The history of the shooting brake car dates to the early 19th century in the UK, where it initially referred to horse-drawn carriages used for transporting hunting parties and their gear. As automobiles emerged in the early 20th century, the concept was adapted, with custom-built shooting brakes crafted on luxury car chassis to serve similar purposes. By the mid-20th century, shooting brakes evolved into stylish estate cars, exemplified by models like the Aston Martin DB5 Shooting Brake and the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Breadvan. Despite a decline in popularity by the late 1980s, the 21st century has seen a revival of the shooting brake, with contemporary interpretations emphasizing luxury, performance, and exclusivity, such as the Ferrari FF and bespoke creations like this Rolls-Royce Wraith Shooting Brake that we are thrilled to offer for sale.
Conceived by Dutch design house Niels van Roij Design, the ‘Silver Spectre’ is a unique automotive masterpiece that redefines luxury and design innovation. Based on the Rolls-Royce Wraith, this creation transforms the iconic grand tourer into a striking shooting brake, combining classic elegance with contemporary flair. The conversion itself was carried out by Belgium-based coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet between 2018 and 2020 and is said to have taken over 2,500 hours to complete.
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”.
Intended to be one of seven, this is and will remain the sole example built. It is an EU specification car with a COC and it sits today showing just over 18,000 kms from new. The ‘Silver Spectre’ Shooting Brake stands as a unique and coveted symbol of automotive artistry, blending Rolls-Royce’s legendary opulence with Niels van Roij’s visionary design approach. Contact us now for more information or to arrange a viewing.
