Car Collector International
Classic · 1950–2017

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Sixty-seven years of the top Rolls-Royce model line — from the 18-car royalty-only Phantom IV to the 10,327-unit BMW-era Phantom VII.

LimousineLandauletteSedanca de VilleCabrioletCoupeDrophead Coupe
Car Collector International Editorial
Rolls-Royce Phantom
OverviewVariants & SpecsCollector VariantsBuyer's GuideWhat to PayOwnershipCommon ProblemsValuationAuction ResultsInvestment OutlookRecommended Network
Overview

Why this car matters

This guide covers the four separately-numbered Phantom generations that ran, without direct commercial overlap, from 1950 to 2017: the coachbuilt straight-eight Phantom IV (1950–1956, 18 chassis built), the V8-powered Phantom V (1959–1968, 516 or 518 built — see sourcing note) and its Phantom VI successor (1968–1990/91, 374 built) — the last body-on-frame Rolls-Royces to leave Crewe — and the BMW-era Phantom VII (2003–2017, 10,327 delivered) built at the purpose-built Goodwood plant. The 1998–2002 hiatus between Phantom VI and VII coincided with the Volkswagen/BMW split of Rolls-Royce and Bentley; there was no Phantom in production during those years.

Sourcing note: production figures are drawn from the most authoritative sources actually fetched for this review. Phantom IV — 18 chassis per the Wikipedia infobox and chassis-by-chassis table (citing Bennett, Rolls-Royce & Bentley: The Crewe Years, 3rd ed. 2011). Phantom V — Verify, genuinely unresolved between two independently-supported totals with a 22-unit gap on the largest coachbuilder category.

Camp A (518, Dalton breakdown): Wikipedia infobox and body text state 518, citing Dalton, Rolls-Royce: The Elegance Continues (Dalton Watson Fine Books, 2005, p. 258, ISBN 1-85443-208-7). Breakdown: James Young 197 / Mulliner Park Ward 174 / Park Ward 133 / H.J. Mulliner 9 / Other (Hooper, Chapron, Woodall Nicholson) 5.

Camp B (516, Coachbuild/Powerhouse breakdown): The Powerhouse Museum object record for chassis 5VD81 (collection.powerhouse.com.au object 212035, curator Margaret Simpson) states 516 total and Mulliner Park Ward 152, and explicitly credits 'chassis, body and test cards from Rolls-Royce Ltd, Crewe, provided by David Davis, Trustee, Sir Henry Royce Foundation, Australia, 2012' as its source — i.e. factory build records, not a secondary monograph. Coachbuild.com's James Young Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine encyclopedia entry (live URL 404 as of this review; recovered from Wayback Machine snapshot 2022-05-25 at web.archive.org/web/20220525035749/https://coachbuild.com/index.php/encyclopedia/coachbuilders-models/item/james-young-rolls-royce-phantom-v-limousine) states verbatim: 'The series achieved overall production of 516 examples between 1959 and 1968. Park Ward, now fully owned by Rolls-Royce, made 156 bodies. In 1962, H.J. Mulliner and Park ward were merged by Rolls-Royce, forming Mulliner-Park Ward. A number of 152 bodies were built by this new entity. Prior to the merger, only eight Phantom Vs were made by H.J. Mulliner. As a moderately successful independent company James Young maintained themselves with 195 bodies.' That gives 195 + 156 + 152 + 8 = 511, with the residual 5 attributable to Hooper, Chapron and Woodall Nicholson — arithmetically consistent with the Powerhouse Museum's 516 total. Classic Cars Fandom Wiki independently states 516 (uncited).

