Defined by svelte, coupé-like proportions set against the functionality of an elongated body, the shooting brake is a masterclass in stylish practicality. Origins of the body style can be traced to wagons made for horse-drawn carriages, with many coachbuilders subsequently modifying their designs for automotive application in the early 1900s. Over time, the shooting brake became vehicle of choice for transporting hunting spoils and mounting gun racks on shooting trips. In the 1960s and 1970s, the shooting brake was in vogue once more and was most often presented in the style of a two-door car with a longer body, offering the usability of an estate car yet with the panache of a coupé. For many, Harold Radford’s interpretation of the Aston Martin shooting brake defines the body style.
The Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Spectre’ Shooting Brake, offered here, evokes the spirit of the stylish platform. Conceived by Niels van Roij Design—the Dutch design house behind the 550 Maranello-based Ferrari ‘Breadvan Hommage’ and Range Rover ‘Adventum Coupé’—the ‘Silver Spectre’ began as a Rolls-Royce Wraith and underwent a thorough adaptation performed by Carat Duchatelet, a Belgium-based specialist in bespoke vehicle conversion, between 2018 and 2020.
Designer van Roij said the creation was intended to “subtly link back to the heyday of shooting brakes in the 1930s, while embedding the iconic, soft. and creamy visual cues from classic British automotive icons.” The new sections of bodywork extend from the A-pillar, affording the Silver Spectre athletic and swept proportions in its new shape. According to the design house, the roof is hand-made from a large piece of lightweight and strong carbon fibre composite, resulting in its unique roofline silhouette. Maintaining the Wraith’s rearward-opening passenger doors, the swooping exterior profile continues to the rear of the car, where a full-size tailgate allows access to a spacious boot area.
Inside the Silver Spectre, the sumptuous interior befits the quality expected of a modern Rolls-Royce. The long roofline comes into focus once again, as its underside is fitted with custom headlining. The roof was designed to mimic an endless starlit sky, with the headliner fitted with multiple fibre-optic strands that fade towards the rear to give the impression of an “infinity scape”.
Retained by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and first registered in the United Kingdom, this car was exported to Germany in 2017, with the conversion beginning the following year. It is believed that the process took some 18 months to complete, with technicians at Carat Duchatelet investing over 2,500 hours in the build, and costing in excess of €300,000. While Niels van Roij Design had intended to build seven examples of the ‘Silver Spectre’ Shooting Brake, the car offered here was the only completed car, affording it a truly unique standing. At the time of cataloguing, the Rolls-Royce had 17,965 kilometres on its odometer.
Capturing the spirit of the effortlessly stylish shooting brake and imbuing the elegance of its Rolls-Royce underpinnings, the opportunity to acquire this one-of-one ‘Silver Spectre’ Shooting Brake cannot be missed for any enthusiast of the most memorable automotive designs.
