During 2025, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will commemorate 100 years of the legendary Phantom the marque’s most celebrated model line and a key symbol of handcrafted automotive luxury. Building on a century of craftsmanship, engineering and personalisation, the Phantom continues to deliver the ability for clients to create a bespoke motor car around an elevated sense of individual spirit and vision. At the special milestone of 100 years, each Phantom built at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood in 2025 will feature a commemorative chassis plaque celebrating this iconic model line.

But this anniversary year promises to be much more than that. Rolls-Royce has commissioned unique cars, revisited its past, brought together cultural insights, and announced a series of guest appearances at major motoring shows. The celebrations will include a new way of revealing the Phantom to the world, examining its design, innovation, and inspiration over each of the eight generations, along with close links to influential figures, pioneering art movements, and memorable stories. All of which show how the flagship car has stood the test of time.

Featured stories include bespoke pieces inspired by and based upon cultural traditions, family relationships, and moments of great meaning as well as the release of the Phantom Centenary Private Collection. These initiatives demonstrate how the marque fuses traditional craftsmanship and modern processes to translate an individual’s vision into a bespoke automobile. The company aims to bring together date-based storytelling, artistic endeavour and its latest bespoke proposition to give this centenary celebration an enduring significance.

1. A Century of Excellence: The Phantom Retrospective

Rolls-Royce began a retrospective of its history on January 14, as the foundation for the 100th anniversary of the roll out of its flagship car, the phantom. Each generation of phantom was shown as a luxury car, fitting the era that pioneered it: its introduction in 1925, up to the present day globally renowned automobile. The evolution of the Phantom has seen it grow in size, in mechanical engineering, in the design of its chassis and the refinement of the vehicle. However, it is still about delivering seamless power, and superb comfort, and subtly controlled driving characteristics. The retrospective showed how Rolls-Royce has evolved its flagship to the modern car.

The Engineering Principles Behind Its Legacy:

• Eight generations of Phantom development
• Original introduction in 1925
• Continuous advances in mechanical engineering
• Focus on comfort and refinement
• Craftsmanship across changing automotive eras

The Phantom’s journey reveals how a luxury car can change and develop without ever losing its core. As each Phantom progressed, new engineering and vehicle technologies enabled it to meet present-day needs while always remaining dedicated to providing refinement a cornerstone of ownership. This commitment to change helped the Phantom remain the ultimate expression of ownership at Rolls-Royce for a century. The retrospective has also shown that the Phantom’s stature has always had more than technology behind it. Refinement, craftsmanship and a constant desire to deliver the best possible products all play a role. Using the journey of the model from 1925, the centenary presentation offered a new angle on the luxury motoring giant the Phantom has become.

2. Phantom Dragon: A Bespoke Tribute to Cultural Heritage

The unveiling of this 1-of-1 Phantom Extended commission was announced on January 15 to commemorate the Year of the Dragon, taking inspiration from an Chinese myth of two dragons surrounding a pearl. In blending elements of a historical Chinese legend into this modern luxury car, Rolls-Royce exemplified how the past can influence the present to create a unique bespoke work of art. The story is the key focus of the commission’s design. Artful specifications of materials, embellishment and subtle artistic touches extend the cultural theme around the vehicle. Instead of one decorative element, the project uses the concept to build a visual language.

Cultural Details Behind the Exclusive Commission:

• One-of-one Phantom Extended commission
• Year of the Dragon inspiration
• Ancient Chinese legend and symbolism
• Intricate bespoke decorative details
• Traditional heritage with modern luxury

The Phantom Dragon shows how a personal idea or concept can carry a character throughout a vehicle. The design combines tradition with the attention to detail associated with a Rolls-Royce to create an artwork that reads the story in the language of its visual details. Bespoke design is more than just colour and materials. In addition to the centenary festivities, the commission revealed the significance of the bespoke offerings from Rolls-Royce. Rather than a specification with a handful of optional extras, the unique stylistic vision provided the basis for a one of a kind car. The Phantom Dragon was thus a demonstration of how the program would celebrate ‘individuality’ in the model’s milestones.

3. Phantom Cherry Blossom: Preserving a Personal Memory

This handcrafted Phantom Extended was launched on 2 nd April and takes its inspiration from the iconic Japanese sakura cherry blossom. The commission was rooted in a Japanese customer’s early memories of seeing cherry blossom and seeks to encapsulate a fleeting moment of delicate beauty into an enduring automotive tribute. It shows how instinctual natural imagery and experiential history can drive and inform luxury design. Thoughtful manufacturing links seasonal influence and nostalgic memories for the client, local cultural identity becomes a touchstone in the known shape of the Phantom. An expression of personal significance without sacrificing the sophistication of the model.

