masterpiece in motion rolls-royce phantom centenary 100 years in making

rolls-royce debuts phantom centenary private collection

A moving manifestation of a century of design and engineering excellence, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is an ode to the nameplate’s 100th anniversary. The Phantom model has captivated the world’s most influential figures since its inception in 1925, spanning eight generations. The Private Collection edition, limited to just 25 examples, sees the marque’s team of bespoke designers, engineers, and craft artisans embark on a meticulous research journey, culminating in a master artwork that captures the identity and history of every generation of Phantom. Unveiled to designboom in an exclusive preview at Goodwood, the complete car is a bold statement that honors the past – particularly the 1926 Phantom of Love and 1930 Phantom II Continental – and highlights the principles that will guide the legendary nameplate into its next century.

the Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is an ode to the nameplate’s 100th anniversary

all images courtesy of Rolls-Royce

century of phantoms distilled through archives and craft

The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective – a team of skilled designers, engineers, and artisans – immersed themselves in the Phantom’s legacy, meticulously studying its identity, pivotal figures, and defining events from the 1920s to the present day. This deep dive generated a master artwork including 77 hand-sketched motifs, which are now exquisitely woven into the marque‘s Phantom Centenary Private Collection. These influences tell the storied history of the Phantom, incorporating everything from pioneering woodcraft and laser-etched leather to couturier-designed textiles and sketch-like embroidery.

Super Champagne Crystal coating achieves a deep metallic shimmer through iridescent particles of crushed glass

black, white and gold exterior design

The exterior of the Phantom Centenary sparkles in the spotlight, evoking the golden age of Hollywood and the flowing silhouette of 1930 Phantom II Continental. A two-tone of Arctic White for the side body, and Black for the upper body is finished with the specially developed Super Champagne Crystal, which achieves a deep metallic shimmer through iridescent particles of crushed glass infused into the clear coat. Crowning its bonnet, a solid-cast 18-carat gold Spirit of Ecstasy bears a specially developed ‘Phantom Centenary’ hallmark. The ‘RR’ Badge of Honour is also presented in 24-carat gold and white enamel for the first time. Special disc wheels complete the exterior, each engraved with 25 lines, totaling 100 lines to celebrate the centenary.

special disc wheels complete the exterior, each engraved with 25 lines – one for each year of the centenary

interior design unfolds bespoke canvases

Inside, the driver and passengers are immersed in a century of Phantom stories that unfold across various canvases. Recalling the marque’s chauffeur years, the car returns to when the driver’s front seat was finished in durable leather while the rear cabin offered luxurious fabrics. The rear seats take inspiration from the 1926 Phantom of Love with its handwoven Aubusson tapestries. The seat artwork is a three-layered story: a high-resolution printed background of historical places, a second layer of finely drawn past Phantoms, and a third, uppermost layer of abstract embroidery representing seven significant owners. Specially adapted ink printing, 16,000 irregular-stitched embroidery, and laser-etched artwork combine to realize the most intricate seat composition ever created by Rolls-Royce.

a century of Phantom stories unfold across various canvases in the interior design

The Anthology Gallery, the cockpit’s centerpiece, sits in the fascia and dramatically frames the view from the windshield. It features 50 3D-printed, vertically brushed aluminium ‘fins’ interlaced like book pages. Each fin is sculpted with letters forming quotes drawn from a century of press acclaim, subtly lit by shifting illuminations.

the Anthology Gallery features 50 3D-printed, vertically brushed aluminium ‘fins’ that interlace like book pages

As another superlative, the Phantom Centenary Private Collection’s interior also showcases the most intricate woodwork ever created for a Rolls-Royce. Rendered in stained Blackwood, the door panels depict the nameplate’s most significant voyages: both Sir Henry Royce’s winter and summer residences, and the first Goodwood-era Phantom’s 4,500-mile cross-Australian journey. Each composition combines 3D multi-directional marquetry, laser etching, 3D ink layering, and gold-leafing to create dimension. The journey routes gleam in 24-carat gold leaf, painstakingly cut and placed, with the exact locations of Royce’s homes marked with a single 2.76 mm gold-leaf dot. The wooden surfaces are completed with etchings of the original 1925 Phantom I and the current Phantom VIII on the rear picnic tables.

wood etchings of the original 1925 Phantom I and the current Phantom VIII adorn the rear picnic tables