The second Rolls-Royce Boat Tail – an astonishing piece of engineering, craftsmanship, sophistication and luxury – was unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza in front of Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como. The Boat Tail is entirely hand-built with body panels from single sheets of aluminum and inspired by the design of racing yachts of the early 20th century. The buyer has not been revealed publicly but Rolls-Royce said that he owns a family business with origins in the pearling industry, is widely travelled and internationally educated and owns a sizeable collection of modern and classic cars in a dedicated private museum. The price tag of this particular car? $30 million!
The Boat Tail clearly shows the owner’s level of sophistication and appreciation for true elegance. Starting with the color of the car’s body, a blend of rose gold, bronze and cognac, to the royal walnut veneer that covers the Boat Tail’s rear deck. The front grille is milled from a single, solid billet of aluminum and fashioned in rose gold. The interior of the car is a curated combination of cognac and oyster-colored leather with rose gold and mother-of-pearl accents throughout. The centerpiece of the dashboard is a timepiece made from mother-of-pearl, chosen and supplied by the client from his own collection; the fascia of which is pure and minimal in its appearance so as not to detract from the precious material. The same prized substance is used for the control switches and instrument dials, creating a strong visual and material connection between the car, the owner, and his family heritage.
Alex Innes, Head of 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 industrialised methods would prohibit. This is the tale of two worlds: a modern motor car of contemporary design, made possible by historical techniques and time-honoured craft. It is truly, one-of-a-kind.”
Images courtesy of Rolls-Royce