The Inspiration Behind Its Floral Design:

• Japanese sakura blossom inspiration
• Personal memories of springtime
• Bespoke Phantom Extended commission
• Natural beauty expressed through craftsmanship
• Lasting tribute to a fleeting moment

Phantom Cherry Blossom illustrates the emotional potential of a custom build. Rather than just focussing on otherworldly exclusivity and premium materials, the commission is based on a very personal memory. The interaction between both client and inspiration lends the finished product a meaning far more profound than its exterior. Translating a transient natural phenomenon into more deliberate details, however, Rolls-Royce made a permanent statement of a personal experience. It demonstrates the potential for cultural insight to enrich a luxury car in a way that doesn’t read as superficial. As part of the centenary programme, it presents a tasteful precedent for good craftsmanship in the preservation of an important memory.

4. Phantom: A Century of Power and Influence

2 May, Phantom: A Century of Power & Influence The model’s historical significance in world culture was the subject of this retrospective which, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the world premiere of the first Phantom in 1925, looked at how the nameplate was linked to accomplishment, status and influence over the generations, broadening its identity in the process. During its existence, The Phantom was linked to some of the biggest names in history, from political figures to screen idols, to world famous musicians and artists. Those connections created the model’s connection to public life and popular culture, and introduced the model to audiences outside traditional automotive circles.

People and Moments That Shaped Its Reputation:

• A century of cultural influence
• Connections with heads of state
• Appearances alongside celebrated film stars
• Associations with musicians and artists
• Recognition as a symbol of prestige

The retrospective considered the role that owners and drivers of Phantoms had in larger cultural phenomena. By that, its goal was to connect the model to leadership, entertainment and artistry at various points in time. Such connections established an identity for the vehicle that went far beyond specifications and design. Like the car’s technical and styling evolution, its cultural impact has grown over the years. Perhaps with a little help from the effect in the lives of the powerful, the Phantom nameplate became familiar even to those less enamoured of the motor car. The centenary report revealed why the Phantom remains an iconic name in luxury motoring.

5. Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este: A Celebration on Lake Como

1 / 4 On 24 May, Rolls-Royce brought the unique anniversary Phantoms to Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the legendary motoring gathering staged beside Italy’s Lake Como. A fitting backdrop for the presence of the model that symbolises the company’s ongoing commitment to style, precision engineering, and timeless design. Its historic context cemented the link with the centenary programme. The anniversary cars were exhibited alongside a captivating selection of vintage and modern cars, providing visitors with an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of design over the years and the enduring relevance of the Phantom. It also demonstrated the opportunities for modern commissions.

Highlights of the Italian Automotive Showcase:

• Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
• Anniversary Phantoms beside Lake Como
• Vintage and contemporary automotive displays
• Bespoke design and craftsmanship
• A century of Phantom heritage

The collective also allowed enthusiasts to admire the Phantom as a genuine collector’s car and design statement. With a place among some of the world’s greatest cars, it underscored the significance of the nameplate within the global concours community. The anniversary showcase also highlighted how contemporary interpretation can be rooted in automotive history. The opportunity to take part in the Italian event was another means of sharing the long-standing history of the Phantom with an audience of connoisseurs of fine design and craftsmanship. The juxtaposition of historic vehicles with contemporary commissions demonstrated how luxury automotive design can evolve while maintaining a recognisable, continuing identity. As such, the event bridged the long history of the Phantom with its contemporary future.

6. Phantom Dentelle: A Personal Gift Through Bespoke Craftsmanship

The Phantom Dentelle, revealed on 3 July, is a unique commission created through the Rolls-Royce Private Office in Dubai. A Middle Eastern client planned the floral-inspired model as a gift for their father, with the vehicle’s purpose giving greater emphasis to family relationships and personal appreciation than a luxury purchase. The workings of a private project demonstrates how the regional Private Office teams work with the clients to create a bespoke idea. The story of the owner and the vehicle can be quite personal and may impact the choice of materials and trim, as well as the visual appearance of the commission. The final piece will be a true reflection of the donation.

Personal Meaning Behind the Floral Commission:

• One-of-one Phantom Dentelle creation
• Rolls-Royce Private Office in Dubai
• Floral-inspired bespoke design
• Commissioned as a father’s gift
• Personalized details reflecting family appreciation

The Phantom Dentelle illustrates how a bespoke piece of hand-crafted work can imbue a luxury car with greater emotional meaning. Its flower motif represents the reasons it was given as a gift and the fact that it is a one-off means that it is set apart from the cars built as a part of the car’s production run. In the broader centenary programme, the commission revealed a different perspective on luxury. While materials, exclusivity and technical finesse continue to matter, the significance of a vehicle may be just as important to its owner. Where the Phantom Dentelle took a family gesture and made it permanent, it showcased the importance of history to Rolls-Royce’s bespoke ethos.

7. Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival Displays

Rolls-Royce 2. New for this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the company exhibited a selection of contemporary Bespoke Phantom commissions from 10-13 July 2014. Bringing the event close to HQ, the display allowed visitors to better understand how classical luxury design is challenged and evolved through new commissions. And the celebrations carried on at Goodwood Revival from September 12-14. A key element of the event’s ties to vintage motoring tradition, the Revival presented yet another chance for the car’s modern legacy to sit alongside its automotive ancestors; in unison, both events served to shed light on the story behind the model.

