share on BufferOn September 1st, 1937, British racing motorist and motoring journalist Sir Malcolm Campbell set the water speed world record on a Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat, powered by Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine.
Now Rolls-Royce has announced a tribute edition developed by the in-house Bespoke Department The Bespoke Waterspeed Collection will consist of a series of 35 Phantom Drophead Coupés characterized by exclusive materials and details, including nautical-inspired hand-crafted wood inlays and brushed steel elements matched to the exclusive “Maggiore Blue” colour scheme.
Following the release of these design sketches, further details will be revealed over the coming months.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented “This special Collection, and those to follow in 2014, serve to display the breadth of Bespoke personalisation available to every Rolls-Royce customer.”
The 1937 waterspeed record
Sir Malcom Campbell and the Bluebird K3 in Italy (source: bluebird-electric.net)
On the morning of 1 September 1937, at the height of the battle between the United States and Great Britain to be the fastest nation on water, Sir Malcolm Campbell headed out onto the calm blue waters of Lake Maggiore on the Swiss-Italian frontier.
On taking the wheel of his Bluebird K3 hydroplane boat, powered by Rolls-Royce’s R-Type engine, he set a record of 126.32 mph.
The following day he went one better, piloting his craft to 129.5 mph, breaking the United States’ previous 5-year-old record of 93.12 mph (149.86km/h) set by Garfield Wood.
(Source: Rolls-Royce)
Does anyone know who did these renders? I cannot recognise the signature…thanks
Rendered was by Chris Duff. All done on a Mac.