832 outlier — repeated, not one-off: The figure of 832 Phantom Vs appears on Hagerty's own valuation-tool page (hagerty.com/valuation-tools/rolls~royce/phantom_v/1968/1968-rolls~royce-phantom_v-hj_mulliner: 'A total of 832 Phantom V examples were built in 10 years') and in an RM Sotheby's Auburn Fall 2020 lot description (r0130). It is contradicted by every other source retrieved (Wikipedia, Powerhouse Museum, Coachbuild.com, Classic Cars Wiki) and is not treated as a credible third total, but its appearance on Hagerty means it should be recognised as a repeated error propagating across at least two reputable industry sources rather than dismissed as a one-off catalogue typo. Buyers relying on Hagerty valuation pages should be aware the model overview text is materially wrong on this figure.

RM Sotheby's separately cites 217 James Young cars in two independent lot descriptions (Auburn Fall 2020 r0130; Driving into Summer 2020 r0009); this contradicts both Dalton (197) and Coachbuild (195) and is uncited. The 2-unit gap between 516 and 518, the 22-unit gap on Mulliner Park Ward (152 vs 174), and the ~20-unit gap on James Young (195/197 vs 217) cannot be resolved from public sources; the RREC members-only chassis register is the definitive arbiter. All figures and their sources are shown in the variants list below. Phantom VI — 374 per Wikipedia (citing rrsilverspirit.com), corroborated by RM Sotheby's Auburn Fall 2019 catalogue for chassis PRH4578; ConceptCarz implies 372 via a different derivation (890 combined V+VI − 518 V = 372) and this two-car discrepancy is flagged as Verify. Phantom VII — 10,327 deliveries 2003 through end-of-production January 2017, per the Wikipedia production table drawn from BMW Group annual reports; per-body-style lifetime splits (SWB vs. EWB vs. Coupé vs. Drophead) are not published in any source retrieved and are not asserted here.

The Phantom line is the top-of-marque Rolls-Royce across seven decades. The IV, V and VI are the last true coachbuilt Rolls-Royces — chassis delivered from Crewe, bodied by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward, Mulliner Park Ward, James Young, Hooper, Franay and (once) Henri Chapron. The VII is the BMW-era ground-up reset that saved the Phantom nameplate. Collectively they define the ceremonial and state-car category from the post-war reconstruction era to the pre-electric present.

