontinental tourers in history. This brought up the case of Rolls-Royces’ collaboration with its clients.
After the Rolls-Royce Sweptail, several clients approached Rolls-Royce to discover if they too could collaborate on a unique commission. When Rolls-Royce agreed to collaborate, forming a new permanent contemporary Coachbuild department at the Home of Rolls-Royce, three potential patrons commonly shared the appreciation of modern nautical design within this group of notable clients.
In the design phase, client-led creative expression coincided with the design team. The team’s ambitions to graft hull forms of sailing boats particularly inspired J-Class yachts onto the rolling chassis of a Rolls-Royce. With the consultation of the three clients, reaching an agreement whereby three cars would share a common body. But all three vehicles would be highly personalised and individually different. Each would reflect the individual commissioning patrons’ vision, capability and ambition.
Rolls-Royce also assured that the brand would not make any more units making them one of the exclusive cars in the world. The car in the pictures is one of the first Boat Tail’s whose owner also had their 1932 Rolls-Royce Boat Tail restored from their private collection just in time for their new Boat Tail’s completion.
The Rolls Royce Boat Tail culminates to form the clients’ perfect experience. The Boat Tail is nearly 5.8m long and features a relaxed stance. The car features nautical references but also gets Rolls-Royce’s iconic pantheon grille and lights. The grille appears to an integral part of the fascia and not an applique. The DRL forms an intense browline, and the apron features classical round headlamps. The Boat Tail also comes with a wrap-around windscreen and a gently leaning A-pillar. The large volumes at the front and progressive negative sculpture in the lower bodyside give the Boat Tail the gesture of rising out of the water.
The Aft Deck incorporates large swathes of wood and leather. Rolls-Royce has applied open-pore Caleidolegno veneer and grey and black material. The linear wood grain also comes with stainless steel pinstripe inlays. The veneer treatment also features on the lower transom area giving a subtle reference to the hull lines of classic Boat Tail bodies. The pictured Rolls-Royce Boat Tail comes in the client’s favourite colour – Blue.
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail double refrigerator specially designed to house the clients’ favourite vintages of Armand de Brignac champagne. At the touch of a button, the rear deck opens in a sweeping butterfly gesture. The doors open with a synchronised movement, revealing a treasure chest at a precise angle of 15 degrees. Completing the experience is cutlery made by Christofle in Paris with the ‘Boat Tail’ engraving. A unique parasol is also housed beneath the rear centre line to protect the client from the weather.
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a road-legal motor car and underneath the hood lies a 6.5-litre twin-turbo V12 that makes 563 Hp of power.