By Otsile Kadiege

Rolls-Royce is no stranger when it comes to building bespoke vehicles. The British marque recently revealed the second of just three Coalchbuild Boat Tails at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza, Villa d’Este, on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy. The latest iteration of the the $28 million (over R400,000,000) Boat Tail was commissioned by a client in homage to his father and family heritage.

Unique exterior styling

Rolls-Royce says the client presented their Coachbuild Designers with a selection of four pearl shells, personally chosen from his private collection for their unique colour and complexity at the onset of the commissioning process. The shells provided inspiration for the exterior colour, which is said to be one of the most complex bespoke finishes ever created by Rolls-Royce.

The foundation of the colour is a shimmering blend of oyster and soft rose, with large white and bronze mica flakes adding a unique pearlescent quality that changes subtly under different light conditions. The contrasting cognac-coloured bonnet, created specifically for this Boat Tail, contains fine bronze and gold coloured aluminium mica flakes complete with a layer of crystal and iced matt clear coat, adding significant warmth and depth to the car’s appearance. The technical fibre lower sills of Boat Tail incorporate a rose gold woven thread.

The rear deck, which houses Boat Tail’s unique ‘butterfly-design’ hosting suite, is swathed in Royal Walnut veneer, inlaid with rose gold-plated pinstripes with a satin-brushed finish to ensure a sensitive and sophisticated appearance. From the front, the Pantheon Grille, milled from a single, solid billet of aluminium, is graced with a rose gold Spirit of Ecstasy.

Matching interior

The interior is a beautifully curated combination of perfectly matched cognac and oyster-coloured leathers and Royal Walnut veneer, with rose gold and mother-of-pearl accents throughout. The leathers, complete with a pearlescent finish, accentuate the surfaces and forms of Boat Tail’s seats and interior design. The transmission tunnel is formed from Royal Walnut veneer with rose gold pinstripes, drawing a direct visual reference to the rear deck.

The centrepiece 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 prised substance graces the control switches and instrument dials.

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.”