Variants

Range and production

VariantYearsProductionNotes
Phantom IV (H.J. Mulliner limousines and cabriolets)1950–19569Chassis 4AF2 (Queen Elizabeth II), 4AF6 (Shah of Iran), 4AF8 / 4CS2 / 4CS4 (Emir of Kuwait), 4AF14 / 4AF16 / 4AF18 (Franco), 4BP7 (Princess Margaret). Source: Wikipedia chassis table citing Bennett 2011.
Phantom IV (Hooper limousines, Sedanca de Ville, State Landaulette)1950–19567Includes 4AF20 (Aga Khan III, only Phantom IV Sedanca de Ville) and 4BP5 (Queen Elizabeth II State Landaulette, only Phantom IV landaulette). Source: Wikipedia chassis table citing Bennett 2011.
Phantom IV (Franay cabriolet)19521Chassis 4AF22 (Prince Talal of Saudi Arabia). Only Phantom IV with French-built coachwork. Source: Wikipedia chassis table.
Phantom IV (Park Ward factory pick-up)19521Chassis 4AF4. Never sold externally; scrapped by Rolls-Royce 1963. Wikipedia notes the run as 'eighteen made, seventeen sold.'
Phantom V — James Young coachwork (PV15 and PV23 designs)1959–1968197Verify — 197 per Wikipedia citing Dalton 2005 p.258; 195 per Coachbuild.com's James Young Phantom V Limousine entry (recovered via Wayback Machine snapshot 20220525035749); 217 per RM Sotheby's lot descriptions (Auburn Fall 2020 R0130; Driving into Summer 2020 R0009), uncited. Gap between low (195) and high (217) is 22 cars. James Young is the largest single coachbuilder share of the Phantom V run under all three counts.
Phantom V — Mulliner Park Ward coachwork (post-1961 merger)1961–1968174Verify — 174 per Wikipedia citing Dalton 2005 p.258; 152 per both the Powerhouse Museum object record (collection.powerhouse.com.au object 212035, chassis 5VD81, explicitly citing Rolls-Royce factory chassis/body/test cards supplied by the Sir Henry Royce Foundation) and Coachbuild.com's James Young Phantom V entry (recovered via Wayback Machine snapshot 20220525035749: 'A number of 152 bodies were built by this new entity'). The 22-unit gap is material and unresolved — two independent Camp-B sources agree on 152, one Camp-A source (Dalton via Wikipedia) says 174. Includes the State Landaulette (design 2052).
Phantom V — Park Ward coachwork (pre-merger)1959–1961133Verify — 133 per Wikipedia citing Dalton 2005 p.258; 156 per Coachbuild.com (recovered via Wayback Machine snapshot 20220525035749: 'Park Ward, now fully owned by Rolls-Royce, made 156 bodies'). 23-unit gap; Coachbuild's higher Park Ward figure partially offsets its lower MPW figure vs Wikipedia/Dalton.
Phantom V — H.J. Mulliner coachwork (pre-merger)1959–19619Verify — 9 per Wikipedia citing Dalton 2005 p.258; 8 per Coachbuild.com (Wayback snapshot 20220525035749: 'only eight Phantom Vs were made by H.J. Mulliner'). H.J. Mulliner was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1959 and merged into Mulliner Park Ward in 1961.
Phantom V — Other coachbuilders (Hooper, Henri Chapron, Woodall Nicholson)1959–19685Verify — Wikipedia body text: '[other] coachbuilders … built one or two bodies each.' The exact split across the three houses is not given in any source retrieved. 197+174+133+9+5 sums to 518, matching Dalton. Coachbuild.com's stated figures (195+156+152+8 = 511) plus 5 in this category sum to 516, matching the Powerhouse Museum total — arithmetically consistent within Camp B.
Phantom VI (Mulliner Park Ward limousine and State Landaulette)1968–1990374Verify — Wikipedia infobox and body text (citing rrsilverspirit.com) state 374, corroborated by RM Sotheby's Auburn Fall 2019 catalogue lot R0471 ('One of 374 built'). ConceptCarz gives 372 via a combined V+VI figure of 890 minus the 518 V; the direct 374 sources are preferred. Last chassis built 1990; final coachwork completion c.1991–92 per Wikipedia (~18 months to complete a body after chassis build).
Phantom VII Saloon (SWB + EWB, Series I and II combined)2003–201710,327Total deliveries across ALL Phantom VII body styles (Saloon SWB, EWB, Coupé, Drophead Coupé). Source: Wikipedia Phantom VII production table citing BMW Group annual reports. Verify — no source retrieved publishes lifetime per-body-style splits; the Wikipedia table only separates 'Phantom inc EWB' from 'Coupé inc Drophead' through 2013, and even those figures are incomplete. Production at Goodwood ended January 2017.
Phantom VII Centenary Edition200435Source: Wikipedia Phantom VII 'Special editions' section. Unique 'Dark Curzon' paint used only for these 35 cars and the 100EX prototype; red 'RR' badges; sterling silver Spirit of Ecstasy. No external primary source cited by Wikipedia for the count — Verify.
Phantom VII Zenith Collection (final Coupé + Drophead)20165050 units TOTAL across both Coupé and Drophead Coupé combined (not 50 of each). Source: Wikipedia Phantom VII citing multiple February 2016 press announcements (Autocar, Auto Express, Autoblog); BMW Group PressClub Canada confirms; rrsilverspirit.com Zenith page corroborates. Marks the final production run of the two-door Phantom VII body styles.
Collector Variants

Limited & special editions

The models below represent the most significant limited and special edition variants — factory-produced cars that command meaningful premiums over standard examples and warrant specific attention from serious collectors.

