An unknown billionaire caused a quiet stir on a London street this week when he parked his one-of-a-kind, $30 million Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and went shopping nearby, leaving stunned passersby to gawk at one of the rarest and most expensive vehicles ever made.
The sighting was shared on Instagram by automotive content creator Tfjj, who posted both photos and video of the ultra-exclusive car. In the caption, he claimed that the vehicle belongs to the same family who owns the Boat Tail spotted earlier this year in Dubai, further fueling speculation that this wealthy collector may be quietly amassing the world’s most valuable garage.
The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is not just a car but a fully hand-built commission, the first of only four Droptail models that Rolls-Royce plans to produce. Inspired by the deep crimson tones of the Black Baccara rose, the La Rose Noire is a dark and romantic expression of love and craftsmanship. Its deep pomegranate red paint, named True Love, contains five layers of clear lacquer, each subtly tinted with a different tone to create a rich, shimmering finish that changes with the light. This color alone took more than 150 tries to perfect.
The bodywork sits atop a bespoke chassis, constructed from aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber, a completely unique foundation not shared with any other Rolls-Royce model. The exterior design features a modern interpretation of the traditional Pantheon grille, slender LED headlights, and a dramatic rear that includes a floating spoiler and vertical tail lamps.
The Droptail also comes with a removable hardtop featuring electrochromic glass that can switch from opaque to translucent at the touch of a button, allowing the car to transform between a sleek coupe and a graceful open-top roadster.
Inside, the car’s most striking feature is a rear wooden sculpture made from 1,603 triangular pieces of black sycamore veneer. Of these, 533 pieces are painted red to mimic rose petals scattered in the wind. The design was intentionally made asymmetrical to give it a natural, organic feel, as requested by the car’s anonymous owners.
Adding to the drama is a bespoke 43-millimeter Audemars Piguet timepiece mounted in the dashboard. The Royal Oak Concept watch matches the car’s color scheme and can be removed and worn. When not in place, its spot is covered by a titanium plate bearing a white gold coin engraved with a rose.
Built over five years, the La Rose Noire is as much a personal love story as it is a luxury vehicle. Its presence on a London street, even briefly, offered a fleeting glimpse into a world where wealth, art, and engineering converge in absolute secrecy.