Two Events Connecting Past and Present:

• Goodwood Festival of Speed display
• Contemporary bespoke Phantom commissions
• Festival dates from July 10 to 13
• Goodwood Revival from September 12 to 14
• Connections with historic motoring culture

The Festival of Speed show demonstrated the diverse ways that the options available through the customisation programme enable. Guests could understand how different design decisions can be explored while still retaining the inherent character of the Phantom. The show also offered an opportunity for guests to make the link between the work of the modern craftsman and the marque’s rich history. The Goodwood Revival provided a historical lens to the celebrations. With its emphasis on the history of motoring, the Revival gave a historical counterpoint to the contemporary commission work of the Festival of Speed, enabling the two events to convey different aspects of the story of the Phantom. Rolls-Royce delivered the message of the centenary through these two events to different audiences.

8. Exploring Art, Music, Culture, and Bespoke Design

Cultural stories were part of the centenary programme, exploring the Phantom’s links with art, music and tailor-made design. These stories extended beyond engineering into the wider context of art, culture and design, exploring the role played by the model in a century of artistic achievement, and how the model made its way into the hearts of creative minds. For example, ties to screen idols and musicians, world leaders, and visionary artists, along with other links to the wider world, enabled the Phantom to be placed within a cultural context rather than simply a motoring one. The program also looked at the effect art inspiration can have on individual bespoke commissions.

Cultural Connections Beyond Automotive Engineering:

• Connections with art and music
• Influence across popular culture
• Associations with creative figures
• Artistic inspiration for bespoke commissions
• Personal expression through vehicle design

From the cultural point of view the Phantom turns into something more than a showcase. Its design serves as a stage for the enthusiast to add a personal touch of colour, a reminder from elsewhere, or a work of art in the form of a reference that will remain in the finished car by virtue of a bespoke commission. Connecting Phantom and creative achievement, Rolls-Royce established the new car as a convergence of engineering, skilled craftsmanship, and creative identity. The cultural implications contribute to understanding why the nameplate still resonates well outside the automotive world. The 100-year anniversary articulated this broader significance with the self-expression still defining bespoke cars.

9. Phantom Centenary Private Collection: Distinctive Exterior Design

The Phantom Centenary Private Collection was a 25-car limited edition of sedans inspired by Hollywood’s glorious era. Created to celebrate a century of the nameplate, the collection fuses unique exterior finishes with well-designed centenary elements and details. It’s a special take on the 100-year anniversary, available in a limited run. A two-tone effect emerges on the exterior, with polished black and Arctic White painted in a finish enriched with a Super Champagne Crystal coat with crunched glass, allowing the paintwork to shimmer and giving the bodywork greater depth. Details are precious-metal: the Spirit of Ecstasy is solidly cast in 18-karat gold with the figure plated in 24-karat gold, and badges are finished with white enamel and edged in 24-karat gold.

Exterior Details Marking One Hundred Years:

• Limited production of 25 sedans
• Arctic White and black paintwork
• Super Champagne Crystal crushed-glass finish
• Gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy ornament
• Custom disc wheels with anniversary engravings

Custom disc wheels on the Phantom also reference the car’s 100-year legacy. Custom disc wheels have 25 engraved lines and 4 wheels for a total of 100 engraved lines. The lines are applied on the wheel to turn the number of the anniversary into a physical detail and not just commemorative badging. Collectively, this special paint treatment, the use of precious-metal components and engraved wheels create a unique exterior identity for the collection. Every element contributes to the overall Centenary Private Collection design theme, and yet they all come together as a cohesive tribute to the history of the car, making the Centenary Private Collection look extremely exclusive.

10. Phantom Centenary Private Collection: Interior Craftsmanship

In the interior, the embroidery, the unique materials and the artwork detail. The fabric of the rear bench is embroidered with 160,000 stitches to illustrate moments of Phantom history. The back of the leather seats is laser-engraved with motifs inspired by the project’s codenames “Roger Rabbit” and the seagull logo of the 1923 prototype. Every inch of the dashboard’s custom-made Gallery is composed of 50 3-D printed brushed-aluminum fins engraved with quotes from the press coverage. Stained Blackwood door panels utilize gold leaf and 3-D marquetry detailing of the early journeys of Sir Henry Royce. Above, the Starlight headliner includes a mulberry tree made from 440,000 stitches and a white V12 engine cover finished with 24-karat gold.

Interior Details That Tell Phantom’s Story:

• Rear bench with 160,000-plus stitches
• Laser-etched historical seat motifs
• Fifty printed aluminum dashboard fins
• Gold-leaf Blackwood door marquetry
• Starlight headliner with 440,000 stitches

These features highlight the planning and specialised skill that went into designing the centrepiece interior. Using embroidery, laser etching, metalwork and marquetry, the design combines a number of techniques to narrate the story of the Phantom in the aircraft cabin. The historical references provide the link to key landmarks in the marque’s history. Inside, the passenger cabin has been made into a loving homage to the marque’s history. Instead of being limited to an individual anniversary crest, the attention to detail has been lavished across the entire interior, from the seats and dashboard, to the doors and headliner. Through a mixture of materials, processes and references, it shows how a luxury vehicle interior can be curated in tribute to 100 years of craftsmanship.