Lot 182 - 2005 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII

• Special order from the Rolls-Royce factory
• Special colour Black Adder Blue
• Recent major service and other works

A historic model in the continuing history of the Rolls-Royce marque, the Phantom was the first all new design to be introduced by the company following its takeover by BMW. Produced at a new factory near Goodwood in Sussex, the Phantom revived a great name from Rolls-Royce's past that had always been synonymous with unrestrained luxury. In keeping with the tradition established by previous Phantoms, the newcomer was a very large motor car, outstretching the old Silver Seraph (the last Crewe-built Rolls-Royce) by 18" while boasting a radiator shell 4" taller. Priced at around £260,000 at time of launch, it was also 40% more expensive. At 140 ½”, the new car's wheelbase was only fractionally shorter than that of the superseded Phantom VI that had ceased production in the 1990s; gone however, was the old pushrod V8 engine, its place being taken by an all-new 48 valve V12 of 6.7 litre capacity. Despite being normally aspirated, the latter produced 460bhp, comfortably exceeding the old engine's maximum when turbo-charged, albeit at a high 5,300 revolutions. This abundance of power was transmitted to the rear axle via a six-speed automatic gearbox, while air-sprung suspension and automatic level control ensured that ride quality remained uncompromised. While the body structure represented the ultimate in automotive technology, its accoutrements remained entirely traditional in choice of materials, consisting of the finest hide trim, genuine woollen carpets, and carefully selected wood veneers.

This lovely Rolls-Royce Phantom VII was supplied directly from the Goodwood factory with a special ordered paint scheme of Black Adder Blue, a tan leather interior and light wood veneer, the car was also supplied with privacy glass to the rear and picnic tables. The current owner believes that the first owner was the actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson. This Phantom was looked after and serviced by P & A Wood in Great Easton, Dunmow, Essex up to December 2012. Shortly after that the car changed hands, it was wrapped in white and that is how it remained with little use, only 20,000 miles over the next ten years. The current owner purchased this Phantom in March 2016 when the car had covered 100,000 miles. In November 2021 he sent the car to Rolls-Royce Cars Manchester at 108,807 miles where they carried out a major service, fitted a new battery, a new radiator and auxiliary water pump, replaced the alternator seals, fitted a new SRS system wiring loom, changed the charcoal EVAP filter and replaced a number of the chrome body trims, the bill for this work came to over £15,000. When the owner decided to sell this Phantom, he had the body-wrap removed, this showed that the body was in very good condition, although it damaged the paint lacquer, so he had the car repainted matching the original Black Adder Blue paint. This Rolls-Royce is supplied with a new set of 18” wheels with new tyres, a V5C registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in October 2024, the owner’s manual with service history and copies of the 2021 invoice from Rolls-Royce Manchester.