Rolls-Royce's 118th anniversary A look back at the illusory history

Henry Rice and Charles Rouse first met on May 4, 1904, and have been around for 118 years.

Co-founded by Henry Rice and Charles Rolls, Rolls-Royce Cars has built the "best car in the world" that has been hailed by the media as "the best car in the world". To this day, every Rolls-Royce product still upholds this concept and stands tall.

The Rolls-Royce Flagship Phantom continues to evolve with the rapid development of automotive craftsmanship, artistic aesthetics and power technology, aiming to perfectly interpret the ultimate luxury of Rolls-Royce.

Sir Henry Rice firmly believes that "details make perfect, but perfection doesn't stop at the details." The Rolls-Royce Eighth Generation Phantom is a perfect reflection of this spirit.

"The Phantom not only highlights rolls-royce's legacy, but also wins the unique favor and love of Rolls-Royce customers." As the most eclectic and innovative model of Rolls-Royce Bespoke Haute Couture, all the imagination of customers can be transformed into reality on the illusion. The Mirage is not only praised by the media as 'the best car in the world', but also the best choice for exclusive customers. ”

— Toston Muller Utfords, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motors

In 1904, The founder of Rolls-Royce Cars, Henry Rice, and Charles Rolls met for the first time at the Midlands Hotel in Manchester, England, and the immortal legend began. 2022 marks the 118th anniversary of this glorious history.

Rice's engineering talent and Rolls's marketing talent collided with unlimited sparks, Rolls-Royce cars soon gained the reputation of "the world's best car" manufacturer, more than a hundred years later, the reputation is still there, the style is still undiminished.

Today, Rolls-Royce's flagship is the Phantom, which brings to life the ultimate in luxury and handcrafted craftsmanship in Bespoke Haute Couture at Goodwood Rolls-Royce House. Every year, Rolls-Royce traces back to the origins and unique heritage of the brand, and this time the focus is on the phantom. Let the times change, in the name of phantoms, look at the outstanding history of the Rolls-Royce brand.

Brilliant origins

In the early days of the automotive industry, luxury car manufacturers only produced mechanical components such as chassis (including engines, transmissions, body chassis, etc.) as the basis for automobile manufacturing, and body manufacturers designed and manufactured body according to customer customization needs.

At the time, design and engineering improvements for automakers, including Rolls-Royce, were designed and engineered almost exclusively to improve the technical performance of the car, including stability, climbing ability, handling and a range of ride qualities such as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

Since the beginning of the automotive industry, Mirage has earned the reputation of "the best car in the world", and its chassis is of excellent quality and design, which is an excellent platform for bodybuilders to refine their skills.

Technological innovation

In 1925, the first generation of Rolls-Royce Phantoms appeared, opening the immortal legend of the Phantom Family. With low-range torque, cutting-edge technology and a "magic carpet ride experience", the first generation of Phantoms has resolutely continued its century-old glory. But Rolls-Royce never stuck with the old ways, and in 1929 succeeded in creating the next generation of phantoms.

In 1930, the second generation of the Mirage Continental arrived, symbolizing another major revolution in engineering technology. Rolls-Royce offers a high-performance version for customers who love driving passion, as well as a long wheelbase version for customers who love exclusive and comfortable driving. Today, Rolls-Royce still creates standard wheelbase and long wheelbase versions for the Mirage to choose from.

At lightning speed

At the time, the new Rolls-Royce Continental could reach speeds of 95 mph, but in order to strive for perfection, Sir Rice designed a 7.3-liter V12 engine based on his extensive experience in aero engines, which won with one hit and made history. The third-generation Phantom with the V12 engine and lightweight body architecture breaks through the 100 mph speed constraint.

In 1939, Rice produced an experimental car nicknamed "The Scalded Cat." For years to come, the car was often used as a celebrity car, including Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke was fascinated by this and wanted Rolls-Royce to build a more dignified version of the model for him. Rolls-Royce delivered the first fourth-generation Phantom in July 1950. Although the number of public appearances of the car has decreased, it is still used as a royal car, shouldering the task of traveling to the British royal family. Its pre-production code name is "Maharajah". Although originally specially built as an exclusive model, Rolls-Royce introduced a total of 18 fourth-generation Mirages. Of these, 17 were designed for the royal family and heads of state, while the other was a special pickup truck for transport and road component testing.

