Celebrating 100 years of the Rolls Phantom at the Goodwood Revival

Now in its eighth iteration, few names capture the essence of motoring excellence quite like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, which, in the marque’s own words, has to be “the most magnificent, desirable and above all, effortless motor car in the world – the very best of the best”.

To say that one of the cars here stands head and shoulders above the rest sounds like hyperbole, but when you lay eyes on the ‘Phantom of Love’ for the first time, you’ll agree. 

Based on a Phantom I, the Phantom of Love was a gift from Clarence Gasque, the Financial Director of the UK division of the American F W Woolworth retail company, who wanted to give his wife a car like nothing else on the road – something this Rolls achieves effortlessly. 

As you can see if you mosey down to the Goodwood Aerodrome, this unique example has a headlining inspired by the V&A’s ceiling, complete with hand-painted cherubs with bows and arrows playing in summer blooms. It makes the gallery insert in the dashboard of a modern Phantom seem almost austere by comparison. 

As you’d imagine, the seating is no less impressive. Back in 1926, leather was in high demand, so this Rolls instead features a sofa sealed in fine French tapestries that cost £500 to produce, or about the same as a small house back in the day. 

Where you’d find a drinks cabinet hidden behind the centre armrest in the modern Rolls-Royce, the Phantom of Love’s drinks dispensary is more like what you’d find in your house, if your house is Buckingham Palace, complete with crystal glasses, a crystal carafe and a silver goblet.

Only when you see the car in person can you appreciate the delights of the hand-carved trims, satinwood veneer panelling, porcelain vases, and ormolu clock.

Initially, the flamboyant interior would have contrasted with the Rolls-Royce’s subtle black exterior, but the car’s second owner sought to balance the exterior with simulated canework on the lower half of the passenger compartment, straw-coloured wheels, and a bonnet-applied character line. 

The car would pass through multiple hands before being rediscovered in a Japanese used car lot and shipped to Arizona in the USA, only to return to the UK in 2002.

The Phantom II parked alongside the Phantom of Love is more subtle but no less deserving of your attention, its flowing lines are even more breathtaking than the car it replaced. The Phantom II was a cutting-edge design back in 1929, boasting a 7.7-litre straight-six based on the Phantom I’s but with a chassis featuring semi-elliptical springs that significantly improved the ride comfort. 

Ordered new as European transport for American industrialist A. Y. Gowen, the features that make this car unique aren’t immediately apparent until you spot the yellow-tinted sun visor and sunroof. The Phantom II featured an enclosed cabin for the driver, giving it an obvious connection to the modern Rolls-Royces we commonly see today.

The Phantom III has something else you’ll recognise from a modern Rolls – a V12 engine. Because, while Rolls-Royce subsequently used V8 engines, when the III was built in 1936, a V12 engine was the only way to produce the power required to deliver a significant jump in performance – the III produced 162PS (119kW), significantly more than the 122PS (89kW) the II mustered. Interestingly, development versions of the III were codenamed Spectre – the name Rolls-Royce’s new electric saloon has been christened with. 

While all Rolls-Royce models will have carried royalty at one time or another, the IV can claim to be the only one to have been built specifically for British royal duties, with generous cabin space and large windows so adoring crowds can catch glimpses of their heads of state. Peer inside and you’ll be surprised to see it features a manual gearbox – apparently the Queen, who was still a princess when the car was ordered, trusted her driver’s clutch foot more than she did a period automatic transmission. While the gear changes were all down to the Queen’s driver, braking was made easier by Rolls-Royce’s fitment of ‘super silent’ brake discs. 

While the car was built for the Queen, it’s the late Duke of Edinburgh we have to thank for its existence. Apparently, he was so impressed by the Rolls-Royce engine in the Bentley he test-drove that he lobbied for a car to accommodate it, and the Phantom IV was the result. Small wonder, then, that next to the manual gearbox, you’ll see a specially modified driver’s seat built to accommodate the Duke’s six-foot frame. 

The final Phantom on display is the Phantom IV – a car that proves that even a subtly specified Rolls-Royce oozes class as its midnight blue and cream bodywork glistens in the late afternoon sunshine. This particular car was commissioned by Lord Marks – chairman of Marks & Spencer – in 1964 and decked out in Connolly leather. With picnic tables and a cocktail cabinet finished in walnut leather, it looks like an ideal place to catch a rest from the excitement of the Revival.

Photography by Joe Harding.

The 2025 Goodwood Revival is underway! You can watch every moment of the action by watching our live stream.