Background
Remember Henry Ford stating you could have one of his cars in ‘Any colour you like as long as it’s black’? Well, you could have the Rolls Royce Phantom VII in any of 44,000 standard colours. And if you didn’t like any of those, they’d mix you a custom one. Take that, Henry.
The story of how BMW managed to swipe Rolls-Royce from Volkswagen is a tale of corporate shenanigans that’s well worth a Google. But from the moment BMW owned the company, enthusiasts were terrified the next Rolls Royce would be a rebadged 7 Series. They needn’t have worried. The first Rolls built under German ownership may well be the best yet.
Engineer Charles Stewart Rolls and car dealer Henry Royce joined forces back in 1904 with the aim of producing the very best cars in the world. Film stars, statesmen and dignitaries the world over testify that they still do. These people care little that the company is no longer British-owned, nor that its products aren’t built in the traditional Pyms Lane factory in Crewe. Excellence is all that matters and since the turn of the century, this classic brand has rebooted in a new quest to achieve it, the first design of its new era launched in 2003 – this seventh generation Phantom saloon.
It remained British-built, fashioned in a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Goodwood, though with bodywork built and engines provided by BMW. As expected, it blended advanced technology and traditional hand-craftsmanship - with extraordinary results. The Phantom still represents the world's ultimate automotive status symbol among luxury cars from its era.
Nobody could accuse this Rolls Royce of looking ordinary and, if you like to keep a low profile, then you'd be better off plumping for something more discreet like a Maybach. The MK VII Phantom was designed and modelled in London, not Munich, by Serbian Marek Djordjevic and still creates a unique impression nearly 20 years later. Apparently the design team worked out that a car's height should be twice that of its wheels and the resulting proportions are enormous. Some accused it of being a caricature of a Rolls Royce. Nobody said it was dull.
Open the driver's door and you're greeted with one of the finest car interiors in history. Build quality is of course exemplary with cutting edge technology, but there's none of the confusing gadgetry found in, say, a BMW 7-Series from this era. In a Phantom any controls not needed for everyday driving are kept out of sight until required. The doors are helped to fasten shut by silent hydraulic motors that seal you from the outside world. It's an oasis of calm inside, with every possible luxury at your disposal. In fact it's such a glorious place to be that you'll be tempted to move in – something you have every right to expect after spending the kind of money that might otherwise go a long way towards securing you a nice riverside apartment.
The sumptuous interior is crafted from the finest leather and timbers available. The switches for the power windows and audio system are beautifully crafted violin keys, while the chrome air vents are operated by traditional organ stops. At least 15 hand-stitched hides go into the 450 individual leather parts that cover the various surfaces and each of the 43 different wooden sections are made up from up to 28 individual layers. This is luxury on an altogether different level and everything looks just so touchable you can't help but run your fingers over every surface.
Hinged at the back rather than the front, the rear suicide – sorry ‘coach’ doors allow back seat passengers to enter and exit gracefully and can be closed at the press of a button. Once inside, original buyers had a choice of specifying either individual chairs separated by a centre console or a rear 'lounge seat' which features curved outer edges, making it easy to turn and face a fellow passenger. Either way, the base is elevated by 18mm for a peerless view ahead and situated behind the rear C-pillar for safety as well as privacy from aspiring paparazzi.
The 6.75-litre BMW N73 V12 is the silkiest of turbine smooth propulsion units, with four overhead cams and double VANOS variable valve timing, and the double-wishbone suspension insulates occupants from any road surface irregularities. The double glazed windows and the many kilos of sound deadening mean there’s virtually no road noise at all, and the six-speed ZF autobox is the best ever fitted to any Rolls-Royce, it’s perfectly managed to the direct injection V12 engine and helps the weighty Phantom get to 60mph in 5.9 seconds.
Don’t forget that the choice of more than 44,000 standard colours, the umbrellas in the doors (heated to ensure they would be dry for use) and the power reserve dial to let you know how much of the engine’s grunt you have in reserve (rev counters are so gauche) and it’s clear why the Phantom was such a hit.
Prices started at a quarter of a million pounds and Rolls-Royce sold more than 10,000 Phantoms from 2003 to 2017, making this car the biggest commercial success the firm has ever had, by a considerable margin.
