Sometimes even a classic is in need of a radical makeover

For proof of this, one need look no further than a one-off Rolls-Royce Corniche build that was just unveiled by Neils van Roij Design. That’s because the Netherlands-based shop, which specializes in coachbuilt automotive projects, turned the stately coupe into a dashing sporting brake.

The basis for the unique build is a 1981 Corniche affectionally named “Henry” that has been in the same family for the past four decades. The unnamed owner approached the Neils van Roij Design about not just restoring the vehicle but reimagining it so that it could be used to transport two triathlon bicycles. A creative back and forth followed, during which “hundreds” of design sketches were generated, resulting in what is being called “Henry II.”

“Our philosophy is that we don’t design for our clients; we design with our clients, and that was very much the case with this Corniche, where we collaborated very closely with the owner, who had a very clear vision of what he wanted,” Neils van Roij said in a statement.

The reimagined Corniche looks like any other example of the two-door from the front, but step to the side and the changes are readily apparent. Everything from the B-pillar back has been completely redesigned and rebuilt, a process that included crafting the extended roof and wider C-pillars by hand. To top things off, the car has been finished in a gorgeous coat of British Racing Green, had its chrome trim retouched, and equipped with an electronic rear bike rack.

The changes aren’t exclusive to the interior, though. The interior, which is covered primarily in beige leather, has also been extensively reworked. The front was touched up with new wood inserts for the dashboard and a redesigned center stack that now includes rally instruments and map pockets. The biggest changes, of course, are in the back. The owner primarily intends to use the vehicle as a two-seater and asked that the rear bench be able to be folded down completely flush to maximize cargo space. To help fill the room, Neils van Roij Design also included a luggage set designed to match the cabin.

The shop didn’t say how much the Henry II commission cost, but we can only imagine the work added at least another digit to the Corniche’s value (a 1981 example runs around $31,000 today). We do know Henry II’s owner has no intention of just parking their new shooting brake, though. Neils van Roij Design says they plan to enter it in some upcoming historical rallies.

Click here for more photos of Neils van Roij Design’s Rolls-Royce Corniche shooting brake.