New Models
New Models

Rolls-Royce unveils $37 million bespoke ‘Boat Tail’ convertible

It is believed Rolls-Royce's retro-themed custom convertible is the most expensive new car ever sold.


Rolls-Royce – perhaps the world’s most prolific and prestigious manufacturer of luxury cars – has taken the covers off a new custom 'Boat Tail’ four-seat retro convertible, just days after confirming plans to revive its bespoke coachbuilding division.

Underpinned by the BMW-owned brand’s now-ubiquitous Architecture of Luxury aluminium spaceframe, the 'Boat Tail’ is largely based on the existing Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine.

However, all external sheetmetal has been replaced, and 1813 unique parts were reportedly designed and produced specifically for the new model. The car also features a wholly-reworked rear-end storing a cooled food and drink compartment, integrated umbrella, fold-out tables, and collapsible carbon-fibre chairs.

A 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 lifted from the standard production car sends 420kW/900Nm to the rear wheels via an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Rolls-Royce is yet to quote a 0-100km/h time for the 'Boat Tail,' however in the Phantom the 6.75-litre engine allows the benchmark sprint in conquered in a claimed 5.3 seconds.

The brand has not confirmed pricing for the vehicle "out of respect for [the] client’s privacy.” However, an overnight report from British outlet Autocar claimed a buyer had put forward a £20 million (AU$37 million) figure. If accurate, this would make it one of the most – if not the most – expensive new cars ever sold.

The design and name references the yacht-inspired Rolls-Royce 'Boat Tail' tourers of the 1920s and 1930s (shown above), which were almost entirely custom-built to order.

In 2020 CarAdvice unearthed the first patent filing for what would eventually becomes the 2021 Rolls-Royce 'Boat Tail.'

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William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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