Triumph in the Skies

Tribute to the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight, Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII – only 50 made worldwide, one is in Malaysia.

Alcock and Brown established a legend and gained a place alongside Donald Campbell, CBE in the most select club in the world; those who push beyond previous conceptions of human endeavour to achieve seemingly impossible records on land, water and now, air. Their one binding characteristic? Rolls-Royce power.

The duo suffered every conceivable challenge an aviator could face. The Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines were the only components that proved indestructible. The engines propelled the aerial voyage at previously unimagined speeds, averaging 185 km/h. Their peril cannot be underestimated. Blunted by radio and navigation instruments that failed almost immediately, the intrepid pilots flew unaided at night through dense cloud and freezing fog for many hours, sometimes upside down. Eventually they emerged from the cloud and using Brown’s extraordinary skill as a navigator, flew by the stars to the coast of Ireland.

One of the most momentous achievements in early aviation history is commemorated in a limited edition of exclusive Rolls-Royce Wraith vehicles. Created by the Bespoke Collective at the House of Rolls-Royce, a Collection of just 50 Wraith Eagle VIII motor cars will tell the epic tale 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 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.

Inspired by the night time flight of our intrepid heroes, the fascia represents a modern-day abstract interpretation of the view the pair would have enjoyed as finally, their craft cleared the thick fog and cloud. In a fusion of contemporary and traditional practises, Smoked Eucalyptus wood is vacuum metalized in gold before being inlaid with silver and copper, to depict the rich detail seen in night time images of the Earth from above. The scene extends to the centre console providing both an emotive and immersive experience for today’s occupants – the cockpit is in perspective with the headliner. Below, the brass-stitched quilted sides of the centre tunnel provide a direct nod to the V12 engined Vickers Vimy.

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

WRAITH EAGLE VIII

DARK AS NIGHTThe exterior is swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone, with the colours separated by a brass feature line, hinting at the detailing within. The colours evoke the aircraft.

FLYING HIGH, SHINING BRIGHTWheels are part polished with a translucent shadow finish

ADVENTURE, DRAMAWraith was chosen to be the blank canvas for this story. The four-seater FastbackCoupeisreminiscentofthe1930slinesseen ion cars of that era. Wraith also happens to be the most powerful model in the Rolls-Royce range.

GRILLE VANNESBlack Grille vanes draw immediate reference to the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers Vimy aircraft

RARE COLLECTIONJust 50 of these highly collectable motor cars have been created for discerning collectors at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex – a Centre of Global Luxury Manufacturing Excellence.

FROZEN IN TIMEThe Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has masterfully fabricated a clock with an iced background effect which glows a faint green in the night, a homage to the intrepid pioneer’s frost covered instrumentation, and the green glow of their control panel.

WHAT A VIEWThe fascia represents a modern-day abstract interpretation of the view the pair would have enjoyed asfinally, their craft cleared the thick fog and cloud. Smoked eucalyptus wood is vacuum metalized in gold before being inlaid with silver and copper. The scene extends to the centre console.

BESPOKE AND BRASSBrass speaker cover depict the estimated flight distance of 1,880 miles. A flash of brass also complements the navigator door paniers, whilst the door of the driver includes a brass plaque with Churchill’s quote commending the duo’s remarkable achievements

TECHNICAL CARBON VENEERThe highlight of the collection–the extraordinary unique starlight headliner with 1,183 starlight fibres showing the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919, the flight path and constellations in brass thread, whilst the exact moment the pair left the cloud to navigate by the stars is indicated by a red fibre optic light. Clouds are embroidered and a plaque reading “the celestial arrangement at the half waypoint 00:17am June 15th 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” shows the halfway point of the momentous journey.

INTERIOR X EXTERIORInterior mirrors the exterior hue. Selby Grey and black leather are accented by brass, redolent of the brass sextant so integral to the success of the transatlantic journey. ‘RR’ monograms are embroidered in brass coloured thread onto headrests.

“Wraith Eagle VIII is at once an object of desire; an homage to heroes and a protagonist to today’s visionaries. This Rolls-Royce Collection demonstrates the extraordinary skill of our Bespoke Collective at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. Bespoke remains the jewel in the crown of the marque, creating luxury items that defy the trend of mass luxury manufacturers using ‘tick-box’ options to answer customer demand.”

- Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Rolls-Royce is at the forefront of Bespoke Cars here in Malaysia. Our customers are connoisseurs who want luxury that is highly unique. This car not only fêtes a very special achievement in global history, but also resonates with our own regional development at a time when aviation was catalysed by the exploits of fearless airmen who depended on the reliability and excellence of the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines.”

- Anas Zawawi Khalid, Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur.

The exterior of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Car is evocative of Alcock and Brown’s compelling night time adventure. Swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone, the colours are separated by a brass feature line, a hint at the detailing that lies within. The black grille vanes draw immediate reference to the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers Vimy aircraft, the wheels are part polished with a translucent shadow finish.

Brass speaker covers depict the estimated flight distance of 1,880 miles and ‘RR’ monograms are embroidered in brass coloured thread onto headrests. A flash of brass complements the navigator door paniers, whilst the door of the driver includes a brass plaque with Churchill’s quote commending the duo’s remarkable achievements.

Within, the finely executed interior mirrors the exterior hue. Selby Grey and black leather are accented by brass, redolent of the brass sextant so integral to the success of the transatlantic journey. Executed in a contemporary fashion, the material populates key areas throughout the cockpit of the Collection.

The clock of a Rolls-Royce is frequently viewed as jewellery, with many patrons choosing this canvas to tell the story of their motor car in miniature. Wraith Eagle VIII is no exception. Our intrepid pioneers recounted that their instrument panel was frozen from the high altitude and the poor conditions, referring to the only illumination coming from the green glow of the control panel lighting and the burst of flame from the starboard engine. In homage to this, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has masterfully fabricated a clock with an iced background effect which glows a faint green in night time driving conditions. The red hour hand sits atop compass inspired lines on the clock’s fascia, whilst the landing location coordinates are engraved below.

Clouds are embroidered and a plaque reading, “The celestial arrangement at the halfway point 00:17am June 15th 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” shows the half-way point of the momentous journey.

Perhaps the most alluring feature of the Collection is the extraordinary unique starlight headliner. 1,183 starlight fibres show the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919, the flight path and constellations are embroidered in brass thread, whilst the exact moment the pair left the cloud to navigate by the stars is indicated by a red fibre optic light.

Just 50 of these highly collectable motor cars have been created for discerning collectors at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex – a Centre of Global Luxury Manufacturing Excellence. Out of the 50, one unit has been brought into Malaysia.

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONThe red hour hand sits atop compass inspired lines on the clock’s fascia with landing locations engraved below.

“I do not know what we should most admire - their audacity, determination, skill, science, their aeroplane, their Rolls-Royce engines - or their good fortune”

- Sir Winston Churchill