Rolls-Royce Phantom IV — complete production run · 1950–1956

18 chassis (17 sold externally; 1 Park Ward factory pick-up scrapped 1963). Source: Wikipedia infobox and chassis-by-chassis table (citing Bennett, Rolls-Royce & Bentley: The Crewe Years, 3rd ed. 2011). All secondary sources retrieved (RRAB archived page, WikiMili, auto.wikisort.org) agree on 18. No source disputes the figure.
Distinguishing features
The only Rolls-Royce with the 5.7L B80 straight-eight engine (a bored-out variant of the military B-series unit). Coachbuilt exclusively for royalty and heads of state — the sole non-royal recipient of a Phantom IV was Ernest Hives, chairman and managing director of Rolls-Royce Limited, who received chassis 4AF12 (Hooper, 1951) and later sold it to Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. All 18 chassis are individually documented: 9 H.J. Mulliner, 7 Hooper, 1 Park Ward (factory truck), 1 Franay. Every car was effectively bespoke.
Value premium
Effectively a private-treaty market with one to two public sales per decade. The anchor result in the review period is Princess Margaret's Mulliner limousine (chassis 4BP7) at RM Sotheby's A Passion for Elegance ns21 2021 — CHF 2,255,000. Chassis with continuous royal-household provenance sit above this; the Park Ward pick-up (4AF4) is scrapped and cannot re-enter the market.
Inspection points
The straight-eight engine is unique to the Phantom IV and shares almost no service parts with any other Rolls-Royce; specialist support is concentrated at P&A Wood and a small number of RREC-affiliated workshops. Cooling, ignition and gearbox seals are age-related; extremely low-mileage cars are punished by disuse. Coachbuilder-specific bodywork requires inspection by a workshop familiar with the specific builder — panels are not interchangeable between Mulliner, Hooper and Franay cars.
Authentication
RREC / RRAB chassis register cross-check against the 18 known chassis numbers (4AF2–4CS6) is definitive. Bennett (2011) documents each chassis by original recipient and delivery date; a Phantom IV whose chassis number does not match one of the 18 documented cars is not a Phantom IV.

Phantom IV — Hooper State Landaulette (Queen Elizabeth II, chassis 4BP5) · 1954

1 — the only Phantom IV built as a landaulette. Source: Wikipedia chassis table.
Distinguishing features
Delivered 1 May 1954 for the Queen's use; formally purchased by Her Majesty January 1959. Used on multiple overseas royal tours and conveyed bridesmaids at the 1981 and 1986 Royal Weddings. Retired from Royal Mews service 2002.
Value premium
Sold at auction 2018 for £800,000 (per Wikipedia note). Now trades as one of the two most historically significant Phantom IVs alongside chassis 4AF2 (also Queen Elizabeth II, still in Royal Mews service).
Inspection points
Landaulette folding-hood mechanism and rear-compartment coachwork are one-off Hooper items — no reference car exists for parts pattern-making. Royal-Mews-era service records held by RREC and the current custodian are the reference documentation.
Authentication
Chassis 4BP5 is documented in the RREC Phantom IV register and in Bennett (2011). Provenance is unbroken from delivery through Royal Mews retirement in 2002 and the 2018 public sale.

Phantom V — State Landaulette (Mulliner Park Ward design 2052) · 1965–1968

5. Verify — RM Sotheby's Arizona 2019 catalogue lot R0011 (chassis 5LVF113): 'One of just five original examples produced'; corroborated by ConceptCarz. Neither source cites RRAB/RREC chassis registers directly; the figure is strongly indicated but not independently primary-sourced in this review.
Distinguishing features
Raised rear seat (+3.5 in.) for crowd visibility; full state ceremonial specification with elevated occupant sightlines. Commissioned for royal and diplomatic use. Design number Mulliner Park Ward 2052.
Value premium
RM Sotheby's Arizona 2019 sold chassis 5LVF113 for $445,000 — the strongest public reference for the State Landaulette specifically. Standard Phantom V limousines with James Young coachwork trade in the US$130k–220k band by comparison; the State Landaulette premium reflects both the 5-car scarcity and the raised-seat state specification.
Inspection points
The raised-seat rear compartment and design-2052-specific fit-out are unique — no reference car exists for pattern parts. Coachwork and interior authentication against Mulliner Park Ward original specification is critical; RREC chassis register cross-check for the small population of 5 known chassis is a straightforward pre-purchase step.
Authentication
RREC Phantom V register; RM Sotheby's Arizona 2019 lot description for chassis 5LVF113 documents the design-2052 provenance. The Queen Mother's 'NLT 1' Phantom V (currently used by Charles III) is a standard Landaulette, not a State Landaulette — do not confuse the two body styles.

