Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII Collection

From Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division, the Eagle VIII Collection based on the Wraith is rolling out as a new special edition model. This is presented at this weekend during the Concorso d’Eleganza at the Villa d’Este in Italy. It is inspired by the 20.3-liter and about 350-hp strong Rolls-Royce aircraft engine called Eagle VIII. Two of them powered a converted World War 1 Vickers Vimy bomber, used by Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919. They started in St. Johns, Newfoundland and finally reached Clifden, Ireland. They achieved a previously unimaginable average speed of 115 mph – with failed radio and navigation instruments from the start. Now, 100 years later, the name of the former engine has been given to the Wraith special edition.

On the driver’s door panel, there is a metal badge with the engraved text: “I do not know what we should most admire – their audacity, determination, skill, science, their aeroplane, their Rolls-Royce engines – or their good fortune”. This quote comes from Winston Churchill as a comment on the successful flight. In addition, the Wraith Eagle VIII gets a high-quality leather interior in black and light grey (‘Selby Grey’), stitched with brass-colored yarn. This color, also found on the metal plaque and the covers of the loudspeakers, comes from the brass sextant that Arthur Brown used primarily to plan the route after all other instruments had failed. On the covers of the midrange speakers, the flight distance of 1,880 miles is engraved.

Inspired by the nocturnal sight of two aviation pioneers, which they could see when they finally fought their way out of thick fog, the fascia of the dashboard and middle console as well as the headliner with its 1,183 LEDs show an abstract interpretation of the stars and constellations from that very day in 1919. For this purpose, Smoked Eucalyptus wood is vacuum metalized in gold before being inlaid with silver and copper in places to complete the picture. The dial of the analogue clock shows a frosty finish, as the instruments of the plane froze at altitude due to the great cold. At night, the clock glows green in homage to the green instrumental lighting in the Vickers Vimy. There are also compass-style lines on the dial and a red hour hand.

The bodywork of the special edition model carries a two-tone paint in ‘Gunmetal Grey’ and ‘Selby Grey’, separated by hand-painted brass line. Black grille inlays cite the equally black grilles of the Eagle VIII aircraft engine. Parts of the black painted alloy wheels are polished to a high gloss. There is no information about the price of the Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII Collection so far.

Images: Rolls-Royce