Oldest Nameplates still in production part I : Rolls Royce Phantom
Using a good selling name plate has been a used and used again formula by marketers world over. Not only in the automobile industry but also other segments. When a product is successful using the same name to cross sell or upsell is the usual mantra. It should not come as a surprise then if some of the oldest name plates still in production in the world are more than 80 years old. One such name plate is the Rolls Royce Phantom.
Phantom I (1925-1931)
Every Phantom today is hand-built at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in England. From seamstresses to surface finish technicians and French polishers, it takes 60 pairs of hands to design, craft and construct a Rolls-Royce before it's ready for its owner. Now if the same process made all the Rolls Royce phantom, the history dates back to 1925. The year when the Phantom I was manufactured. When the time came to replace the premium car Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Rolls Royce came up with Phantom I. The manufacturer from Manchester gave the Phantom I a bigger engine and overhead valves. Being the second 40/50 hp model Rolls Royce had to differentiate the two models from old Silver Ghost and hence the Phantom I was born . The 7668cc engines came with either 3 or 4 speed gearboxes based on either they were sold in the US or the UK. Also while the fuel guage on UK models was on the tank, the US cars had it on the dash.
Phantom II (1929-1936)
The last of the 40/50 hp models from Rolls Royce, the Phantom II is undoubtedly the best looking car in the lineup ever made. The new chassis had shorter wheelbase and stiffer springs for better overall ride and handling performance. The same 7668 Inline 6-cylinder engine did duty on this car as the previous version. A shorter wheelbase but tuned Phantom Continental was also built. The iconic shape has also landed the car in films such as 'The sorcerer's apprentice' where it is the sorcere's (Nicholas Cage) car and ' Indiana Jones and the last crusade'.
Phantom III ( 1936-1939)
The last version of the Rolls Royce built before the resources were dedicated to the war. The car had the only V12 engine in any Rolls Royce until Rolls Royce put in another v12 in 1998. Although car chassis production was stopped in 1939, the last car was made in 1947. A total of 727 cars were manufactured, many of which survive to this day.
Phantom IV (1950-1956)
The fourth generation of Phantom is notable for two major reasons. Firstly, it was the first Rolls Royce Phantom to be built after the World War II where most of the company resources were diverted. Secondly, very few cars were made and only for the rich and elite. Only 18 cars were produced over a span of 6 years which brings the number to 3 cars per year. Surprisingly, 16 of these cars have survived. The fact is ironic considering Rolls Royce had initially intended to discontinue the Phantom line after the world war II. The car had an inline 8 cylinder engine with a 5700 cubit capacity.
Phantom V
516 units of the Phantom V were built from 1959 to 1963. The car had a 6230cc V8 engine. The gearbox for the car was borrowed from General Motors. The heaviest of all the phantoms, very few examples of this car exist. The most famous of the Phantom V's was owned by the John Lennon of the Beatles fame.
Phantom VI
374 units of the Phantom VI were built between 1968 and 1990. The sixth generation was also in production for the longest time of all phantoms totalling 21 years. Two engines were installed on this car, A 6.2 litre v8 and a 6.75 litre v8.More Phantom VI were also built as late as 1995 till 1997 for the sultan of Brunei. THis was the last car manufactured before the BMW era of Rolls Royce began.
Phantom VII
The first Phantom built under BMW ownership was the Phantom VII. The car is still in production from 2003. The BMW era Phantom is also the first Phantom to not have a 4 speed gearbox but a hi-tech 6 speed automatic and 8 speed zf sourced automatic boxes. The engine is a 6.75 litre v12. The car is available in 44000 paint shades. Also it is ithe only car in the world to provide a power reserve indicator akin to an Automatic watch. A record 1000+ phantom Vii units were sold in 2007. A 2013 version has been launched by Rolls Royce as Series II with major updates.
Phantom I (1925-1931)
Every Phantom today is hand-built at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in England. From seamstresses to surface finish technicians and French polishers, it takes 60 pairs of hands to design, craft and construct a Rolls-Royce before it's ready for its owner. Now if the same process made all the Rolls Royce phantom, the history dates back to 1925. The year when the Phantom I was manufactured. When the time came to replace the premium car Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Rolls Royce came up with Phantom I. The manufacturer from Manchester gave the Phantom I a bigger engine and overhead valves. Being the second 40/50 hp model Rolls Royce had to differentiate the two models from old Silver Ghost and hence the Phantom I was born . The 7668cc engines came with either 3 or 4 speed gearboxes based on either they were sold in the US or the UK. Also while the fuel guage on UK models was on the tank, the US cars had it on the dash.
Phantom II (1929-1936)
The last of the 40/50 hp models from Rolls Royce, the Phantom II is undoubtedly the best looking car in the lineup ever made. The new chassis had shorter wheelbase and stiffer springs for better overall ride and handling performance. The same 7668 Inline 6-cylinder engine did duty on this car as the previous version. A shorter wheelbase but tuned Phantom Continental was also built. The iconic shape has also landed the car in films such as 'The sorcerer's apprentice' where it is the sorcere's (Nicholas Cage) car and ' Indiana Jones and the last crusade'.
Phantom III ( 1936-1939)
The last version of the Rolls Royce built before the resources were dedicated to the war. The car had the only V12 engine in any Rolls Royce until Rolls Royce put in another v12 in 1998. Although car chassis production was stopped in 1939, the last car was made in 1947. A total of 727 cars were manufactured, many of which survive to this day.
Phantom IV (1950-1956)
The fourth generation of Phantom is notable for two major reasons. Firstly, it was the first Rolls Royce Phantom to be built after the World War II where most of the company resources were diverted. Secondly, very few cars were made and only for the rich and elite. Only 18 cars were produced over a span of 6 years which brings the number to 3 cars per year. Surprisingly, 16 of these cars have survived. The fact is ironic considering Rolls Royce had initially intended to discontinue the Phantom line after the world war II. The car had an inline 8 cylinder engine with a 5700 cubit capacity.
Phantom V
516 units of the Phantom V were built from 1959 to 1963. The car had a 6230cc V8 engine. The gearbox for the car was borrowed from General Motors. The heaviest of all the phantoms, very few examples of this car exist. The most famous of the Phantom V's was owned by the John Lennon of the Beatles fame.
Phantom VI
374 units of the Phantom VI were built between 1968 and 1990. The sixth generation was also in production for the longest time of all phantoms totalling 21 years. Two engines were installed on this car, A 6.2 litre v8 and a 6.75 litre v8.More Phantom VI were also built as late as 1995 till 1997 for the sultan of Brunei. THis was the last car manufactured before the BMW era of Rolls Royce began.
Phantom VII
The first Phantom built under BMW ownership was the Phantom VII. The car is still in production from 2003. The BMW era Phantom is also the first Phantom to not have a 4 speed gearbox but a hi-tech 6 speed automatic and 8 speed zf sourced automatic boxes. The engine is a 6.75 litre v12. The car is available in 44000 paint shades. Also it is ithe only car in the world to provide a power reserve indicator akin to an Automatic watch. A record 1000+ phantom Vii units were sold in 2007. A 2013 version has been launched by Rolls Royce as Series II with major updates.
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