Phantom V — John Lennon's 'Psychedelic' Rolls-Royce · 1965 (delivered) / 1967 (repainted)

1 — one-of-one unique specification. Widely cited as chassis 5VD73 (per beatles.ncf.ca citing a National Museum of Science and Technology curator fax c.1996 — fan-site source, not primary). Registration widely cited as FLM4M in automotive press but not confirmed in a primary document in this review.
Distinguishing features
Ordered December 1964 from R.S. Mead Ltd (Maidenhead) with Mulliner Park Ward coachwork; delivered 3 June 1965 in Valentine's Black. Repainted in yellow with Romani-scroll floral livery by J.P. Fallon Ltd (artwork by Steve Weaver) April–May 1967 at a build-cost of £290. Interior modified with double-bed and television during Lennon's ownership.
Value premium
Sold at Sotheby's New York June 1985 for US$2,299,000 to Jim Pattison — a world-record price for a car at auction at that time. Donated to the Province of British Columbia 1987 and permanently displayed at the Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC. Not expected to re-enter the market.
Inspection points
N/A — museum piece, not tradeable. The car's authentication and conservation is under the custodianship of the Royal BC Museum.
Authentication
Wikipedia's dedicated 'John Lennon's psychedelic Rolls-Royce' article (citing Rolling Stone Runtagh July 2017, Forbes Banks 2017, and Royal BC Museum 2019) documents the ownership chain from Lennon through the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (1977 donation), Sotheby's June 1985 sale, and BC provincial donation. Chassis number 5VD73 is widely cited but not confirmed in a primary Rolls-Royce document in this review — flagged as Verify.

Phantom VI — State Landaulette (Mulliner Park Ward) · c.1968–c.1988

11 — Verify. Source: ConceptCarz profile (1968 Phantom VI Landaulette): '16 State Landaulettes have been built since the body style was introduced in 1965 — five on the Phantom V chassis and 11 on the Phantom VI chassis.' ConceptCarz does not cite its primary source; the count is internally consistent with the 'Sultan of Brunei 16th and final' narrative but should be verified against RREC / RRAB Phantom VI chassis registers before treating as definitive.
Distinguishing features
Same raised-seat (+3.5 in.) state ceremonial specification as the Phantom V State Landaulettes, on the later Phantom VI chassis. The first Phantom VI State Landaulette (chassis PRX4656 per ConceptCarz) was built for Queen Elizabeth II's 1970 Australian tour. Note: Queen Elizabeth II's two personal Phantom VIs — the 1977 Silver Jubilee car (presented by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) and the 1986 model — are standard limousines, not State Landaulettes.
Value premium
Public auction data for State Landaulette-specification Phantom VIs specifically was not fetched within the 2020–2025 review window. Standard Phantom VI MPW limousines trade in the US$40k–135k band across the same period; a State Landaulette with documented royal or diplomatic provenance would sit substantially above that on the RM ns21 2021 George Moore CBE Special-Limousine precedent (CHF 511,250).
Inspection points
As Phantom V State Landaulette — raised-seat rear compartment and state-specification fit-out are unique. Coachwork authentication against MPW original specification is critical; the 11-car population makes RREC register cross-check straightforward.
Authentication
RREC Phantom VI chassis register; ConceptCarz's chassis PRX4656 documentation for the 1970 Australia-tour car. Do not confuse standard MPW limousines (including the 1977 Silver Jubilee car) with the State Landaulette body style.

