Rolls-Royce Marks a Century of Phantom with the Exquisite Centenary Private Collection

For 100 years, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has stood as the ultimate symbol of success and discernment, chosen by statesmen, visionaries, and tastemakers alike. To mark this remarkable milestone, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has unveiled the Phantom Centenary Private Collection — an extraordinary tribute limited to just 25 examples. Conceived as both a work of art and a statement of legacy, it is the most complex and technologically ambitious Private Collection in the marque’s history.

Developed over three years and requiring more than 40,000 hours of work, the Centenary cars pay homage to a century of Phantom stories — the individuals, journeys, and innovations that defined its legend. The project brought together an unprecedented number of designers, engineers, and craftspeople at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, resulting in a collection that celebrates the spirit of Phantom past, present, and future.

Drawing inspiration from the golden age of cinema and the glamour of 1930s Phantoms, the Centenary edition features a bespoke two-tone finish: Super Champagne Crystal over Arctic White for the body sides and Super Champagne Crystal over Black for the upper surfaces. The clear coat is infused with iridescent champagne-colored glass particles, creating an extraordinary shimmer and depth that changes with the light. Crowning the grille is a reimagined Spirit of Ecstasy — cast in solid 18-carat gold, plated in 24-carat gold, and hallmarked with a unique “Phantom Centenary” engraving. Beneath her, a base of white vitreous enamel carries the collection’s inscription. For the first time, the Rolls-Royce “RR” Badge of Honour appears in gold and white enamel, while the car’s disc wheels are engraved with 25 lines each — a subtle nod to the number of cars in the series, collectively forming 100 lines to mark Phantom’s centenary.

Inside, Phantom Centenary transforms its cabin into a living chronicle. Each detail tells part of the marque’s 100-year story through advanced craftsmanship, textiles, and innovative materials. The interior pairs tactile leather with rich fabrics, echoing early chauffeur-driven Phantoms that separated driver and passenger materials for durability and opulence respectively. The rear seats are the masterpiece of this narrative. Inspired by the famed 1926 “Phantom of Love,” they feature intricate high-resolution printed fabric developed with a couture atelier, layered with embroidery totaling more than 160,000 stitches. The design incorporates historic places, artifacts, and silhouettes of past Phantoms, alongside abstract motifs representing significant owners. Each of the 45 tailored panels is fitted with precision techniques inspired by Savile Row craftsmanship, making this the most intricate seat composition ever created by Rolls-Royce.

Up front, the driver’s quarters feature laser-etched leather seatbacks depicting hand-drawn motifs that reference key milestones in Phantom’s history — from the “Roger Rabbit” project that symbolized Rolls-Royce’s rebirth in 2003 to the original “Seagull” codename for the first Phantom prototype in 1923. The Anthology Gallery serves as the artistic centerpiece — a sculptural installation of 50 vertically brushed aluminum fins, each 3D-printed and laser-sculpted with letters forming historic quotes from a century of Phantom acclaim. Subtle illumination dances across the surfaces like flickering light through pages of a book.

The surrounding woodwork represents the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce artistry, featuring techniques never before attempted in automotive design: 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering, laser etching at multiple depths, and 24-carat gold leafing. Each door tells part of Phantom’s story — from Sir Henry Royce’s beloved French coastline retreat at Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer to his home in West Wittering, near the marque’s current Goodwood headquarters. The “roads” connecting these locations are literally gilded in gold, each leaf just 0.1 micrometres thick. Even beneath the bonnet, the 6.75-litre V12 engine is celebrated. Its Arctic White cover features hand-applied 24-carat gold accents — a fitting tribute to the power and grace that have defined Phantom’s modern legend.

Above, the Starlight Headliner transforms into a celestial archive. Using 440,000 stitches, it depicts symbolic references from Phantom’s history, including Henry Royce’s mulberry tree and the beehives of Goodwood, alongside motifs recalling the legendary “Bluebird” Phantom II and the secret “Bank” design studio where the modern Phantom was conceived.

The Phantom Centenary Private Collection stands as a definitive statement of what Rolls-Royce represents — the unbroken pursuit of excellence, imagination, and human artistry. With its fusion of craftsmanship and innovation, it encapsulates 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury automobile and offers collectors an unprecedented tribute to the spirit of Phantom — past, present, and eternal.