Halcyon’s Electric Rolls-Royce Corniche Restomod: From Hip-Hop Status Symbol to Electric Icon
The Rolls-Royce Corniche has always been a celebrity magnet. Frank Sinatra insisted on a custom white version for his Las Vegas escapades. Elizabeth Taylor dubbed hers “the only man I can rely on.” Even hip-hop royalty couldn’t resist its allure—Jay-Z name-dropped “Rolls hardtop convertibles” in his 2003 hit Excuse Me Miss, a subtle nod to the Corniche’s iconic profile. Now, Halcyon—the UK’s enfant terrible of restomods—has reimagined this star-studded icon for the electric age.
Long before Halcyon’s EV overhaul, the gas-powered Corniche was a fixture in rap lore. The Notorious B.I.G. famously posed beside a burgundy ’80s model in unreleased photos (later sampled on a Life After Death vinyl sleeve). Rick Ross, a self-proclaimed “Maybach Music mogul,” still owns a 1992 Corniche convertible, its cream interior reportedly stuffed with throwback mixtapes. And who could forget Snoop Dogg’s MTV Cribs episode? The Doggfather’s ’86 Corniche, parked beside his diamond-encrusted pool table, became a symbol of G-funk opulence.
Each restoration is a 12-month saga. Workers strip the body to bare metal, weld in a reinforced EV chassis, and drown it in 15 layers of paint—mixed to match colors like “Compton Cream” (a nod to Snoop’s ride) and “Brooklyn Black.” The cabin? A masterclass in secrets. Push a hidden button in the glovebox, and a touchscreen rises from the burled walnut. The 18-speaker audio system hides behind perforated leather, and the seats are stuffed with recycled cashmere from Savile Row offcuts.
Halcyon’s clientele isn’t your typical EV crowd. These are folks who still own vinyl records and wear cufflinks. The kind who’d nod approvingly at the “Spirited” drive mode (which mimics the V8’s throttle kick) or the fact that the charging port hides behind the vintage fuel filler cap. Rumor is Tyler, The Creator—a known vintage Rolls enthusiast—has already reserved two units. “It’s like sampling a classic track,” says producer Swizz Beatz. “You keep the soul but flip it for a new generation.”
At £395,000, Halcyon’s creation isn’t about saving the planet. It’s about preserving style. As one buyer quipped, “I’m not paying for the battery. I’m paying for the 50 years of stories this car carries—and the next 50 it’ll write.” Deliveries begin in 2026, but good luck getting one. Insiders say Drake’s team slid into Halcyon’s DMs before the press release dropped.