Rolls-Royce has unveiled the Wraith Eagle VIII this week, ahead of its public debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on May 24.
Just 50 examples of this very special Wraith will be produced, created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of "one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century".
"Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown braved uncharted skies to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June, 1919. Contemporaries of Sir Henry Royce, Alcock and Brown flew non-stop from St John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber aircraft," the company narrates in its press release.
"The bi-plane was powered by twin 20.3 litre, 350 bhp, Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. It is from this remarkable engine that this Collection takes its name. Rolls-Royce marks the 100 year anniversary of this feat with a highly contemporary Collection that speaks to today’s adventurers, whilst honouring those who changed the course of history."
Specification highlights for this limited run model include Gunmetal main exterior paint with contrasting Selby Grey upper tone, a brass feature line between the two paint finishes, black grille vanes, and wheels with a "part polished" and "translucent shadow finish".
Inside, there's Selby Grey and Black leather throughout, accented by brass highlights. There's actual brass for the speaker covers, which depict the estimated 1880 miles of the first non-stop transatlantic flight, while brass RR monograms are embroidered into the headrests. More brass adorns the door 'paniers', in addition to a brass plaque with the following quote from Winston Churchill:
"I do not know what we should most admire - their audacity, determination, skill, science, their aeroplane, their Rolls-Royce engines - or their good fortune"
Other highlights include a Smoked Eucalyptus wood dashboard fascia that has been 'vaccuum metalized' in gold, and inlaid with silver and copper "depict the rich detail seen in night time images of the Earth from above".
Beyond all the metal bits, there's a unique interpretation of the company's starlight headliner, which incorporates 1183 starlight fibres that depict the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919. The flight path and constellations are embroidered in brass thread, with various checkpoints of Alcock and Brown's journey marked throughout.
Rounding out the bespoke appointments is a special dashboard clock that has an iced background effect which "glows a faint green in night time driving" which is meant to hark back to the green glow of the plane's control lighting. The clock also has a red hour hand which sits atop compass-inspired lines on the fascia, again referencing elements of the plane's cockpit.
The Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII is limited to 50 units, and "will be created for discerning collectors" at the company's home of Goodwood, West Sussex.
Adrian is a car enthusiast Photo: Rolls-Royce
