On September 1, 1937, Sir Malcolm Campbell took to the picturesque waters of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy in his famous Bluebird K3 boat and set a new world record, hitting a speed of around 203 km/hr. Seeing as Campbell’s Bluebird was powered by a Rolls-Royce R Engine, the British brand has taken it upon itself to honor his achievements by releasing its Phantom Drophead Coupe Waterspeed Collection.
Rolls-Royce has taken extreme steps with this bespoke Phantom beginning with the car’s exterior “Maggiore Blue” paint, which required nine coats to bring out the ideal pigment before a lengthy hand-sanding and lacquering process was executed to achieve a piercing blue finish. This same color of blue is extended to the 6.75-liter, V12 engine, a first for Rolls-Royce and an homage to Campbell’s achievements. Using brushed steel, each piece was individually panel beaten for around 70 hours, after which a craftsman hand-brushed the metal for over 10 hours.
The same blue finish is reflected via various accents on the interior that stand out against the “Windchill Grey” leather. Also notable are the hand-engraved door armrests with a representation of Campbell’s famous Bluebird, as well as the water waves on the Abachi wood veneers that portray the wake of his speedboat.
The unabashedly blue Rolls will make an appearance at the Concorso D’Eleganza at the Villa D’Este on Lake Como to sport its colors and pay its dues to Campbell, who made history on the neighboring Lake Maggiore.
The Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este will be held from May 23rd – 25th at the Villa D’Este, Lake Como, Italy.
