Rolls-Royce Phantom (I–VI) History

Luxury car · 1925–1990

History

The Phantom succeeded the Silver Ghost in 1925 and became the longest-used model nameplate in automotive history. Across the classic series the car remained Rolls-Royce's coachbuilt flagship — chassis supplied to independent coachbuilders, with bodies tailored to each owner — and the choice of royalty, heads of state, and the very wealthy.

The Phantom III (1936–1939) introduced a V12, a high-water mark of pre-war engineering; the Phantom IV (1950–1956) was built in tiny numbers exclusively for royalty and heads of state; and the Phantom V (1959–1968) and VI (1968–1990) carried the limousine tradition to the end, the Phantom VI lasting more than two decades as a hand-built ceremonial car.

Generations

Phantom I (1925–1931)

Photo: “Rolls-Royce New Phantom, 1929, view 1 - Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) - DSC06870.JPG” by Daderot / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0

Successor to the Silver Ghost; a new pushrod overhead-valve 7.7-litre six in the Ghost-derived chassis, built in Derby and (to 1931) Springfield, Massachusetts.
Phantom II (1929–1935)

Photo: “Paris - Retromobile 2014 - Rolls-Royce Phantom II - 1929 - 001.jpg” by Thesupermat / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

An all-new low-slung chassis with semi-elliptic rear springs; the sporting Continental version was a fast, owner-driver grand tourer.
Phantom III (1936–1939)

Photo: “Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1937).jpg” by Charles / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0

The only pre-war Rolls-Royce V12 — a complex 7.3-litre engine and the last new model Henry Royce worked on before his 1933 death; production ended with the war.
Phantom IV (1950–1956)

Photo: “Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.jpg” by Kornoldo / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Built almost exclusively for royalty and heads of state; only 18 were made, the rarest production Rolls-Royce, powered by a straight-eight engine.
Phantom V (1959–1968)

Photo: “1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V.jpg” by DestinationFearFan / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

A large coachbuilt limousine on a separate chassis with the 6.2-litre V8; bodies by Park Ward, James Young, and others.
Phantom VI (1968–1990)

Photo: “1970 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine - Governor-General of Australia.JPG” by Sv1ambo / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The last separate-chassis, fully coachbuilt Rolls-Royce; a ceremonial limousine made in tiny numbers for more than two decades.