Rolls-Royce Celebrates a Century of Phantoms at Haunted Monterey

The year 2025 marks a century since Rolls-Royce first introduced the Phantom name to its lineup of ultra-luxury vehicles. Over the years, the name has graced eight generations of cars, cementing the brand’s reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious automotive marques. To commemorate this milestone, Rolls-Royce showcased several Phantoms at the renowned Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the highlight of Monterey Car Week.

Rolls-Royce didn’t just bring a handful of cars to the event—it arrived in full force. Every one of the eight Phantom generations was represented, including past show winners, vehicles once owned by British royalty, and cars that have carried world leaders.

A Long History Brings Some Unusual Names

The oldest Phantom on display was the 1929 Phantom Brewster Ascot Phaeton. Its lengthy name reflects its heritage: “Brewster” denotes the coachbuilder responsible for the body, “Ascot” honors the famous Royal Ascot horse race, and “Phaeton” describes its two-seat, open-top design. Interestingly, this particular Phantom was built in the U.S. at Rolls-Royce’s Springfield, Massachusetts factory. Before making its appearance at Pebble Beach, the car underwent an extensive restoration to bring it back to pristine condition.

Next in line was the 1934 Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Sedanca Drophead Coupe. “Gurney Nutting” refers to the Chelsea-based coachbuilder responsible for the car’s body. A “Sedanca” is a type of coupe with an open-top front section and a covered rear, a term first introduced by Rolls-Royce’s Spanish distributor in 1923. In this example, “drophead” indicates that the covered rear portion can also be folded down.

It wasn’t the only Sedanca present. Representing the third-generation Phantom was a 1937 model built by H.J. Mulliner—the same Mulliner that would later become Bentley’s in-house coachbuilder, following years of shared ownership between Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Remarkably, this car had already claimed Best of Show at Pebble Beach when it was just 20 years old.

The very first Phantom IV was originally built in 1948 for then-Princess Elizabeth. While this wasn’t that exact car, it was crafted specifically for the royal couple. In fact, the Royal Yacht Britannia was designed to accommodate this vehicle, which the palace used for official duties around the world over the following four decades.

The fifth-generation Phantom marked the end of Rolls-Royce classic coachbuilding era. With chauffeurs becoming less common, this particular model was one of only four right-hand-drive touring limousines. Known as the Phantom V James Young Touring Sedanca, it was also one of just 11 Sedancas crafted by James Young during this generation.

More Phantoms Than an Episode of Scooby-Doo

The Phantom VI on display was a 1972 model commissioned for the Ivory Coast and its president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny. It was the only State Landaulette—an elegant term for an open limousine—built on this chassis in left-hand drive. Since it was designed for a head of state, the top was power-operated, whereas owners of standard models had to lower it manually.

The Phantom VII ushered Rolls-Royce into the modern era. This particular example is one of the ultra-exclusive Coupe models, with only 550 produced between 2006 and 2016. It features a V12 engine, marking the first time since before World War II that a Phantom had twelve cylinders.

The Phantom VIII on display dates from 2023. This Platino model boasts a luxurious silk interior woven with intricate patterns and an illuminated grille—a modern touch catering to today’s discerning buyers. Platinum-inspired accents adorn the cabin, and this particular car was borrowed from a private collector in Washington, D.C.