Rolls-Royce unveils nine Wraiths 'Inspired by British Music'

Bespoke luxury coupes takes The Who and Dame Shirley Bassey as their muses

Rolls Royce Wraith 'Inspired by British Music'
Roger Daltrey commissions Wraith inspired by The Who's album Tommy
(Image credit: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce held a star-studded event at the Fitzrovia Sanderson Hotel in London last night, with rock icons Sir Ray Davies and The Who's Roger Daltrey making an appearance to celebrate the relationship between British rock stars and the luxury carmaker.

Daltrey designed one of the most striking vehicles in the range - a Rolls bearing the vinyl cover of The Who's iconic Tommy album painted on the bonnet.

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Smaller details include the album's blue doves detailed on the wings of the car while the rear cabin has an embroidered pinball machine to commemorate the iconic track Pinball Wizard.

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Mike McInnerney, the original designer of the Tommy cover, was also involved with the styling process, handpainting the blue and white web of clouds on the engine cover.

Meanwhile, the Wraith for The Kinks singer Davies has the lyrics to his song Shangri-la on the door flights, while "the umbrellas in the doors themselves are engraved with altered lyrics from Sunny Afternoon", AutoExpress reports.

There's also a Rolls inspired by Dame Shirley Bassey which includes "nods to the three 007 title songs recorded by the Welsh artist", adds the magazine.

The nine cars, four of which were on display in London last night, will be auctioned off later this year through the company's European dealer network.

Money raised from the sale will be donated to charities selected by each artist, says Autocar.

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