One-of-one 'The Who' Rolls-Royce Wraith for sale
Specially commissioned by Roger Daltery himself and barely used since 2017 - a Wraith for all seasons
There's something delightfully ironic about a band famous for leaving a Rolls-Royce at the bottom of a hotel pool having a Rolls-Royce created in their honour. Then again, few manufacturers are as synonymous with rock and roll as Rolls; nor rejoice in the association quite so enthusiastically. The story about Keith Moon taking a Roller for a dip in a Holiday Inn is almost certainly not true (the drummer himself told Rolling Stone it was a Lincoln Continental), but that didn’t prevent the manufacturer from celebrating the myth by dunking an old Phantom in a British lido last month.
A decade ago, it went to even greater lengths with the 'Inspired by British Music' series, a Rolls-Royce collaboration with British music legends to create nine bespoke cars celebrating their legacies. Each vehicle was designed in partnership with the artist, incorporating personal touches that reflect their musical journey. Other recipients included Sir Ray Davies of The Kinks and Status Quo's Francis Rossi, though Roger Daltry was honoured with two: one dedicated to Tommy, the other one paying homage to The Who.
The latter is this one, finished in Lyrical Copper. The Arctic White and Dark Spice interior provides a stunning contrast to the exterior, while subtle nods to the band are scattered throughout. The Who's iconic roundel logo makes an appearance, and there are discreet references to the band's lyrics embedded in the design. Perhaps most brilliantly, there's even a nod to their instrument-smashing antics – though thankfully this doesn't involve taking a toffee hammer to the Spirit of Ecstasy.
The point, of course, is that this is genuinely a one-off affair - it was originally auctioned for charity - and even if we concede that it was built with the memorabilia crowd chiefly in mind, you’re still getting a two-door Wraith underneath, which means 632hp from a 6.6-litre V12 and just a dash of sportiness added to keep all the usual serenity interesting. Moreover, the vendor says the car will retain its '0067 WHO' registration, which is probably worth a few bob on its own merits.
This is handy because £165,000 for a seven-year-old Wraith is a lot, even with the provenance. For that money, you could have a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a riotous V12-powered car that Moon would surely have approved of. But you’re never going to see another example quite like this one, clearly, and with 2,500 miles on the clock, it has barely been run-in. Plus, of course, the model’s place in the range now taken up by the all-electric Spectre, there is precisely no chance of Rolls-Royce repeating the trick.
The catch, as with all these things, is that it might almost be too singular to use. Are you really going to risk a rogue trolley at Waitrose in a car with Roger Daltrey’s lyrics stitched into the headrests? This reluctance likely accounts for the low mileage and the suggestion that the car is ‘as new’ condition. But we won't get fooled again into thinking another example might come along. Anyone hoping to make a real-world splash in a genuine Rolls-Royce needs look no further.
Not long after this, some nut job broke into our friend’s lock-up and poured Nitromors paint stripper over several of his classic cars including the GTS. The custom paint job was ruined and lost forever after the insurance company insisted on returning it to original standard silver.
- It was a series initiated by Rolls Royce with Daltery being asked to contribute. It was not a unique commission by him
- It's not "one-of-one". There are multiple Wraiths and given unique tastes by customers there are likely to be many 'one offs'. This is a special edition at best. Build a car on the Wraith chassis with unique bodywork, trim and paint, never to be built again, then it becomes a one-of-one
Not long after this, some nut job broke into our friend s lock-up and poured Nitromors paint stripper over several of his classic cars including the GTS. The custom paint job was ruined and lost forever after the insurance company insisted on returning it to original standard silver.
I have a friend with the Ronnie Wood edition, also one of one. Pretty much the same. But one of one. Apart from the being roughly the same.
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