Rolls-Royce Phantom 100, celebrated as an icon of art and luxury

For 100 years, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has been more than a luxury car. It has been a silent witness to history, a stage for artists, and a canvas for self-expression.

The Phantom, Rolls-Royce’s flagship model, marks its centenary in 2025. Over eight generations, it has been driven, painted, and even reimagined by some of the world’s most celebrated creatives.

“Phantom has moved in the same circles as the greatest artists,” said Chris Brownridge, Rolls-Royce Chief Executive. “It is both a motor car and a cultural icon.”

From Salvador Dalí filling a Phantom with 500 kg of cauliflowers for a Paris stunt in 1955, to Andy Warhol buying a 1937 model on impulse in Zurich, the car has long been linked with eccentric genius. Dalí even illustrated a surreal Phantom frozen in ice in his 1934 artwork Les Chants de Maldoror.

The car itself has also been displayed in galleries worldwide, including London’s Saatchi Gallery and New York’s Smithsonian Design Museum. Dame Laura Knight, the first woman elected to the Royal Academy of Arts, famously used her Phantom as a mobile studio at British racecourses.

At Monterey Car Week later this month, Rolls-Royce will gather Phantoms from all eight generations for a showcase at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. “This is not just about cars,” Brownridge added. “It is about creativity, legacy, and the power of design to inspire.”

The Phantom’s centenary comes at a time when most luxury cars struggle to remain relevant. Yet, Rolls-Royce says the majority of Phantoms ever built are still in operation, evidence of its endurance. Collectors and artists alike continue to see it as more than a vehicle, but as a piece of living art.

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