The Rolls-Royce Phantom celebrated its centennial this year, making it the longest-running vehicle to ever be in production with the same model nameplate. The car, as well as the company, has a long history, which we’d like to take you through right now.
Rolls-Royce
The company Rolls-Royce was established in 1904 in Manchester, started by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The company was always meant to focus on luxury vehicles, but expanded to jet engines as well in 1944.
The company has been seen as a pinnacle of luxury automotives for well over 100 years, recently becoming a two-time winner at the Global Dealer Awards, the 2025 Concours of Elegance Award, the 2016 Walpole British Luxury Award, and the main character of today’s article, the Phantom, winning Luxury Car of the Year in 2017.
The Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom hit the streets of England in 1925 as a replacement for its older vehicle, the Silver Ghost. The first phantom looks very different from the vehicle we know and love today, with a straight-six engine and a fully customizable body and interior. It should also be noted that Rolls-Royce was responsible for manufacturing Bentley cars until 1998, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Phantom has a striking resemblance to the well-loved Bentley body.
The following two generations of Phantoms (there are 8 total) refined the idea of luxury. The third generation was the last one overseen by Henry Royce, and it introduced a V12 engine to the model.
However, the Phantom’s fourth generation was among the most exclusive of vehicles. Only 18 of these models were made, with careful consideration of who was allowed to purchase them. The car was only sold to the British royal family, as well as other heads of state. Currently, we know the whereabouts of 16 of these iconic models.
The next two generations were also well-loved by the elite, purchased by stars like John Lennon, and showed up during royal weddings and other formal events. The fifth generation also marked a change in design, looking more similar to the car we know today. The fifth-generation Phantom was slightly longer and no longer had the large, sweeping fenders we saw on the older models.
The seventh-generation Phantom came 13 years after the previous one, due to BMW acquiring the rights to Rolls-Royce in 1998. The Phantom VIII was incredibly successful in reviving the Rolls-Royce brand, and featured a twin-turbo V12 engine and the brand’s iconic “coach doors.”
We now come to the most modern generation of the phantom. The car still maintains its luxury feel, with its distinctive grille, high-quality materials, and an advanced air suspension system. This model will also eventually go fully electric, making it the first Phantom to not run on petrol.
To celebrate its long history, Rolls-Royce released a super-exclusive version of its eighth generation, called the Phantom Centenary Edition. Only 25 of these vehicles were made, created with iridescent glass paint, 24-karat gold detailing, with laser etching done on the vehicle’s interior. The car costs a whopping $3 million, but all 25 models have already been claimed.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom has consistently and immaculately maintained its legacy as a luxury vehicle, and shows no signs of stopping. To learn more about the history of the vehicle, you can head to the company’s website.
