Monday 16th April 2012

You Know You Want To: Rolls-Royce Hyperion

What price a unique Pininfarina-bodied Roller? Erm... we don't know...

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Hyperion, those with too much in the way of education will already be aware, was one of the 12 Titans of Greek mythology. These pre-Olympian gods were the sons and daughters of Gaia and Ouranos (the physical incarnations of the earth and the sky) and so to pick such an imposing and elemental name for a car is a pretty brave move.

Then again, perhaps you can get away with it if it's the name of a one-off Pininfarina-designed Rolls-Royce based on a Phantom Drophead Coupe - because cars don't get much more imposing than that.

Originally commissioned in 2008 by Rolls collector Roland Hall, the Hyperion is designed to evoke the opulence and lavish styling of coach built specials from the 1930s.

To do this, flamboyant US designer Jason Castriota (then working for Pininfarina Special projects, for whom he also worked on the Ferrari P4/5 and 'New' Stratos) created the cartoonesque proportions of the Hyperion, chucking away the rear seats and moving the driving position 400mm rearwards to produce a 'mine's bigger than yours' bonnet of truly stunning proportions.

Added to those exotic proportions and that unique provenance is a bespoke hood and a body made entirely in carbon fibre. And, in at least the vaguest of nods towards normality, the Titanic (in the original sense of the word) Rolls keeps the 6.75-litre V12 running gear and 'ordinary' dashboard

Hall sold the creation he commissioned in 2009 for a rumoured $6 million. Now Hyperion is up for sale again and, if you're wondering how on earth an item of such conspicuous consumption is going to sell in such straitened times, it's located at a dealer in the paradise of good taste and modest living that is Abu Dhabi. The vendors aren't saying how much they want for it, though.

So go on, get in touch with them and offer them a fiver. You never know... or you could always have a nosey at the more 'everyday' Rolls-Royces in the PH classifieds...

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2008 Rolls-Royce/Pininfarina Hyperion
Price: If you have to ask...
Why you should: It's a one-off Rolls-Royce designed by Pininfarina
Why you shouldn't: It's a one-off Rolls-Royce designed by Pininfarina

[chris.mapey]

Have to say the lower grille / air intake is more "Kia" than "Royce" if you see what I mean...

[FWDRacer]

<pointsandlaughs>

[kambites]

I rather like that.

Edited by kambites on Monday 16th April 10:51

[TobesH]

FWDRacer said:

<pointsandlaughs>

Laugh.. no... points and laughs!

[Jag-D]

fookin horrible

[B10]

Has it got an MOT?

[Mattmeister]

looks like one of those chinese copies.... awful

[Skater12]

I saw photos of this thing a few years ago, but never really paid too much attention.
I'm glad i didn't at the time, as it's bloody awful!

So what they've basically done is ruin a fairly decent looking imposing car, and made it into a circus clown car, that dosn't actually hark back to the days of bespoke coach-built cars of the 30's, but more something we'd see rolling out of a garage in Mumbai, based on a stretched toyota chassis.

They could have saved millions, and bought a standard Drop head coupe filled with half naked ladies, and i'm sure we'd all agree that'd be more pleasing to the eye.

[thinfourth2]

Needs double front wheels and to be painted pink

Then its perfect

[mackie1]

Improves on the DHC in no way. Looks like a Chinese knock off.

[evosport]

Loving the colour of the wing mirrors and window trim on the SUV behind it, on the first picture. Very tasteful. NOT

[Some Gump]

I like it. Much rather this than some mansory ste.

[Devil2575]

No.

[Reardy Mister]

mackie1 said:

Improves on the DHC in no way. Looks like a Chinese knock off.

Beat me to it.

[squirdle]

Ordinary hell! That would be a laugh in Sainsbury's car park.

[goron59]

thinfourth2 said:

Needs double front wheels and to be painted pink

Then its perfect

And the rear seats re-installed.

[diluculophile]

A hint of SC430 at the back there?

The wheels look like they came off a focus titanium.

[Dr G]

The X6 behind it looks better.

[Smollet]

Dreadful would be a compliment.

[Janosh]

kambites said:

I rather like that.

Edited by kambites on Monday 16th April 10:51

+1

I imagine the photos do not do this car justice! I'm not a huge fan of the colour, but it must look immense on the road.

I also presume that the build quality would silence the 'Chinese knock-off' naysayers