Roll-Royce changed the way we comprehend luxury motoring – and products of any kind – setting the standard for the following 90 years. It was 78 years later that the Phantom VII, the first Goodwood model, spurred a renaissance and now, after 13 years, the last of its generation has rolled off that factory line.
“As Phantom VII gracefully leaves the stage, having defined the first chapter in the renaissance of Rolls-Royce, we look forward to building on its remarkable success with the imminent arrival of its successor,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. “A bold, new statement built on an all-new architecture promises to light the future of the world’s most celebrated name in luxury.”
Naturally, the last model to roll of the line is no ordinary vehicle; commissioned by a renowned collector and themed around a 1930s ocean liner, reflecting the patron’s fascination with the design and iconography of the era. The nautical theme includes the application of tone-on-tone embroidery evoking the movement of the sea, flowing to the interior’s Powder Blue leather. Even the clocks, featured in both the front cabin and the partition wall were designed to evoke the radio clocks featured in grand ocean liners.
The Bezel, depicting 24 time zones, sits on of the main clock, and is reminiscent of HG Well’s time machine, allowing the owner to rotate it in either direction depending on where they find themselves in the world. Rolls is now prepping the production line for the debut of the VIII, which will also be hand-built in the UK facility once the new all-aluminium chassis structures arrive from Germany.