Why Is the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail the Most Expensive Car on the Market?
/granite-web-prod/b8/56/b85662502606479da8eac3b35966199a.jpeg)
Rolls-Royce vehicles are expensive, but one model trumps them all in terms of price and exclusivity.
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail costs a whopping $28 million, which is far more than any other car on the market today.
Find out what makes it so special.
The Car's Inspiration
/granite-web-prod/40/4c/404cbbeb125a4e54807d40e4e9d1fc4e.jpeg)
The new Boat Tail is inspired by the car company's legendary 1932 version, which looks more like an actual boat (see above).
Back then, coachbuilding customization was all the rage for high-end clients, but around World War II, the practice of making a one-of-a-kind model waned and didn't come back into play for Rolls-Royce until 2018.
The Boat Tail is the first production of the company's new coachbuilding division.
There Will Only Ever Be Three Made
/granite-web-prod/4b/62/4b627ea21d19455ebfcdfef7338f114e.jpeg)
With any luxury vehicle, the fewer units there are, the more exclusive and expensive the car is. Only three Boat Tails will ever be made, and two have already been spoken for. The third may have as well. However, that information and the vehicle have yet to be released to the public.
While there are three Boat Tails, none of them are the same. The car company works closely with the owners to make the car to their specifications. They are an integral part of the design team.
The Boat Tail's Features
/granite-web-prod/16/5e/165efb66ac4246a2a3900ec0e34d06de.jpeg)
The car has over 1,800 bespoke parts. All three feature a parasol that extends from the rear deck, cocktail tables with matching seats, a complete set of Christofle tableware, and two refrigerators.
That's where the similarities end between the three units. After that, they are more specific to the buyer.
A Very Famous Couple Owns the Blue Boat Tail
/granite-web-prod/f6/f5/f6f5edebb1ea4b888a608d90a2a70a1d.jpeg)
While Jay-Z and Beyonce haven't confirmed their ownership of the vehicle, according to The Telegraph, there are a few hints to suggest that is the case.
Firstly, the color is "oceanic blue infused with shimmering crystals." Blue Ivy is the name of their first child.
The car also features matching pairs of luxury watches for men and women manufactured by Bovet Fleurier — Jay Z is known to be a high-end watch collector.
Of course, as the couple are musicians, they'll need a bespoke Bose sound system, which this Boat Tail has.
And here's another big clue — its fridge holds Armand de Brignac champagne, a luxury vintage that Jay-Z has invested $600 million in.
The Second Boat Tail Has Been Purchased by Someone in the Pearling Industry
/granite-web-prod/75/eb/75eb639c0fc0495995b7b7b16dc28812.jpeg)
This second boat tail was commissioned by the son of a pearling magnate who wanted to pay homage to his dad.
Like the blue Boat Tail, its back end opens from centrally mounted hatches, revealing walnut trim and a picnic set complete with a parasol.
The family is said to have a large private collection of classic and modern cars in their own private museum, which is where the Boat Tail will be housed.
Custom Mother of Pearl Finishes
/granite-web-prod/2a/18/2a18e66b8a8045518ce3b70e39c74e50.png)
Its paint color was inspired by the owner's favorite pearl shells. Rolls' Goodwood design team describes it in the following way:
"The foundation of the color is a shimmering blend of oyster and soft rose, with large white and bronze mica flakes adding a unique pearlescent quality that changes subtly under different light conditions. The contrasting cognac-colored bonnet, created specifically for this Boat Tail, contains fine bronze and gold colored aluminum mica flakes complete with a layer of crystal and iced matte clear coat, adding significant warmth and depth to the car's appearance."
The instrument panel is even inlaid with mother of pearl to keep true to the theme, and there is also a clock in the dashboard's center that comes from the buyer’s personal collection.
What's Next for Rolls-Royce
/granite-web-prod/28/43/28433693414b40e3bb0bb51d32791886.jpeg)
While we await the third Boat Tail (which is scheduled to be released in 2023), Rolls-Royce will soon roll out its first all-electric vehicle, the Spectre.
This car will propel the manufacturer from its V12 engines into a new age to fight climate change. It has two doors and is more Wraith than Phantom in this regard, but also has a distinctly Phantom coupe design.
While we don't yet know the price, we do know that it will feature the company’s bespoke design services for high-end clients. Look for it at the end of 2024.
Related Stories