Rolls-Royce Debuts Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Car

Many luxury car companies seem to be moving toward bespoke vehicles or those with an incredibly limited production run. Rolls-Royce is little different in that regard with the Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII which made its debut at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May. Just 50 of this Rolls-Royce collection car will be made, and it’s going to be absolutely stunning.

The History Behind The Vehicle

Rolls-Royce created this vehicle in a nod to the first Trans-Atlantic flight by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown in June of 1919. Not only is this a pivotal point in world history, but it’s an important piece of history for the company as well because the aircraft was powered by twin 20.3 liter Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. 

In fact, stories of the flight suggest that while all of the other instruments failed at some point during the flight, the engines worked wonderfully throughout, and the pilots were able to hold them steady at 115 mph, making the entire journey in just 16 hours.

History Abounds

Creating a vehicle that nods to history and creating the Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII, though, are two very different things. This is far from a simple nod; it’s an immersive experience that is sure to leave any enthusiast in awe. 

The outside of the Wraith has two-tone grey paint-work. The wheels and the grille are finished in a dark color as well, and that color scheme doesn’t change a lot when you get inside. In fact, once there, you’re going to see lots of gray and black with highlights of brass to help pay homage to the sextant that helped on that Trans-Atlantic flight. 

The dashboard is designed from smoked eucalyptus wood and inlaid with gold, silver and copper, but it’s the headliner that may really evoke the true feel of the flight. Both the flight path itself and the constellations are embroidered into the headliner in brass thread. Embroidered clouds appear as well, and you’ll see a single red light that shows just when the pilots began to navigate using the stars above. The headliner contains a total of 1,183 fibers, woven into a stunning illuminated experience.

Other hints of history surround occupants of the vehicle. The speaker covers are engraved with the number of miles the pilots traveled, and the clock looks much like their compass might have. At night, the clock glows a faint green for a reason – the original pilots said the green glow from the control panel was the only light throughout the journey. Landing location coordinates are part of the clock. A plaque on the driver’s door includes Churchill’s famous quote about the journey. 

The detail alone is a fairly good reason this car has such an exclusive run. Despite that fact, it’s certain to be adored by those on the list of fifty buyers.

Visit Rolls-Royce Palm Beach to test drive a Wraith today!