Halcyon Unveils the Great Eight Series, Remastering the Rolls-Royce Corniche with the Legendary 6.75-Litre V8
- Introducing The Great Eight Series, Halcyon’s first combustion-powered offering, following the electric interpretation of the Rolls-Royce Corniche and Silver Shadow.
- Based on the legendary Crewe-built 6.75-litre L-Series V8, the engine that powered Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars for more than six decades to become one of the longest-lived production engines in automotive history.
- With power once described as simply “adequate”, Halcyon remasters the 6.75-litre V8 to build on that statement by delivering increased torque and power delivery with improved responsiveness and effortless composure.
- Unveiled through the Rose and Scroll design study, a remastered Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupe showcasing the bespoke artistry and hand-finished craftsmanship that define Halcyon’s atelier-led approach.
- Hand-built in Surrey, England, each remastered commission undergoes a 5000-hour build process, beginning with a meticulous bare metal restoration.
- Adaptive suspension, upgraded braking, and discreet modern technologies combine to honour the original car’s “waftability” while adding composure, confidence, and ease for every occasion.
- A celebration of mechanical mastery, restored and re-engineered to create a bespoke grand tourer with presence, composure, and character.
- Limited to 60 one-of-one commissions, created in close collaboration with each owner as a singular expression of automotive art.
Summary
The Great Eight Series is the latest remastered icon from Halcyon, the British luxury specialist dedicated to restoring and re-engineering classic Rolls-Royces and Bentleys in close collaboration with their owners, focussing on craftsmanship, artistry, and innovation.
The series is unveiled through the Rose and Scroll design study, a remastered Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupe. Based on a 70s icon, it stands as one of the most elegant expressions of the era, now showcasing the bespoke artistry and hand-finished craftsmanship that define Halcyon’s atelier-led approach.
Limited to 60 one-of-one commissions, The Great Eight Series applies Halcyon’s remastering philosophy to a new combustion-powered grand touring experience, based the legendary L-Series V8.
Introduced alongside Halcyon’s electric offering, The Great Eight Series broadens the marque’s portfolio with a classically mechanical expression of the same uncompromising Halcyon standard.
Powered By the Great Eight
At the heart of each of The Great Eight Series’ commissions is Halcyon’s remastered 6.75-litre L-Series V8, with the original being one of the greatest engines ever made. First introduced in 1959, the legendary Crewe-built engine went on to power generations of Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars for more than six decades, becoming one of the longest-lived production engines in automotive history.
For The Great Eight Series, Halcyon has taken this strong mechanical foundation and applied its remastering philosophy with the same care and discipline that define every part of a Halcyon commission. The objective was to preserve and elevate the qualities that made it such a defining part of the Rolls-Royce experience: effortless, composed, and with a deep sense of reserve.
When the Corniche and Silver Shadow were first introduced, the engine’s output was described as simply ‘adequate.’ With The Great Eight Series, we set out to build on that character, delivering more than adequate performance by increasing torque, extending the power delivery and improving responsiveness, while preserving the effortlessness and composure that define it.
Remastered for the twenty-first century, the Great Eight Series allows one of greatest engines to live on as it should. Restored and re-engineered by Halcyon, the L-Series V8 carries its legacy forward for a new generation, to be experienced, cherished, and driven for decades to come.
The Rose and Scroll Design Study
The Great Eight Series is unveiled through the Rose and Scroll design study, conceived as a statement of Halcyon’s bespoke philosophy and inspired by the automotive halcyon days of the 1960s and 70s. Built on a rare Rolls-Royce Fixed Head Coupe, its design narrative looks back to a world of hand-built craftsmanship, enduring quality, and cultivated taste to remaster one of the last cars shaped by Mulliner Park Ward’s world-class coachbuilding. The Rose and Scroll Design Study carries that world forward, reinterpreting it through Halcyon’s own language of colour, material, and decorative detail.
Finished in Arboretum Green over Tan, the design study draws its character from the richness of the British landscape. Arboretum Green takes its depth from the cool shade of mature evergreens, with a deep metallic finish that shifts subtly in changing light. In the cabin, tan leather and open-pore wood introduce warmth and natural brightness, while green accents bring vibrancy and coherence to the interior.
At the centre of that narrative sits the Halcyon Gallery, depicting the Surrey hills Halcyon calls home. Executed with traditional rose and scroll engraving, the gallery is accented by damascene kingfisher inlays that reflect the mythical bird at the heart of Halcyon’s identity. The result transforms the fascia into a celebration of British craftsmanship, creating a distinctive artistic identity rooted in place, heritage, and tradition.
Halcyon’s V8 Remastered Rolls-Royce Corniche in Detail
Discreetly Integrated Modern Technology
In The Great Eight Series, modern technology is integrated with a clear philosophy: to enhance comfort, convenience, and useability while elevating the timeless character of the cabin. Every system is introduced with restraint, ensuring the interior retains the analogue beauty, tactile charm, and quiet sophistication that defined the original.
A concealable infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto sits discreetly within the fascia, paired with a bespoke high-end audio system to provide modern connectivity and sound without compromising the integrity of the design.
These functions are complemented by a carefully considered suite of comfort features, including cruise control, a reversing camera, climate control, and electrically adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. The result is a car that feels effortless and intuitive to use in the modern world, while preserving the warmth, tactility, and timeless elegance of a truly coachbuilt interior.
