The Real Story Behind The $13 Million Rolls-Royce Sweptail

In the world of luxury automobiles, very few manufacturers have the legacy and esteem that Rolls-Royce has managed to build ever since the company was founded back in 1906. Over the years, Rolls-Royce has continued to set a new standard in terms of luxury, with each model being released with an unmatched sense of exclusivity. Whether it's a production car or a one-off model, the 'Spirit of Ecstasy' hood ornament's wings are unmistakable whenever a Rolls-Royce cruises past.

Taking things a step further with the brand's exclusivity is Rolls-Royce's division named Coachbuild. With the tagline 'The Pinnacle of Bespoke', the Coachbuild artisans work closely with the clients to create the perfect one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce that's truly yours. One of the most popular Coachbuild Rolls-Royce cars in the Sweptail is the absolute embodiment of class and luxury.

Relying upon press information from Rolls-Royce, we've put this feature together on the one-off ultra-exclusive and luxurious Sweptail.

The Sweptail alone is one of the most special British cars ever made, but it's not the only Rolls-Royce to be crafted with the most intricate detail imaginable. Coachbuild Rolls-Royces can be traced back to the 1920s, with the 1926 Phantom I Brougham De Ville resembling the Palace of Versailles, this car would set the standard for what Rolls-Royce would later achieve. It car was a testament to what Rolls-Royce could produce, cementing themselves as one of the greatest British automakers of all time.

More than 80 years later in 2017, Rolls-Royce returned to its iconic Coachbuild division, producing the first Coachbuild car of the modern era with the Sweptail. Staying true to the idea of working closely with the client, the Sweptail reminded us all that Rolls-Royce is still at the top of the luxury car scene even after so many years. Since the unveiling of the Sweptail, more Coachbuild Rolls-Royce models such as the Droptail variations and the Boat Tail, with the Sweptail beginning a new era for the most bespoke luxury cars in the world.

The uninterrupted glass roof referred to as the highlight, a specific element the client wanted to include.

Heavily inspired by both classic and modern yachts, giving the car the name of Sweptail and provides endless amounts of luxury

The interior features the highest quality of materials, including Ebony wood and Dark Spice leather.

A unique hand-crafted wine cooler placed in the center console which can be opened by the push of a button with two glasses.

One of the key elements of a Coachbuild Rolls-Royce is developing it to be the ideal luxury car for the specific client the car is built for. In Sweptail's case, the owner wanted to make sure that they paid homage to some of his favorite vintage and classic cars from the early 20th Century, cars like the early Rolls-Royces' that were full of elegance and class you couldn't find anywhere else. The vintage-inspired elements with a modern touch can be seen throughout the car's interior and exterior, with bold chrome accents paired with a deep blue, finished off perfectly with its tan interior.

As well as taking inspiration from early 20th-century cars, perhaps the more obvious source of inspiration for the Sweptail is both classic and modern yachts. The sleek curves in the bodywork all lead to the inverted angle at the rear of the car, resembling the stow (front) of almost all yachts. The name 'Sweptail' derived from this defining aspect of the car, providing a unique, beautiful and entirely original take on the synonymous Rolls-Royce style.

When inside, the sweeping glass roof reaching from the windshield to the rear of the car fills the interior with natural light, highlighting the equally mesmerizing cabin. The use of contrasting materials is what makes the interior of this car so special, with the Macassar Ebony and Paldao perfectly pairing with the Moccasin and Dark Spice leathers used for the seats and armrests. Yet again, the inspiration taken from luxury yachts is in full effect, with a luxurious linear-style design.

Smaller details that make a massive difference inside the Sweptail are the further one-off elements constructed specifically for this car. Behind the cockpit is a feature that needs the Passarelle, a combination of all the elegant materials forming a teardrop shape to match the exterior of the car. In place of the back seats is a wooden shelf with a glass lip, providing all the storage space needed for a grand tourer without sacrificing the visuals of the interior. Perhaps the best aspect of the interior is what's in the center console, that being a one-off mechanism that will deliver a bottle of champagne that's been sitting in the chiller.

Considering how special the car is, it's only right for the stunning visuals to be paired with a great deal of power. The Sweptail is underpinned by a Rolls-Royce Phantom, with its 6.6 V-12 producing 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. Considering this is a car built for luxury weighing around 5,645 pounds, that much power produced by the V-12 means that the Sweptail can hit 60 miles per hour in just 5.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour.

Rolls-Royce is synonymous with its V-12 engines used for their cars, but the company has announced that they're going all-electric by 2030. Due to future Rolls-Royce's not being powered by a V-12, the Sweptail is sure to become even more of an icon within Rolls-Royce's history. Also using the same eight-speed automatic transmission as the Phantom, the Sweptail can effortlessly cruise down any road, with plenty of power in hand if it's ever needed. This one-off car's purpose is to display the expert craftsmanship of the Rolls-Royce artisans. Due to this however, the performance of the Sweptail can't go unnoticed, being able to keep up with the much smaller sedans on the road today.

With the Sweptail being a one-of-a-kind Coachbuild automobile, the massive price tag that came with the Rolls-Royce is not much of a surprise. Selling to the owner for $13 million, the value of the car perfectly displays just how important and historic this car is for the manufacturer. Production Rolls-Royce's are not the cheapest cars with the latest Phantom model starting at approximately $450,000. These cars are still levels above the majority of its luxury rivals, showing just how far the company took the Sweptail if the price tag is that much higher than the car it's underpinned by.

Alongside the price tag, the fact that the Sweptail was the British automakers' return to the Coachbuild division after such a long hiatus is enough to make it one of the most memorable, important cars of the decade. The Sweptail shows how far luxury automobiles can go in the modern era, with not only other manufacturers raising their own standards to match Rolls-Royce, but Rolls-Royce themselves continuing to produce one-off Coachbuild cars that have since taken the meaning of luxury in cars to an even higher place.