If a regular Rolls-Royce isn’t fairly unique – or costly – sufficient, the British agency’s Coachbuild division caters for probably the most extravagant buyer requests by creating extremely bespoke commissions in restricted numbers. Coachbuild has already produced the Sweptail and the Boat Tail convertible, and its newest mannequin has now been unveiled at Monterey Automotive Week: the Droptail. 

Constructed as Rolls-Royce’s first modern-day roadster, the Droptail is clothed in a singular convertible physique impressed by the agency’s pre-war two-seaters, underpinned by an aluminium, carbonfibre and metal monocoque developed particularly for the mannequin. Simply 4 shall be constructed, every sharing the identical elementary design however with distinctive finishes and materials decisions all through.

Conventional Rolls-Royce design cues stay, not least the polished Pantheon grille and monolithic silhouette, however the Droptail reinterprets these in a extra purposeful two-door bodystyle. The physique surfaces are cleaner and extra outlined than the model’s sequence manufacturing automobiles, and whereas household resemblance to the Ghost and Phantom is evident on the entrance, the Droptail’s tapered rear finish is basically unrecognisable with aero-optimised flying buttresses and a floating spoiler above the rear deck. 

With its carbonfibre exhausting prime roof in place the Droptail resembles a standard two-door GT, and eradicating it reveals an intimate two-seat cabin with a largely bespoke dashboard and structure. The cockpit is roofed in leather-based and sculpted wooden surfaces, which curve behind the seats to create a wrap-around impact inside – for a extra minimalist look, the infotainment show and controls are shielded by wooden panels when not in use. 

Whereas sure parts of the Droptail seem to hyperlink it to the discontinued Rolls-Royce Daybreak (together with its analogue dial pack and a few cabin switchgear), it’s constructed on a brand new construction that includes bonded carbon rear sections. The remainder of the development is basically aluminium, with metal used for the entrance wing and door sections for further energy. 

Rolls-Royce’s acquainted 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 lies below the bonnet, which has been tuned for a 30bhp energy enhance – presumably over the 563bhp software within the newest Ghost. Torque is rated at a mighty 620lb ft, which ought to endow the Droptail with the easy really feel befitting of a Rolls-Royce. 

Given the astronomical prices of growing a singular platform, bodyshell and inside for simply 4 items, we wouldn’t rely towards the Droptail being one of the vital costly new automobiles ever constructed – simply as its Coachbuild predecessors have been rumoured to be.