The old mantra among traditional British coachbuilders went along the lines of: “the client may have whatever he wishes… so long as it is in good taste.” Polite shorthand for anything goes, provided it isn’t hideous.
On paper, then, this latest commission to be unveiled by Rolls-Royce should have raised some eyebrows. Created for a client with a passion for early arcade culture, it’s based on the Black Badge Ghost, and is adorned with nostalgic nods that will be familiar to anyone who spent their youth glued to a NES.
Typically for the Goodwood marque, it’s been pulled off with aplomb. Finished in two-tone Salamanca Blue and deep-shimmer Crystal over Diamond Black, the colour is intended to mirror the neon-lit aesthetic of classic arcade games. The coachlines are embellished with hand-painted ‘Cheeky Alien’ motifs and the door sills feature illuminated treadplates with arcade game prompts written in pixelated script.
That same script and alien motifs are embroidered into the orange leather seats, which contrast with the otherwise black interior. The central ‘waterfall’ between the two rear seats is hand-painted with flying saucers, in a nod to the artwork of vintage gaming cabinets.
Even the brand’s trademark Starlight headliner has been reimagined and renamed ‘Pixel Blaster’, with the lighting laid out to resemble a classic ‘laser base’ backdrop. The shooting-star effect is now lasers, giving the effect of an 8-bit video game battle going on above the passengers’ heads.
Joshua McCandless, Bespoke Designer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “Over the course of a month, we immersed ourselves in the 8-bit aesthetic that defined late 70s and early 80s gaming – from the games themselves and archive imagery of arcade halls, to original promotional and cabinet artwork. As well as capturing the distinctive colour palette, mood and atmosphere of this rich source material, we wanted the client to feel that the motor car itself was an immersive experience.”
No details have been revealed about the car’s new owner, other than that they are a ‘tech entrepreneur’. Makes sense.