Comfort and Composure
Adaptive suspension combines with a re-engineered braking system to bring greater composure, confidence, and control, while preserving the signature cloud-like ride that defines the original. Continuously controlled electronic dampers support three drive modes, Drive, Spirited and Touring, allowing the car’s character to be tailored to the occasion.
Touring delivers the most relaxed calibration, with exceptionally smooth responses from both chassis and throttle, making it ideal for long-distance cruising. Spirited introduces greater immediacy through sharper engine response and more responsive damping, while Drive offers the perfect balance for every occasion.
The result is an experience that remains true to the original, while feeling more composed, confident, and capable on today’s roads.
Bespoke Artistry
No two Halcyon commissions are alike. Each is created in close collaboration with its owner as a named, one-of-one remastering shaped by individual taste, story, and intent. With deep reverence for the timeless coachbuilt form, Halcyon refines and enhances every element, honouring the original while elevating it into a singular work of automotive art.
Limited to just 60 hand-built commissions worldwide, each car is curated from a library of the world’s finest materials. Through Halcyon’s bespoke programme, in-house designers work directly with clients and, when desired, collaborate with world-renowned artists to bring even the most personal ideas to life, with no request left unexplored. Every detail can be tailored to individual specification, from one-off paint finishes and upholstery, to entirely unique dashboard and cabin designs.
The remastered cabin is inspired by more than a century of British automotive heritage, discreetly updated for modern comfort. At its heart is the Halcyon Gallery, a 1.4m wide showcase of bespoke design, with themes that can extend seamlessly throughout the interior for a unified expression of the client’s vision.
This philosophy extends to the exterior, where clients may choose to honour the classic elegance of the original or introduce subtle refinements developed in close collaboration with Halcyon’s designers. Options include uninterrupted hand-made chrome bumpers, bespoke Halcyon headlights, unique wheel designs, hand-painted coachlines, each intended to preserve the integrity of the original form while allowing every commission to become unmistakably its own.
Hand-Built in Surrey, England
Each Halcyon commission is hand-built in Surrey through a meticulous 5,000-hour process, beginning with a comprehensive bare-metal restoration.
Traditional coachbuilding techniques are combined with modern precision to create a flawless foundation, resolved to a standard never possible in period.
Every surface is then finished by hand, from multi-layer paintwork to the finest interior materials, ensuring each car feels deeply personal and exquisitely crafted.
The result is an icon remastered beyond its original form.
Price and Availability
Halcyon’s remastering services for the 60 Great Eight Series start from £425,000, plus the donor vehicle and local taxes. For clients who do not already own a donor car, Halcyon offers an acquisition service to source a suitable vehicle. Halcyon’s remastering service is available for the Rolls-Royce Corniche in Drop Head and Fixed Head form, the Silver Shadow, Bentley T-Series, and Bentley Corniche. The individual model availability is as follows:
- Rolls-Royce and Bentley Corniche Drop Head Coupe – 30 commissions
- Rolls-Royce and Bentley Corniche Fixed Head Coupe – 20 commissions
- Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow & Bentley T-Series – 10 commissions
Commissions can now be reserved, with each commission handcrafted as part of a 12-month build process in close collaboration with each client.
“We set out to create the best versions of these cars for today, and The Great Eight Series builds on our philosophy through a distinctly mechanical experience. The L-Series V8 is one of the great engines of its time, loved for the way it made a car feel and for the effortless way it delivered its performance. We’ve taken that character and elevated it, refining both its performance and the way it delivers it. Alongside our electric interpretation, it offers a distinct expression of the same Halcyon standard, defined by mechanical character and a true sense of occasion.”
Matthew Pearson, Co-Founder and CEO of Halcyon
“The 6.75-litre V8 delivers performance with a rich and distinctive character, and that is something we approach with a great deal of respect. Our focus was on applying the right engineering discipline to refine and elevate it for modern use, improving response, smoothness and overall composure while preserving the very essence that makes it so special. The result is an engine that feels entirely authentic, but capable in a way it never was before.”
Charlie Metcalfe, Co-Founder and COO of Halcyon
“With the Rose and Scroll design language showcasing a more classically inspired direction, alongside the electric Highland Heather Commission unveiled last year, the breadth of inspiration we draw on for each Halcyon commission is reflected. Every detail is carefully considered hand-in-hand with our clients to create ambitious yet cohesive designs that will stand out in some of the most significant collections around the world.”
Patrick McCallion, Halcyon’s Head of Design
About Halcyon
Halcyon is a British luxury automotive brand dedicated to providing remastering services for classic Rolls-Royce and Bentley models in close collaboration with their owners. Halcyon crafts bespoke commissions, uniting bespoke design, expert craftsmanship, and world leading technology. Each commission undergoes extensive restoration and upgrades to elevate the essence and character of the original vehicle. Halcyon works closely with Evice Technologies to integrate world-leading technologies, including their 800V electric powertrain, selectively into its commissions to deliver an effortless driving experience.
Halcyon was launched in 2023 by a trio of British engineers, Matthew Pearson, Charlie Metcalfe, and Will Burdett.
To learn more, visit www.halcyon.works