Rolls-Royce Waterspeed Collection

04/07/2014 editor

Rolls-Royce Waterspeed Collection Arrives At Spiritual Home In The Italian Lakes

In 2007, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé first rolled off the production line at the Goodwood estate and made waves around the world. Remaining true to the marine-themed exterior of the 100EX concept on which it was based, the Drophead Coupé featured a stainless-steel hood, teak paneling in the cabin, and a two-tone color scheme that delineated the upper and lower bodywork.

70 years before the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé made its debut, Sir Malcolm Campbell was setting a new world water-speed record on Lake Maggiore. Campbell achieved a speed of 129.5 MPH, emphatically breaking the United States’ five year stranglehold on the world water-speed record and reaffirming the Rolls-Royce R-engines record breaking superiority after triumphs on land and air. To celebrate this incredible act Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bespoke department has created the Waterspeed collection.

The Waterspeed Collection will consist of 35 specially designed Phantom Drophead Coupés, the first of which has recently been displayed on the shores of Lake Como at the Villa d’Este. A specially created Maggiore Blue colour scheme flows like water over all the suffices of Waterspeed, outside and in. For the first time ever in Rolls-Royce history, the exterior finish extends to the engine, creating a visually striking homage to the power behind Campbell’s records.

Phantom Drophead Coupés traditional teak decking to the rear makes way for brushed steel, with each piece of material individually beaten by hand for 70 hours and then hand brushed for a further 10. The cars exterior finish is subtly echoed on the interior via accents on the dashboard that perfectly complements the Windchill Grey interior leather scheme. The marque’s hallmark attention to detail extends to the application of laser engraved door armrest tunnel caps featuring a her interpretation of Campbell’s famous Bluebird motif.

Introducing the Waterspeed collection, Rolls-Royce now have a new flagship for its fleet that pays tribute to the true heritage of British ‘Derring-Do’. We can expect to see the production models cruising the roads in 2015.