A new chapter in luxury

In 1959, Rolls-Royce introduced the fifth-generation Mirage, which was powered by the most advanced V8 engine at the time. In 1967, based on the technical adjustment of the fifth generation of phantoms, the sixth generation of phantoms turned out to be born.

In 1968, Rolls-Royce's company Mulliner Park Ward became Britain's last bodybuilder. Exclusive body customization services continued until the mid-1980s, when production was reduced to just two to three vehicles per year, before production was discontinued in 1992.

Vision come true

Until the sixth generation of Mirage, each of the early Mirage models used a rolling chassis. Based on the owner's requirements, the bodywork is customised by the most prestigious body manufacturers in the UK and even In Europe.

Although body customization was common in luxury car manufacturing at the time, thanks to Sir Rice's outstanding engineering and superior chassis components and body construction, Phantom was proud of its top quality, weight and sophistication in the luxury car industry.

At every stage of the Mirage's development, owners can reach their full potential to create a gorgeous, uninhibited and exclusive car. Since the chassis is manufactured separately from the body, subsequent owners can change the appearance of the car based on their individual needs.

Many phantoms carry a long history, with footprints all over the world. Over time, the appearance of the vehicle often changes: sometimes it is just repainted; sometimes the body is rebuilt in its entirety, which can be described as a rebirth. Despite its own characteristics, each of the following phantoms represents rolls-Royce's excellent quality in terms of vehicle engineering, application materials, vehicle construction, performance, driving experience and comfort, and perfectly meets the needs of the owner.

1930 – Second Generation Phantom (62GY)

The rolls-royce second-generation phantom bodywork was created by London-based body builder Hooper and features a double-ventilated hood station wagon body. The owner of the car, a texas wood merchant, was assigned 50 additional features to meet travel needs, with larger fuel tank capacity, a louvered hood, and a radiator two inches higher than standard. The owner ordered the car specifically for his honeymoon, and accompanied by the second generation of phantoms, traveled across the European continent until 1939. The current owner purchased the car in 1998 and subsequently won prestigious awards such as the Louis Vuitton Classic Perfume Givenchy Pre-War Station Wagon Award and Biarritz's "Best Sport Station Wagon".

1933 – 2nd Mirage Continental (55MW)

Body builder Park Ward has taken a unique approach to introduce a "hidden canopy boat body" design for this model, the main feature of which is that when the folding canopy is completely retracted, it can be perfectly hidden under the rear hatch, making the body line smooth and unique. Initially, the interior of the model was made of woven pork skin.

1933 – 3rd Generation Phantom (3BT103)

The third-generation Phantom is an unparalleled two-door coupe created exclusively by bodybuilder HJ Mulliner for Apresley Cherry Gallard, one of the surviving members of Captain Scott's last Antarctic expedition in 1912. The third-generation Phantom was originally made in pale yellow with an interior of dyed Vaulmol leather. In the late 1940s, the vehicle was repainted in black. The third generation of Phantom masters included legendary actor Sir Ralph Richardson, who has since moved to Wales and the United States. He returned to Britain in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but was forgotten in the barn. In 2018, the third-generation phantom changed owners again, and the new owner used the original parts, including the original numbered engine parts, to reshape the third-generation phantom and revitalize it.

1937 – Third Generation Phantom (3BT85)

London bodybuilder Hopper created the body in a striking split-piece sedan. The car features a semi-razor-edge shape and a smooth dive curve that doesn't dampen even when stationary. The car's artistically designed chrome body and wings are more agile.

1965 – Fifth Generation Phantom (5VD63)

The Fifth Generation Phantom was originally owned by RAF Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Bathrop. In 1968, coinciding with the release of the Beatles' "White Album," John Lennon bought the car from Bathrop. In September 1969, Lennon sold the car to American businessman Alan Klein.

The car has made stunning appearances in the Oscar-winning film The George Girl (1966), the Beatles classic Nature (1970), Mick Jaeger's Psychedelic Show (1970) and Anthony Quinn's Greek Tycoon (1978).

