Few vehicles in history have played such a pivotal role in shaping automotive and cultural history as the Rolls-Royce Phantom, five magnificent examples of which were displayed at the recent Goodwood Revival as part of the nameplate’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
Over eight generations spanning 100 years, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has represented the very best in engineering, comfort and personal expression for its owners, winning admirers around the world.
Goodwood Revival – on the doorstep of the home of Rolls-Royce – was the perfect setting in which to celebrate this extraordinary motor car and its continuing legacy, with five of the most distinctive and historically important Phantoms ever created on public display.
Andrew Ball, head of corporate relations at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said the five models “vividly illustrate the aesthetic, technical and emotional through-lines that connect the original ‘New Phantom’ created by Henry Royce in 1925 to the highly Bespoke Phantom commissions we bring to life for our clients a century later.”
The five Phantoms were the centrepiece of the marque’s annual presence at the event each, with each representing key moments and developments in the model’s history.
Phantom I Brougham De Ville – ‘The Phantom of Love’
Dating from 1926 – the year after the original New Phantom was launched – this celebrated motor car is described as one of the finest examples of automotive art and craftsmanship ever created. It was commissioned by Clarence Warren Gasque as a gift for his wife, Maude, an heiress to the Woolworth family fortune, and an homage to her passion for 18th Century French history and design. Interior details include bespoke Aubusson tapestries, a hand-painted ceiling with gilded cornices, and a drinks cabinet topped with a French Ormolu clock and a pair of French porcelain vases filled with gilded metal and enamel flowers.
Phantom II Continental Touring Park Ward
The now rare and highly prized Phantom II Continental was the production version of an experimental compact, sporting Phantom II variant produced for Henry Royce’s personal use. It was designed for high-speed touring over long distances on the smooth, straight roads of Europe and one of the few Phantoms of its era in which weight, wind resistance and other performance-related factors were as important as passenger comfort. This example, chassis 92PY, was commissioned by Mr A Y Gowen, an American industrialist who owned 16 Rolls-Royce motor cars during his lifetime. Intended for his travels around Europe, it’s fitted with a sunroof as well as the unique yellow tinted sun visor.
Phantom III
This beautiful motor car was originally ordered and delivered to London-based Major Frederick Warren Pearl in 1937. It passed through several sets of hands before being exported to the United States. In 1989 it was repatriated to the UK and acquired by its current owner in 1995, following a comprehensive restoration.
Phantom IV Landaulette
Phantom IV is the most exclusive model to bear the Phantom name: just 18 examples were produced between 1950 and 1956 and were offered only to royal families and heads of state. The chassis was 23.5 inches longer than that of the similar Silver Wraith; it was also the only Rolls-Royce to be fitted with a straight eight-cylinder engine. Phantom IV is still used by the British royal family for state occasions.
Phantom V
A magnificent and rare Rolls-Royce Phantom V with coachwork by James Young, this elegant PV22 model is finished in its original Midnight Blue. It was ordered by Marks & Spencer in January 1963 for the use of its chairman, Lord Marks, and delivered to him in March 1964. In perfect mechanical order, it has covered just 92,000 documented miles from new.
