In 1823, at a private school founded in 1567, a young man by the name of William Webb Ellis broke the rules while playing a game of football. And it is this rule breaker that Rolls-Royce is honoring in their newest one-off creation.
The Rolls-Royce "Wraith - History of Rugby" is a stunning coupe in English White, with details throughout that pay tribute to one of England's most popular sports. As a press release issued by the manufacturer today tells us, the Wraith's individuality is a perfect reflection of Ellis' on the day he picked up the football (or soccer ball, for us Americans) and began running. He was a student at Warwickshire's Rugby School, where a plaque on their field commemorates the beginning of a new sport. The English White exterior is an homage to the white rugby shirt worn at the Rugby School, while the red rose of Queen Elizabeth I is embroidered in the headrests and featured on the door sill. "Folklore has it that the rose originates from Rugby School and Queen Elizabeth I, her red rose emblem placed with her permission on the school crest by its founder," describes the release.
The red rose motif is continued with Hotspur Red on the dashboard's accent panel, as well as the piping on the seats and doors. The dashboard itself is Piano Black, with an English rose inlaid in the center panel, while the main colors are Seashell and Navy Blue. The Seashell and Hotspur Red colors also extend past the car itself in the form of specially crafted rugby balls from Gilbert, an iconic creator of rugby balls and the creator of the soccer ball that Ellis broke the rules with. A limited number of rugby balls that match this bespoke Wraith have been created to accompany the car.
