In 2003, when Rolls-Royce revived the Phantom name, there was at least as much at stake as in 1925 when the first “New Phantom,” as it was initially known, became the range-topping standard bearer for a company already world renowned for luxury, sophistication and craftsmanship. Once more, Rolls-Royce was, in a way, returning to its very earliest roots, devoting all of its resources to producing a single model, on which its entire reputation would depend. The Phantom that emerged in 2003 after four years of development re-invigorated the brand and restored the company’s credibility. Yet, more was to come with the arrival, in 2007, of the drophead coupe, which also took four years to refine into a production version and was considerably more costly at $412,000. The transformation from a relatively formal sedan created something altogether more “exuberant,” as Chief Designer Ian Cameron put it. The convertible is lower and sleeker, belying its 220.8-inch length, and it shares barely any body panels with the sedan, not least those signature rear-hinged doors. Its profile, accented with a swooping hockey-stick flourish, conceals thicker sills and extra crossmembers that endowed it with torsional rigidity very close to that of the sedan. The Phantom’s 6.75L V-12 produced a prodigious 453 HP, which translated into sports car performance and a 150 MPH top speed. Each of the largely hand-built Phantoms features a sumptuous powered convertible top, automatic transmission, navigation systems, dual-zone climate control, heated leather seats and a heated steering wheel among its specifications. Yet, no two are quite alike, as final assembly was completed to each buyer’s individual specification, as is evident in this 2008 example presented in black with a tan leather interior. In this case, one of the most striking features is the wooden convertible top cover, which, with its dark inserts, resembles the deck of a classic yacht. This bespoke example shows an odometer reading of just 29,900 miles. Something else perhaps worthy of consideration is that when the model ceased production in 2016, it cost $533,000, and in 2007, the first Phantom delivered to the U.S. sold for $2 million in a charity auction.
