Deep purple, rare Rolls-Royce up for auction at Naples wine fest in 2018

Someone will drive away from the 2018 Naples Winter Wine Festival in style.

A rare deep purple Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII will be auctioned at the event Jan. 27 and could fetch upward of $1 million, based on winning amounts for Rolls-Royces in previous auctions.

"Rolls-Royce has been an incredible partner of the Naples Winter Wine Festival and has donated some of the most incredible cars over the last six years," 2018 festival co-chair Lewie Card said in a news release. 

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"The brand has always produced some of the most luxurious vehicles in the world and we are excited to see the new Phantom VIII."

The car will be the first standard wheelbase version. The massive machine — with a 6.75 litre twin-turbo V12 engine — even has satellite-aided transmission. 

The auction lot includes more than just a hulk-of-a car, painted in the Rolls-Royce official color of Belladonna Purple. The lot includes a slot at the 2019 ROBB Report Car of the Year Competition and a curated selection of wine from Alpha Omega, whose handcrafted wines blend the Old World’s winemaking style with New World technology.

And Alpha Omega has created a special 6-liter bottle of the 2014 ERA flagship wine etched with the Rolls-Royce badge.

Every modern Rolls-Royce is handcrafted exclusively at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England. The interior color of the car is listed as Arctic White and Tailored Purple Bespoke. 

“Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is honored to leverage our position as the world’s leading luxury brand to support the children who benefit from the proceeds of this event,” said Pedro Mota, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA president.

The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, through its annual grants has supported more than 40 nonprofits in the community.

Since its debut in 2001, the Naples wine festival has raised more than $161 million. The 2018 event is Jan. 26-28.

“Our owners curate their collection of motor cars and wine alike," Mota said. "And there is no one item more sought after for our collectors than a one-of-a-kind Bespoke Phantom.”