Rolls-Royce revealed a preview of their latest bespoke range today. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection is a series of 35 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupés that seeks to celebrate a seminal act of British watersport!
The cars specifically celebrate the battle between the United States and Great Britain to be the fastest nation on water. On the morning of 1 September 1937, Sir Malcolm Campbell headed out onto the calm blue waters of Lake Maggiore on the Swiss-Italian frontier. He took the wheel of his Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat, powered by a Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine, and set a record of 126.32 mph.
The following day he went one better, piloting his Bluebird K3 to 129.5 mph, breaking the United States’ five-year stranglehold on the world waterspeed record. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection gets brushed steel and a Maggiore Blue colour scheme whilst hand-crafted wood inlays evoke the sense of a boat effortlessly gliding through water at pace.
We’re told that the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Bespoke Waterspeed Collection will be gradually revealed over the course of a number of months. Until then, Rolls-Royce provided us with the above sketch and two soundbites.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said:
“Sir Malcolm Campbell’s successful pursuit of world-speed records on land and water were the result of his commitment to the most exacting standards of British design and engineering excellence. Such attributes are hallmarks of every Rolls-Royce motor car, ensuring the marque’s position at the pinnacle of super-luxury manufacturing. This special Collection, and those to follow in 2014, serve to display the breadth of Bespoke personalisation available to every Rolls-Royce customer. I very much look forward to revealing these remarkable cars over the coming months.”
Donald Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell said:
“I am delighted that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has chosen our grandfather’s iconic Bluebird Waterspeed boats as inspiration for this special Collection. I am certain Sir Malcolm would be extremely flattered to see his name still closely associated with such a prestigious brand 75 years after his last world Waterspeed Record. I know that I speak for our whole family and the Malcolm Campbell Heritage Trust when I say that it is a great honour and we look forward to seeing the first car off the production line.”
