of re-entering the consciousness of a rapidly emerging yet
increasingly global elite. The world was watching.
Rowing to the safety of pastiche or even tribute to Phantom
I and its successors would have been a grave error. The 21st
century’s wealthy and influential demanded authenticity and
sovereignty in the luxury houses they choose to patronise, so
a thoroughly contemporary, singular vision of Rolls-Royce
luxury was the only possible path.
a beautifully appointed extended wheelbase limousine,
has been created to celebrate the golden age of travel that
Phantom defined.
This remarkable example, commissioned by a renowned
contemporary Rolls-Royce collector, perfectly serves to
illustrate the extraordinary attention-to-detail and deftness of
touch that has defined the first chapter at the marque’s home
in Goodwood, West Sussex.
On the 3rd of January 2003 saw Cameron’s vision finally
unveiled to the world as the global media descended upon
the marque’s factory on only its third day of official operation.
Like Hives and his ruse to keep the press off the scent,
Phantom VII was designed and developed under a cloak of
absolute secrecy. On unveiling that first car, the press were
unanimous in their reaction, praising The art of marquetry – so beautifully used throughout
Phantom’s life – depicts a stylised 1930s ocean liner, reflecting
this particular patron’s fascination with the design and
iconography of this grand era. The nautical theme continues
with the application of tone-on-tone embroidery evoking
the movement of the sea, exquisitely applied to the interior’s
Powder Blue leather.
Rolls-Royce and its new custodians for bringing to the world
a thoroughly modern interpretation of the classic lines and
proportions that had maintained a stately presence at the
world’s great occasions for three quarters of a century. In true Phantom style, every possible detail has been
considered. The clocks, featured in both the front cabin and
the partition wall have been designed to echo the style of
the radio clocks that adorned grand ocean liners. The Bezel,
expressing 24 time zones, sits proud of the main clock, and
reminiscent of HG Well’s time machine, allows the owner
to rotate it in either direction depending on where they find
themselves in the world.
Underneath that imposing yet elegant coachwork lay the
foundations on which the opening passages of the next
great chapter in Rolls-Royce history was built. A totally new
aluminium spaceframe, designed and engineered for strength
and weight-saving, and propelled by a magnificent 6.75l
naturally-aspirated V12 Rolls-Royce engine developed the
abundant yet whisper-quiet performance that has become the
hallmark of modern Rolls-Royces.
Behind Phantom’s now emblematic coach-doors lay an
exquisitely crafted interior – realised by using only the finest
materials by a new artisanal workforce drawn from the local
area’s boat-building and saddle-making industries. These first
craftspeople, part of a workforce on that first day of just 350,
served as the masters to a burgeoning new generation of 1,700
skilled craftspeople, their careers made possible by the success
of the all-important seventh-generation Phantom.
For the first time since the age of the coachbuilder, patrons of
luxury were offered true personalisation through the marque’s
Bespoke programme, with Phantom serving as an exquisite
blank canvas from which its patrons’ boldest visions could be
expressed.
Media and customer acclaim soon affirmed that, like Hives,
Cameron and his team had re-established the legend of the
‘Best Car in the World’. It was stated at the time, that the
establishment of the marque’s centre of excellence and the
concurrent development and launch of Phantom in just five
years, stood as the ‘last great automotive adventure.’ Phantom
once again represented the start of a bold new era – a period
many close to the marque acknowledge as the most significant
in its history. In just 13 years, Rolls-Royce had established
itself once again as the yardstick by which all other luxury
goods are judged.
The maritime theme even extends to Phantom’s indulgent
lambswool carpets which feature a hand-cut wake effect
elegantly created by the marque’s master craftspeople –
perhaps a nod to the fact that this final Phantom has passed,
leaving the world in its own wake.
The exterior is finished in a stunning Blue Velvet, completed
with a twin coachline with ocean liner motif to the shoulder,
and offset beautifully by pinstripe tyres and a solid silver
Spirit of Ecstasy. This carefully tended hand-crafted scheme
completes a stunning final expression for the last Phantom of
its kind.
The completion of this very final motor car, and the
decommissioning of the Phantom production line after 13
years, sets the stage for the introduction of Phantom VIII,
underpinned by an all-new aluminium architecture of luxury.
Like its predecessor it will advance the standards set by its
illustrious forbears.
Its arrival will herald the beginning of yet another great
chapter in the history of the world’s most compelling and
celebrated name in luxury.
The final Phantom VII – a study in luxury
Now, as this most significant motor car prepares to gracefully
leave the stage, it is fitting that the final Phantom VII,
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