Inspired by the passionate involvement of Charles Stewart Rolls in helping foster early efforts to conquer the skies as well as roads, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe Aviator Collection made its debut at "The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering" in Pebble Beach. Describing the philosophy that guided the creation of what will be a limited run of just 35 vehicles, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO noted: "Our founding forefather Charles Stewart Rolls was a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of motoring and aviation to the limit. With our exclusive Phantom Coupe Aviator Collection we celebrate this great British hero, presenting a car which hints at experiments in early flight married to the best engineering, modern design and exquisitely crafted materials. The collection takes Rolls-Royce Bespoke to new levels of subtle, yet beautiful detailing."
Each of these unique Phantom Coupe variants will be finished in Aviator Grey set off by matte-finish trim on the hood, window and grille surrounds. The aeronautical theme is even more pronounced inside the cockpit-influenced cabin that, like all cars of the marque, remains a study in rich, hand-fitted premium leather. A Thommen aviation-style chronometer clock and matte-black-faced instruments reside in a unique metal-clad upper dash panel that is paired with a hand-shaped lower element covered in mahogany veneer with Sapele accents that recalls the look of propellers used on early racing craft like the Supermarine S6B that won the prestigious Schneider Trophy in 1931-33 fitted with a Rolls-Royce Type R aircraft engine.
Other aero touches on the Aviator Collection cars inspired by the Supermarine S6B include an anodized aluminum transmission tunnel with exposed torx fittings and raised swage lines that echo the oil-cooling veins found on the side of the S6B fuselage — design elements that are reprised in the armrests. Also on hand are leather floor mats and "the Rolls-Royce of cupholders," a pair of polished-aluminum receptacles designed to elegantly match function with a touch of dramatic flair. In addition to a chrome plaque on the center console that features the signature of Charles Stewart Rolls — the second man to ever hold a British pilot’s license — the leather-lined glovebox features an embossed quote from Rolls following his first flight with the Wright Brothers in 1908: "The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man."
No word yet on the precise arrival time or U.S. pricing for any of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe Aviator Collection cars that will be heading to America.