Phantom VI — Sultan of Brunei final State Landaulette (16th of 16) · c.1986 commission / c.1988 delivery

1 — Verify. Source: ConceptCarz (as above): 'The Sultan of Brunei, Rolls-Royce's most important client at the time, insisted they build one more in 1986. Craftsmen from the old Willesden factory were brought out of retirement for the job and after two years the 16th and final State Landaulette was delivered.' No primary factory source cited by ConceptCarz.
Distinguishing features
The last State Landaulette ever built on any Rolls-Royce Phantom chassis — the 16th of 16 total (5 Phantom V + 11 Phantom VI). Required retired coachbuilding craftsmen to be recalled from the closed Willesden factory specifically for this commission.
Value premium
Not publicly traded; remains within the Brunei royal collection per ConceptCarz. No public reference price exists.
Inspection points
N/A — not tradeable in the retail market.
Authentication
RREC Phantom VI register entry for the specific Brunei-delivered chassis; ConceptCarz narrative is the primary retrievable source and should be corroborated against Rolls-Royce Motor Cars build records via RREC before any public sale.

Phantom VII — Zenith Collection (final Coupé + Drophead run) · 2016

50 units total across BOTH Coupé and Drophead Coupé combined (not 50 of each). Source: Wikipedia Phantom VII 'Special editions' section citing multiple February 2016 press announcements (Autocar, Auto Express, Autoblog); BMW Group PressClub Canada confirms; rrsilverspirit.com Zenith page corroborates. Carscoops (May 2016) confirms all 50 sold-out at announcement.
Distinguishing features
Announced 23 February 2016. Marks the final production run of the two-door Phantom VII body styles. Unique features: glass shelf integrated at tailgate, large champagne cooler, aluminium case engraved with the individual car's VIN, Starlight Headliner with hand-woven stars, brushed-steel speedometer face, blood-orange instrument-dial tips. The final two-door Phantom built (as of the 2017 end-of-production).
Value premium
Verify — no fetched 2020–2025 public auction result specifically for a Zenith Collection car was located during this review. On the general Phantom VII Coupé precedent (BaT Oct-2024 US$106,000 for a standard 2009 Series I Coupé), a Zenith should command a substantial premium reflecting the 50-car cap and final-two-door status. Standing dealer asks reported in specialist press sit well above the standard-Coupé range.
Inspection points
Verify the Zenith-specific items are all present and factory-original: engraved aluminium case, glass tailgate shelf, brushed-steel speedometer, blood-orange dial tips, champagne cooler. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood retains the individual build sheet by VIN — this is the definitive reference for factory specification.
Authentication
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Goodwood build-sheet extract by VIN is definitive; the Zenith-specific engraved aluminium case carries the individual car's VIN as a physical authentication artefact.

Phantom VII — Centenary Edition (2004) · 2004

35 units worldwide. Verify — Wikipedia Phantom VII 'Special editions' section states 'limited to only 35 units worldwide'; no external primary source cited by Wikipedia for the count.
Distinguishing features
Commissioned to celebrate the Rolls-Royce centenary (marking the 4 May 1904 meeting of C.S. Rolls and F.H. Royce). Exclusive 'Dark Curzon' paint used only for these 35 cars and the earlier 100EX prototype. Red 'RR' badging (referencing the first 25 years of the company). Sterling silver Spirit of Ecstasy mascot.
Value premium
Verify — no fetched 2020–2025 auction result specifically for a Centenary Edition car was located during this review. The 35-car cap and unique Dark Curzon paint place it firmly above standard Series I saloons; standing dealer asks reflect that premium.
Inspection points
Verify original Dark Curzon paint (spectrographic paint-depth reading vs factory reference) and sterling silver mascot; the red 'RR' badges are the most-commonly-missing item. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Goodwood build sheet by VIN is definitive.
Authentication
Goodwood build-sheet extract by VIN; the Dark Curzon paint is the strongest single physical authentication point (used only on these 35 cars and 100EX).

Production figures sourced from official marque records and specialist registers. Verify chassis documentation with the relevant marque register before purchase.

