100 Years of Rolls-Royce Phantom: History, Influence, and Innovation

In 2025, Rolls-Royce marks Phantom's centenary with bespoke models, historical tributes, and cultural celebrations across art, music, and design.

In 2025, Rolls-Royce marks the centenary of its most prestigious model — the Phantom. Far beyond a symbol of luxury, this car has embedded itself into the cultural landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries. To honour this exceptional milestone, every Phantom built at the marque’s Goodwood home throughout the year will feature a special centenary chassis plaque.

The anniversary calendar is filled with events that each explore a different facet of the Phantom legend. The year opened with a historical series highlighting all eight generations of the model and the technological milestones they embodied. Particularly notable was the Phantom Dragon, a one-of-one commission celebrating the Year of the Dragon and drawing inspiration from the ancient Chinese legend of two dragons guarding a pearl — a symbol of power and balance.

Spring saw the spotlight shift eastward with the Phantom Cherry Blossom, another unique commission. Inspired by the fleeting beauty of the sakura bloom and a Japanese client’s cherished memories, it offers a personalised interpretation of nature and nostalgia translated into design.

The centrepiece of May was the release of Phantom: A Century of Power & Influence on May 2 — precisely 100 years after the model was first unveiled to the world in 1925. The feature revisits Phantom’s cultural legacy, tracing its presence from diplomacy to the silver screen. Later in the month, commemorative Phantoms will take centre stage at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, one of the automotive world’s most revered design showcases.

The summer months promise deeper reflections. June will highlight Phantom’s connections to music and art, while July sees its presence at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and a retrospective look at the locations and moments that defined its first century. August will delve into Phantom’s role as a canvas for bespoke expression, showcasing some of the model’s most remarkable custom commissions. In September, attention shifts to the Goodwood Revival, where Phantom will again be in the spotlight.

Rolls-Royce has noted that more centenary moments will be added to the calendar as the year progresses. This is more than just a celebration — it is a continuing dialogue between past and present, with Phantom as the medium of expression. While much of the narrative honours what came before, every chapter reminds us: the legend is far from over.

Source: press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com