To pay special tribute to the centenary history of the Phantom, Rolls-Royce pooled all of its creative forces. Over many months, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection, limited to 25 vehicles, was created, reminiscent of the golden age of Hollywood.
Since its introduction in 1925, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has been considered the epitome of automotive elegance. A vehicle that, like hardly any other, embodies the spirit of the golden age of Hollywood. However, the history of the Rolls-Royce brand itself goes back further: in 1904, the engineer Henry Royce and the London car importer Charles Rolls joined forces. C.S. Rolls & Co. then received the exclusive sales rights for all vehicles built by Royce Ltd. In 1911, the Spirit of Ecstasy was finally created, the brand’s unmistakable emblem to this day.
Today, one hundred years after its debut, the Phantom is honored with the Phantom Centenary Private Collection, limited to 25 units. It is the most complex and technically sophisticated Private Collection to date from the British luxury car manufacturer. »The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is our tribute to 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury item. This uncompromising work of art uses the meticulously engineered Phantom VIII as the canvas to tell the story of Phantom’s remarkable life and the people who shaped it—from the visionaries within Rolls-Royce to the owners who helped create its legend,« Rolls-Royce CEO Chris Brownridge notes on the occasion of the anniversary.
To pay due tribute to the flagship of the Rolls-Royce family, the Bespoke team pulled out all the stops. Specialists from all areas—from design to craftsmanship—came together and immersed themselves in the history of the Phantom, examining every single generation down to the smallest detail. The places and events that shaped the creation of the respective vehicle generations were also taken into account. This resulted in 77 hand-drawn motifs that played a decisive role in the development of the Private Collection.
Despite all the consideration of historical milestones, the Bespoke team was always careful to bring them to life through innovative techniques. »Having the privilege to pay a Bespoke tribute to the Phantom nameplate is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Seizing on the significance of this moment, a record number of designers spent a year immersed in the motor car’s rich history, uncovering the stories that shaped its legend. Their research was distilled into 77 motifs, each capturing a defining moment in Phantom’s journey and expressed with levels of detail we have never attempted before. The result is a true collective work of art that celebrates the skill, ambition and imagination of everyone at the Home of Rolls-Royce, and the profound respect the marque’s creatives have for this extraordinary motor car,« Martina Starke, Head of Bespoke Design, summarizes the design process.
Exterior: Shimmering shine and a gilded icon
It is not surprising that the exterior immediately conjures up the golden age of Hollywood, after all, the elegant vehicle was once a regular guest at important film premieres and served as the preferred means of transport for numerous screen icons. The vehicles of the Private Collection have a Bespoke two-tone paint finish, the longitudinal paint finish of which is reminiscent of the flowing silhouette of the Phantom models of the 1930s. The side section is in Super Champagne Crystal over Arctic White, the upper part of the body in Super Champagne Crystal over Black.
The specially developed paint finish gives the exterior an extraordinary metallic shimmer, which is further enhanced by the addition of shimmering glass particles to the clear coat. »Developed over three years, this project uses new techniques to blend metal, wood, paint, fabric, leather, and embroidery into a single, stunning composition. The surfaces read like a book revealing 100 years of Phantom’s history, rich with symbolic references for clients to admire and decipher over many years to come,« explains Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke at Rolls-Royce.
The Spirit of Ecstasy also shines in new splendor: it was cast from solid 18-carat gold and then plated with 24-carat gold. The piece was then handed over to the Hallmarking & Assay Office in London, where it was given the specially developed Phantom Centenary stamp.
Interior: Luxurious fabrics and elaborate woodwork
The history of the Phantom is also given plenty of space in the interior. Depending on the area, different episodes of the hundred-year success story unfold. It is no coincidence that the front seats are covered with luxurious, yet durable leather, while fine fabrics were used for the rear seats—but a reminder of the time when chauffeurs in particular took a seat in the driver’s seat. The design of the rear seats is inspired by the Phantom of Love from 1926. They were designed as a modern interpretation of hand-woven tapestries and show different milestones from the history of the Phantom on three different levels, as Bespoke Colour and Material Designer Celina Mettang explained during the presentation of the new Private Collection. The leather of the front seats was also decorated with laser-engraved works of art based on hand drawings.
The Private Collection also includes the most elaborate woodwork ever created for a Rolls-Royce. The door panels, which took over a year to develop and are made of stained Blackwood, show the most important and formative journeys of the Phantom. In each composition, geographical maps, winding routes, vast landscapes, floral elements and depictions of extraordinary automobiles combine to form works of art.
At the top of the dashboard is the centerpiece of the interior—the »Anthology Gallery«, consisting of 50 3D-printed, brushed aluminum fins. Each fin is marked with letters that form quotes from a century of press reports and are subtly highlighted by changing lighting.
The Phantom Centenary Private Collection is more than just a representation of a great heritage. Never before has the idea that the history of a vehicle always rides along been expressed in a more artistic and luxurious way. [SW]
