Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection celebrates 100 years of luxury

For a century, Rolls-Royce has shaped the definition of luxury on four wheels. Now, the Goodwood marque is quite literally turning the pages of its own history with the new Phantom Centenary Private Collection, created to mark 100 years of its most celebrated model, the Phantom.

Production is limited to just 25 examples, all of which have already sold, despite each carrying a price of almost €3 million in the United Kingdom, according to Autocar.

Described by the manufacturer as the most ambitious and intricate undertaking in its history, the collection required three years of development and more than 40,000 working hours. Every element was conceived to tell the story of the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s first century: from the people who designed it to those who travelled in it, from the places where it was built to the stories it helped create.

“Phantom Centenary is our tribute to a century of the world’s most revered luxury object. This work of art uses the Phantom VIII as a canvas to tell its life story and that of the people who made it legendary,” said Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary exterior design

The exterior expresses luxury with restraint. Its two-tone “Super Champagne Crystal” finish contains ground-glass particles, producing a deep shimmer that recalls the glamour of the 1930s. Above the grille sits a solid 18-carat gold Spirit of Ecstasy, inspired by the first version fitted to a Phantom in 1925 and now bearing the official “Phantom Centenary” hallmark.

A Phantom interior shaped by its history

The real display of craftsmanship, however, begins inside. Developed alongside a fashion atelier, the rear seats depict scenes and destinations from the model’s history through 160,000 embroidered stitches.

The front seats feature laser-etched leather illustrations, with references ranging from “Roger Rabbit” - the codename for the marque’s 2003 revival - to the original sketches of the first Phantom.

The Blackwood door panels are themselves three-dimensional artworks. They portray landmark journeys, including the Australian crossing completed by the first modern-era Rolls-Royce Phantom, with maps rendered in 24-carat gold leaf.

“Attention to detail” is an understatement

At the centre of the cabin, the “Anthology Gallery” brings together 100 years of words and quotations about the Phantom. It comprises 50 three-dimensional aluminium vanes, arranged to intersect like the pages of a book.

Overhead, the Starlight Headliner combines 440,000 points of light with embroidery recalling Henry Royce’s garden in West Wittering, the Goodwood bees and even the iconic “Phantom Rose”.

At the front, the imposing 6.75-litre V12 engine is covered by a white lid finished with 24-carat gold details, paying tribute to the powerplant that has propelled the legendary Phantom throughout the past century.

Every feature forms a chapter in the same story: that of the car which defined absolute luxury a century ago and continues to do so today. If Rolls-Royce had a mirror, this is how it would see itself: golden, immaculate and timeless.