Rolls-Royce Motor Cars honours the centenary of its most enduring and celebrated model, the Phantom, with a remarkable showcase at Goodwood Revival 2025. Five historically significant Phantoms, spanning from 1926 to the modern day, illustrate a century of craftsmanship, innovation and cultural impact. From royal state cars to one-of-a-kind commissions, each tells a chapter in the Phantom story.
Against the evocative backdrop of Goodwood Revival 2025, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is marking a centenary few marques in history can rival: 100 years of the Phantom. Since its arrival in 1925 as the ‘New Phantom,’ the model has embodied the pinnacle of engineering, elegance and discreet power — a modern legend in perpetual reinvention.
This weekend, the brand gathers five of the most significant Phantoms ever created, illuminating a century-long story of innovation, artistry and grand motoring tradition.
A Century of Distinction
From royal processions to silver-screen moments, the Phantom has been far more than a mode of transport — it has been an enduring cultural touchstone. With only eight generations produced across a full century, its constancy represents not merely longevity but the embodiment of Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, lineage and vision.
As Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, explains: “No motor car has played such a pivotal role in shaping automotive and cultural history as the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Across 100 years, it has represented the very best in engineering, comfort and personal expression.”
Goodwood, just minutes from the marque’s manufacturing home in West Sussex, could scarcely provide a more fitting stage. Nestled within the nostalgia-rich theatre of Revival — where every detail recalls the romance of motoring’s golden ages — Phantom’s centenary presence speaks both to heritage and to living legacy.
Icons on the Lawn
The story unfolds through five extraordinary Phantoms, each embodying a chapter in this century-spanning narrative:
Phantom I Brougham De Ville — ‘The Phantom of Love’ (1926)
Commissioned by Clarence Gasque for his heiress wife, Maude, this opulent creation married automotive excellence with artistic excess. Its hand-painted ceiling, gilded cornices and original Aubusson tapestries transform the car into a moving Versailles, an extravagant declaration of romance on wheels.
Phantom II Continental Touring Park Ward
Conceived for long-distance touring on Europe’s newly built highways, this lighter, sportier Phantom became a favourite of discerning owners such as American industrialist A. Y. Gowen. Its subtle sunroof and tinted visor evoke the 1930s spirit of speed and adventure without sacrificing comfort.
Phantom III (1937)
The last Rolls-Royce designed under Henry Royce’s direct influence, this car represented the most advanced pre-war Phantom. Originally owned by Major Frederick Warren Pearl, its V12 engine and graceful bodywork set the tone for post-war engineering ambition.
Phantom IV Landaulette (1950–56)
Reserved exclusively for royalty and heads of state, only 18 were ever produced. With its straight-eight engine and bespoke body styles, the Phantom IV became the ceremonial chariot of the British monarchy — a tradition that continues to this day.
Phantom V (1963)
Ordered by Marks & Spencer for Lord Marks and clothed by James Young in Midnight Blue, this Phantom tells the story of Britain’s post-war prosperity. Though subtly styled, its presence was undeniable, carrying an aura of quiet influence and establishment authority.
Revival Spirit, Racing Soul
Beyond their display on the Aerodrome Lawn, Phantom models will also take to the track between each race as course cars, their stately pace reminding onlookers that beneath the dignified silhouette lies enduring power, precision and dynamic poise. Far from frozen relics, these cars exemplify why Phantom has long been described as “the best car in the world.”
Goodwood: Homecoming and Continuum
Today, more than 2,500 artisans, engineers and craftspeople work at Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood headquarters — the global “Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence.” Since 2003, it has contributed more than £4 billion to the UK economy and sustains half a billion in value annually. Every new Phantom, especially in Bespoke form, is designed and crafted here: a seamless continuation of the vision Henry Royce established over a century ago.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars carries an almost unique aura of prestige, which blends British heritage with the cutting-edge precision enabled by BMW Group stewardship. The Phantom centenary celebrations at Revival underscore this union of timeless craft with contemporary vision.
As Phantom continues its centenary year, Goodwood Revival stands as only one chapter in a programme of celebrations that will carry Rolls-Royce and its most iconic model into the next hundred years of illustrious motoring history.
You can learn more about the latest version of Rolls-Royce’s Phantom at www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com.