Very Special Olympic Rolls-Royces

Published Aug 13, 2012

Share

Rolls-Royce helped celebrated the success of the London Olympics with three white Phantom Series II Drophead Coupés bringing Jessie J, Tinie Tempah and Taio Cruz into the auditorium at the closing ceremony, for the 'Symphony of British Music' segment.

The singers were hidden from view as the cars - driven by specially-trained Rolls-Royce staff members - slowly crossed the auditorium before being revealed their roofs retracted.

But what makes these three cars so special is their newly-designed badges - the first time that's been done since the Honourable Charles Rolls and Henry Royce joined forces in 1904!

The commemorative grille badges show the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy.

She has a Union Flag in place of her traditional flowing gown, with the word 'London' above and '2012' below.

And the special badging doesn't stop there: each car's steering-wheel boss features a traditional laurel wreath and torch, and the words 'London 2012', surrounded by the Olympic motto, 'Citius, Altius, Fortius' ('Faster, Higher, Stronger'), replace the traditional RR logo in the self-righting wheel centres, while the sill-plates are embossed with the words 'One of Three', to make these arguably the most collectable Rolls-Royces yet.

Rolls-Royce hasn't said what it intends to do with the three 'London 2012' specials, now that they've had their moment of glory, but it's worth noting that all three are left-hand drive.

Related Topics: