Though some of the most famous coachbuilders in automotive history date back to the first half of the 20th century, one from this century has been quickly developing a reputation as one of the best in the business. It’s Niels van Roij Design, a Dutch design firm that has become particularly well-known for its shooting brake and wagon projects. Its latest continues that trend with a tribute to yet another one-off shooting brake of the 1970s, and it has been revealed just in time for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Niels van Roij Design Daytona Shooting Brake HommageNiels van Roij Design
Old School Looks For The Modern Era
To understand the Niels van Roij car, we need to quickly go over the vehicle that inspired it. It started life as a 1972 Ferrari 365/4 Daytona coupe, but, according to Bonhams, it went to a coachbuilding company in England where it was turned into a shooting brake. Basically every body panel was changed, and it featured unique gull-wing glass doors to access the rear hatch.
Niels van Roij Design Daytona Shooting Brake HommageNiels van Roij Design
The new car, called the Daytona Shooting Brake Hommage, follows the same basic formula. While the coachbuilder didn’t provide precise technical details, it’s clear that the car was based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano coupe. As such, it has a naturally aspirated V12 and rear-wheel-drive, just like the original, though in this case paired with six-speed sequential manual transmission, rather than the original car’s traditional five-speed manual. The 599’s engine also makes far more power at 612 horses, plus 448 pound-feet of torque.
Niels van Roij Design Daytona Shooting Brake HommageNiels van Roij Design
The Hommage’s styling also follows the old Daytona, but Niels van Roij has made clear adaptations to make the look work on the 599. It’s far more curvaceous, particularly with the bulging rear fenders, but also the gently arcing orange front accent wing. Other tributes to the Daytona include the taillights integrated into the rear glass surround, the quad exhaust tips, and the distinct gullwing windows. Those windows also feature beautiful machined aluminum hinges. Speaking of aluminum, the whole body is constructed of lightweight material, just like the factory 599. The coachbuilder says that the only panels untouched are the doors, sort of like how the old Daytona’s only factory-spec part remaining was the hood.
Niels van Roij Design Daytona Shooting Brake HommageNiels van Roij Design
The interior of the Hommage is mostly the same as what you would find in a 599 with two main exceptions. The first is the instrument cluster, which is factory, but Niels van Roij moved it over to the center, another nod to the car’s inspiration. The other major change is obviously the cargo area, which is quite large, though it’s a bit oddly shaped due to its adaptation from the 599. The rear-most section is dramatically lower than the forward section, the latter seeming to be where the 599’s parcel shelf was located. The cargo floor is lined with carbon fiber, like on the dash, along with machined aluminum slider bars.
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If You Want One, We Have Bad News
Don’t bother asking how much the Daytona Shooting Brake Hommage costs, because this is the only one. Like other Niels van Roij creations, this is a special vehicle created with a client, not designed to be sold in multiple numbers to other collectors. The project took a long time to finish, too. It was first announced in March of 2021, and the coachbuilder says 15,000 hours went into the design and construction of the car. With that said, if you’re a car collector of significant means with an interesting idea, we’re sure you could get in touch with the company to discuss some other special machine. Based on this Hommage and other projects, it’s unlikely you’d be disappointed, too.
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CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
It’s clear that the market for high-end automobiles is as healthy as ever, if not more. This Niels van Roij project is just one of many recent custom coachbuilt cars and restomods revealed and announced in the last few months and even years. For instance, the storied Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera showed a new custom Ferrari, and we’re expecting something else in a few months. It’s a strong contrast to the dwindling number of models at the other extreme end of the market: entry-level, budget vehicles.
Source: Niels van Roij Design, Bonhams