In 2016, after a deep restoration, Jody Klein, a longtime member of the Rolls-Royce Car Enthusiasts Club, took the car to the Lincolnshire Antique Motor Show and won the "Best in Class" championship trophy. The car is now located in the United Kingdom.

1966 - Sixth Generation Phantom (5LVF65)

The sixth-generation Mirage 5LVF65 bodywork was created by James Young, a body builder founded in 1863 who was known for his elegant body customization and the PV23 body design. The design was originally created exclusively for the fifth-generation Phantom chassis, with a total of 22 units created for the body.

The bodywork is usually black, but the sixth-generation Mirage 5LVF65 is further enhanced by a lighter ivory hue. F. McNeill designs lines with classic and elegance.

The interior of the car is designed with a very spacious cockpit space, and the fine fine wood process is used under the window slots. Compared to leather, which is similar in color and extremely elastic, the champagne-coloured woven passenger compartment creates superior comfort and an immersive ride.

2015 – 7th Generation Mirage (Mirage "Quiet Silk" Special Edition model)

Rolls-Royce created a gorgeous and dazzling 7th-generation Mirage Bespoke Haute Couture model for the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show. Inspired by the luxury cars created by internationally renowned royalty in the early 20th century, this seventh-generation phantom features a unique smoky green raw silk rear seats that feature a unique pattern of hand-woven, hand-embroidered and hand-painted Chinoiserie flowers, and the interior takes up to 600 hours. This design is also reflected in the rear door trim and studded trim. Smoked cherry wood and bamboo elements echo the sloping gravel in the Japanese garden, creating a quiet and natural atmosphere inside the car. With the advent of the seventh generation of phantoms, shell topcoats also made their debut, and shell topcoats are also the most complex and expensive products ever produced by the Rolls-Royce brand.

2021 – The 8th Generation Phantom (Phantom "Weaving Yaki" Collector's Edition)

Rolls-Royce and Hermès have teamed up to create a unique phantom "Weaving Yaki" collector's edition for Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. The Phantom "Weaving Yaki" Collector's Edition features a custom-made two-tone exterior finish inspired by today's collection of Japanese antique "woven ware" porcelain from Maezawa Yusaku's collection. The lacquer tone of the Phantom "Weaving Yakitori" Collector's Edition was also used on the client's private jet.

The interior of the Phantom "Weaving Yakitori" Collector's Edition is mainly designed by Hermès craftsmen, and its whole is wrapped in Hermès leather. The motifs of the "Art Collection" gallery in the car are based on the design of the famous French artist and illustrator Pierre Perón (1905-1988). Pierre Perón has created several iconic Hermès scarves.

Classic rebirth

On January 1, 2003, the first Seventh-Generation Phantom was delivered to owners, the first model produced by Goodwood's new Rolls-Royce House. The Seventh Generation Phantom is a new and modern interpretation of the iconic body line proportions designed by Sir Henry Rice himself, created by Rolls-Royce, and the standard monolithic body replaces the body separation customization. Handcrafted by a team of highly skilled craftsmen, it preserves the brand's important heritage. In addition, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Haute Couture is like a phantom that customers can use to the fullest.

In a 13-year product cycle, the seventh generation of Mirage has consolidated Rolls-Royce's position as the world's top ultra-luxury car manufacturer and further proved that Phantom deserved to be Rolls-Royce's flagship. With the same philosophy as ever before, Rolls-Royce's designers and engineers aim for perfection and never stop, which makes the phantom endless.

In 2016, Rolls-Royce launched the eighth generation of phantoms. It is the first Rolls-Royce to be built on an all-aluminium bodyspace architecture based on a "luxury architecture" that will also be used for all future models produced at Goodwood.

The eighth generation of phantoms is designed to perfectly interpret the ultimate luxury of Bespoke haute couture. Rolls-Royce designers, engineers and artisans were able to experiment with technology on the models. The eighth-generation Mirage is also the only Rolls-Royce model to carry the "Art Gallery", whose entire dashboard is inlaid with sealed glass, where owners can hide their custom art masterpieces.