This Custom Rolls-Royce Corniche Hides the World’s Most Elegant Bike Rack
Luxury and practicality rarely coexist in the world of classic cars unless you’re looking at this bespoke Rolls-Royce Corniche Shooting Brake. Built by the Dutch design studio Niels van Roij Design, this 1981 Corniche has been completely transformed into a one-off luxury wagon that can carry two bicycles in the most elegant way imaginable. Named Henry II, the project took more than two and a half years to complete, and it’s not going to be replicated.
From timeless coupe to custom-built shooting brake
The donor car was a Rolls-Royce Corniche that had stayed in the same family for over 40 years. The design house stripped the coupe down to bare metal, fully restored it, and began a complete rebody process behind the B-pillars. The result is a three-door shooting brake with a hand-crafted roofline and a newly designed tailgate both seamlessly blending with the car’s original proportions.
Despite the massive reconstruction, the car retains the iconic Corniche identity, including its rear lights. However, the chrome bumper is all-new — custom-made specifically for this project.
The world’s classiest hidden bike rack
The Henry II features a cleverly concealed bike-carrying system that sets it apart from any other Rolls-Royce ever built.
The center section of the custom rear bumper can slide outward, revealing a built-in bike rack capable of holding two full-size bicycles. The mechanism even includes a foldable number plate mount and extra lighting units, ensuring visibility and compliance when the bikes are attached.
Integrating this setup wasn’t easy. The engineering team had to redesign the rear suspension and relocate the fuel tankto make room for the retractable system. According to Niels van Roij himself, fitting bicycles inside the cabin would have ruined the elegant roofline — so the team opted for this brilliant external mechanism instead.
Attention to interior craftsmanship
The cabin was fully reupholstered, featuring bespoke leatherwork and wood veneers matching the car’s exterior tone. The rear seatback is now electrically operated, folding down at the push of a button to expand the luggage area. The rear door features twin fold-out mirrors, and the vehicle comes with a set of matching luggage bags in the same color palette a finishing touch that underscores the atelier’s obsession with detail.
Built for cycling weekends
Unlike most Rolls-Royces that spend their days in climate-controlled garages, this one is built for action. The owner, an avid cyclist, plans to use the Corniche Henry II as a support vehicle during cycling events, traveling with his wife and their high-end bikes to races and tours across Europe.
It’s a refreshing reminder that true luxury doesn’t have to mean detachment from real-life passions it can celebrate them in style.
A different kind of Rolls-Royce customization
The Henry II Shooting Brake isn’t the first custom Rolls-Royce we’ve seen lately. Just last month, British company Halcyon unveiled its own Corniche-based restomod, but with a completely different approach converting the elegant grand tourer into a 500-horsepower electric convertible.
While Halcyon focuses on electrification, Niels van Roij Design is proving that bespoke craftsmanship and personal storytelling can turn a 40-year-old icon into a completely new kind of automotive art.
Timeless design meets modern passion
Projects like the Rolls-Royce Corniche Henry II show that the future of coachbuilding lies not only in performance or technology but in personal expression. Whether it’s a hidden bike rack or an all-electric drivetrain, these one-off creations celebrate individuality — and bring new life to the world’s most prestigious cars.
