Million pound Rolls-Royce

I have discussed the Rolls-Royce bespoke programme before. But John Griffiths writing for the FT has gleamed some interesting details about the bespoke service in his road test of the dazzling Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé.

Mr Griffiths writes a very warm and glowing review of his experience road testing this beautiful convertible. “It is a pussycat to drive: amiable, cosseting, only demanding the driver pay serious attention if the mighty, steel-fist-in-a-velvet-glove performance of its 6.7 litre V12 is released to the full. At that point, it unfurls the spinnaker, so to speak, and really sets up a wash: 62mph comes up from standstill in 5.9 seconds and the surge is relentless towards a top speed of 149mph.”

As you might expect from the FT, the question of money is never far away. There is perhaps nobody better qualified than the manager of the bespoke division, Mr Clive Woolmer, to answer this question. “Individualism is a fundamental part of Rolls-Royce,” says Woolmer.

It is not too uncommon for customers to hand over a cheque for £1 million for their unique Rolls-Royce. Making the price of a “standard” Phantom Drophead Coupé of £307,000 seem like a steal.