Inside the custom Rolls-Royce built for a triathlete couple with a hidden bike rack you’d never expect
Published on Oct 13, 2025 at 1:53 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Oct 13, 2025 at 1:53 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
Check out this 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche that has been completely customized to create a one-off grand tourer shooting brake with a hidden bike rack.
The Rolls-Royce Corniche was introduced back in 1971.
This example, affectionately known as Henry, has been with the same family for more than 40 years.
However, they recently enlisted the help of Niels van Roij Design to transform it into a one-of-one Corniche shooting brake – and it looks incredible.
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The 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche has had a complete transformation
The 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche had been bought new and remained with the same family ever since.
But after more than 40 years, they decided that Henry needed to be fully restored and reimagined, so they reached out to award-winning coachbuilders Niels van Roij Design.
The project took around two-and-a-half years to complete, representing an estimated 7,000 hours of work.
The team created a new steel body from the B-pillar backwards, which included a redesigned roofline, C-pillars, upper rear panels, and trunk lid.
They also created an incredible concealed, electric bike carrier system that extends outwards and is capable of transporting two triathlon bicycles.
“The client wanted the car to be capable of transporting two bicycles, as he and his wife are keen triathletes who compete worldwide,” the coachbuilders explained in a statement.
“To achieve this, the client wanted to explore the possibility of two bicycles being carried inside without compromising the car’s exterior proportions or interior usability.”
Clever stuff, right?
Of course, it wasn’t just the car’s exterior that was given a makeover.
The car, now dubbed Henry II, had its interiors refreshed and revived with handcrafted wood and leather elements, as well as a n electric foldable rear bench seat.
No detail has been overlooked, and the redesigned center stack has been fitted with a Brantz rally meter and a map-reading light, positioned in the central panel in the headlining, as well as a map pocket.
It’s not the first classic Corniche to get a modern makeover
Henry II isn’t the first time we’ve seen a classic Rolls-Royce Corniche given a bold makeover.
UK-based Halcyon recently unveiled a restomod Corniche that had held onto its vintage good looks, but now comes with an EV powertrain that offers up 300 miles of range.
The Rolls-Royce Corniche EV conversion was the result of more than 2,000 hours of work that started with a complete bare metal strip down of the car.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
