Rolls Royce made it clear that it was going to push the boundaries of artistry and design when it began making its ultra-limited run of Droptail Roadsters. Four of them will be produced and the British luxury car maker unveiled the third in the series, the Arcadia Droptail.
Greek Mythology Adds Unique Twist to Droptail Luxury
Like other Droptail-based builds, the Arcadia follows the same core script when it comes to its exterior styling with the roadster featuring a large chrome front grille and elegant headlights with the convertible top stowing neatly away in the sweptback bodywork.
The differences make themselves known when you look at some of the finer details. Each Droptail will be made to match the specific needs and requests of the client and the Arcadia Droptop is no different. In this case, the Singaporean client that commissioned the Arcadia wanted to create a space that was a subtle take on luxury while also showcasing their taste in architecture. That hobby also perhaps motivated this customer to not include too much bright work on the exterior with this creation boasting a subtler suit of clothes than its other two bespoke siblings.
The lone exception is the paint color with the softly hued shade of white being infused with aluminum and glass to help create a pearl-like shimmer effect when light bounces off of it.
Engineering Challenges Made the End Result Worth It
The interior gets Santos Straight Grain wood trim and adding this wood into the car proved to be a challenge. The wood is notoriously difficult to work with and is typically used in furniture building.
On top of all that, the buyer (unlike other Droptail buyers) plans to use this car all over the world on their travels and as a result, the wood would also need to survive wild shifts in temperature and weather. Rolls engineers solved that problem by creating a special lacquer after initially rejecting a setup used on yachts.
Unlike the finicky boat lacquer, this coating will last for the entire life of the Droptail and has been tested to ensure that it can indeed withstand the rigors of Mother Nature. The dash mounted clock was also an engineering challenge, and it took Rolls Royce two years to develop and five months to produce. Dubbed the most complex clock ever produced by Rolls, it has hand polished parts and 119 facets built into it.
Rolls Royce didn’t reveal what kind of engine the Arcadia Droptail uses but it’s safe to assume that it will be Rolls Royce’s V12 engine. The final price tag wasn’t released either but expect the project to command a hefty price just like the other two Droptails, the Amethyst, and La Rose Noire. One more Droptail will be commissioned before production ends, and it will be interesting to see what this last one brings to the table for its lucky owner.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.