Rolls-Royce celebrates 100 years of Phantom

The Phantom Centenary Private Collection, which is limited to just 25 cars worldwide, is described as the magnum opus of the model line.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection hero shot — *The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is a celebration of 100 years of Phantom cars. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Rolls-Royce is celebrating a century of Phantom cars with a special, extremely limited celebratory version of the current car.

The automaker unveiled the Phantom Centenary Private Collection, which is limited to just 25 cars worldwide. The company calls the car the magnum opus of the model line.

To be clear, The Rolls-Royce Phantom hasn’t been continuously produced for 100 years, but the original model, the Phantom I, launched in 1925. The current model is the Phantom VIII.

Black and white photograph of Sir Henry Royce inside the Phantom I prototype — *Sir Henry Royce is seen in the Phantom I prototype at his home in Elmstead, U.K. in 1923. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Storytelling

The special car is a canvass for storytelling.

Inside the car, you’ll find multiple hand-sketched motifs that are woven into the various fabrics and panels of the car.

Rolls-Royce used sketch-like embroidery, laser-etched leather, woodworking techniques such as 3D marquetry, gilding and 3D ink layering, to tell the Phantom’s story.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection rear seats — *The Phantom’s story is woven into the seats, headliner and interior panels of the car. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Seats tell a story

Contrasting front and rear seats hearken to the Phantom’s early chauffeuring era.

In the special model, the rear seats are inspired by the 1926 “Phantom of Love.”

The rear seats feature three layers of artwork.

One layer is the background in high-resolution print, showcasing places and artifacts from the Phantom’s history.

The second layer shows the great Phantoms of the past.

And the third layer is formed of embroideries and showcases seven significant owners of every generation of the Phantom.

The fabric was developed over 12 months. Special inks and techniques were devised for this process to ensure Rolls-Royce’s longevity, tactility and esthetic standards. There are more than 160,000 stitches involved in the seats.

The front seats tell a story of their own.

The front seats feature a rabbit, which is a nod to “Roger Rabbit,” a code name used for the relaunch of the Rolls-Royce brand in 2003, and a seagull, which was a code name for the 1923 Phantom I prototype.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection rear picnic table with Phantom I etch — *The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection has rear picnic tables with etches of the Phantom I and Phantom VIII. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Woodwork

The automaker said the car has the most intricate woodwork ever created for a Rolls-Royce.

The woodwork was developed over a year and is rendered in stained blackwood.

The door panels showcase the Phantom’s most significant and formative years. There are geographical maps, winding routes, sweeping landscapes, floral elements and experimental cars.

The woodwork also features the original 1925 Phantom I and the current Phantom VIII, which are etched on the rear picnic tables.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection front — *The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection stands out with its two-colour livery. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Starlight headliner

The car’s starlight headliner also tells a story and features 44,000 stitches.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection hood ornament — *The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection has multiple 24-karat gold elements. The hood ornament is cast 18 karat and plated in 24-karat gold. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Gold

You’ll find 24-karat gold elements in multiple areas.

The piano black veneer is infused with gold dust and the central rotary dial is plated with 24-karat gold.

There are 24-karat gold roads within the leather embroidery.

The engine cover features detail finished in 24-karat gold.

The “RR” badges on the front, rear and each side of the car are 24-karat gold and white enamel.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection side — *The “RR” badges on the car are 24-karat gold and white enamel. – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars photo*

Designers used the original Phantom’s Spirit of Ecstasy hood figurine as a reference to the special model.

The figurine is cast in 18-karat gold, to maintain strength, and is then plated in 24-karat gold for a tarnish-resistant and flawless finish.

There’s a lot more that can be said about the car, but the pictures will better tell its story.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but you can be sure if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.