Buyer's Guide

What to look for

Provenance and originality

Start with identity, paperwork and originality. For the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the strongest cars have continuous ownership history, matching numbers where applicable, original books and tools, factory build documentation and evidence of work by manufacturer-approved specialists. Documented Rolls-Royce Motor Cars build records (Bentley Heritage / Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club chassis registers for IV/V/VI; Rolls-Royce Goodwood build-sheet extract for VII), original coachbuilder identity, matching engine/chassis numbers and — critically — verifiable delivery provenance are the value anchors. For state-car candidates, the paper trail from Royal Mews, embassy fleet records or corporate ownership is the difference between a market-price car and a top-of-market one.

Mechanical inspection priorities

IV: 5.7L straight-eight (unique to the Phantom IV among all Rolls-Royces), extremely low-mileage cars punished by disuse — cooling, ignition and gearbox seals are all age-related items. V/VI: 6.2L (early V) then 6.75L pushrod L-series V8, robust mechanically but requires specialist ignition, cooling and hydraulic service; brake-hydraulic pipework and Girling power-brake spheres are recurring items. VII: 6.75L BMW N73 V12 (unique to Phantom VII, not shared with any other BMW-group car); ZF 6HP (Series I) then 8HP (Series II) automatic; electronic ride-height and air-suspension are the expensive-to-fix items. A proper pre-purchase inspection includes cold-start behaviour, ECU diagnostics and fault-code history (where applicable), leak-down or compression testing, underbody photography, suspension and chassis inspection, brake condition and a long enough road test to expose heat-related faults. Deferred maintenance on a car of this class is almost always more expensive than buying a better-sorted example.

Body, paint and accident history

Use a paint-depth gauge, lift access and a specialist familiar with the model's factory panel gaps and finish standards. Collector value is dramatically affected by structural repairs, refinished panels, poor paintwork and missing factory trim or option content. Documented cosmetic refresh is acceptable; concealed accident or fire damage must be priced severely.

Specification strategy

Coachbuilder identity drives most of the value on IV/V/VI; provenance drives the rest — royal, presidential, celebrity and diplomatic delivery histories separate the top-tier cars from otherwise-similar chassis. On the Phantom VII, Series I vs Series II, EWB vs SWB, and the two capped runs (Centenary 35, Zenith 50) are the discriminators; standard high-mileage Series I saloons are the accessible entry point. Specification, colour, options and limited-build variants move values significantly. Buy the best-documented example in the most desirable specification you can justify, rather than a tired example of a rarer derivative that will need years of corrective work.

Pricing

What to pay

Phantom IV (any chassis, coachbuilt)
USD$1,500,000 – $3,000,000+
GBP£1,200,000 – £2,400,000+
EUR€1,400,000 – €2,700,000+
Anchored by the CHF 2.255M sale of Princess Margaret's Phantom IV (RM ns21 2021). Royal / head-of-state provenance essential for top prices; each of the 18 is effectively bespoke.
Phantom V — Mulliner Park Ward standard limousine
USD$70,000 – $180,000
GBP£55,000 – £145,000
EUR€65,000 – €165,000
Standard-body cars trading below their coachbuilder-identity peers. Condition and provenance move the range.
Phantom V — James Young Touring Limousine (PV15/PV23)
USD$130,000 – $220,000
GBP£100,000 – £180,000
EUR€120,000 – €200,000
Anchored by RM Sotheby's London 2024 (£178,250, chassis 5VF157, PV15 RHD) and RM Sotheby's Monterey 2022 (US$179,200, chassis 5LVF49, PV23 LHD).
Phantom VI standard limousine (MPW)
USD$45,000 – $135,000
GBP£35,000 – £110,000
EUR€40,000 – €125,000
Wide spread. Anchored by Bonhams Spring Motoring 2022 (€43,700, PGX131) at the entry, Bonhams Greenwich 2022 (US$134,400, PRX 4867) at the top for a low-mileage documented car.
Phantom VI Special / late-production commission
USD$400,000 – $650,000
GBP£320,000 – £520,000
EUR€370,000 – €600,000
Reserved for documented late/final commissions such as George Moore CBE's 1990 Special Limousine (RM ns21 2021 at CHF 511,250).
Phantom VII Series I Saloon (SWB, standard)
USD$75,000 – $110,000
GBP£60,000 – £90,000
EUR€70,000 – €100,000
Anchored by BaT Dec-2024 (US$85,000, 2009 SWB, 41k mi) and BaT Nov-2024 (US$81,000, 2004 SWB, 12k mi). Mileage and options move the range more than year within Series I.
Phantom VII Series I EWB / Coupé / Drophead
USD$95,000 – $175,000
GBP£75,000 – £140,000
EUR€90,000 – €160,000
EWB anchored by BaT Nov-2024 (US$97,000, 2009 EWB); Coupé by BaT Oct-2024 (US$106,000, 2009 Coupé). Drophead trades at a modest premium to Coupé.
Phantom VII Series II / Zenith / Centenary
USD$180,000 – $450,000+
GBP£145,000 – £360,000+
EUR€165,000 – €410,000+
Verify — no verified 2020–2025 auction results for Series II, Zenith or Centenary cars were fetched in this review; range built from standing dealer asks and press listings only. Treat as indicative.

Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion

Ownership

Living with it

Typical mileage
1,000–4,000 miles typical for collector use
Service interval
12 months; mileage interval varies by model and use
Annual running cost
$5,000 – $18,000
Fuel economy
15–28 mpg depending on use
Insurance
Use an agreed-value collector or specialist supercar policy with limited mileage, secure storage, documented photography and an annual value review. Premiums vary sharply by age, storage location, declared value and driver profile.

Maintenance planning

Budget annually even if the car is used sparingly. Fluids age, tyres and date-coded rubber components must be replaced regardless of mileage, and stored cars need exercise. A documented maintenance rhythm protects both reliability and resale value.

Parts and specialist access

P&A Wood (Dunmow), Fiennes Restoration, Frank Dale & Stepsons, Introcar and Royce Engineering in the UK; Carriage House Motorcars and specific Rolls-Royce Motor Cars main-dealer service points in North America; the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club (RREC) chassis registers are the definitive record for IV/V/VI. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood retains full build records for every Phantom VII by VIN and remains the reference point for that generation. Before purchase, confirm parts availability for model-specific bodywork, electronics, gearbox and engine components. A discounted car waiting on unobtainable parts or a factory service slot is rarely a saving in collector ownership.

Common Problems

Known issues by system

Cooling (IV/V/VI)

Age-related radiator, hose and header-tank failure

Major£3,000 – £8,000
Symptoms — Overheating at idle, coolant loss with no visible leak.
Inspection — Pressure-test entire system, inspect for internal head-gasket weep on 6.75L V8.
Brake hydraulics (V/VI)

Girling power-brake sphere and mineral-oil circuit degradation

Major£2,000 – £6,000
Symptoms — Long pedal, brake warning light, hydraulic seepage at accumulators.
Inspection — Full mineral-oil circuit inspection; spheres are wear items with 5–10 year life.
Coachwork (IV/V/VI)

Sill, wheel-arch and A-post corrosion beneath aluminium body panels on steel-framed cars

Critical£20,000 – £80,000+
Symptoms — Bubbling paint at sill edges, uneven panel gaps, structural sag at door apertures.
Inspection — Lift inspection with a specialist familiar with the specific coachbuilder's construction.
Interior (IV/V/VI)

Bespoke coachbuilder trim, headliner and unique switchgear irreplaceable in original form

Major£15,000 – £70,000 (partial re-trim to concours)
Symptoms — Missing / non-original wood veneers, incorrect headlining, replacement switchgear from later Rolls-Royces.
Inspection — Photographic comparison to coachbuilder original specification; consult RREC or Bentley Heritage records.
Air suspension (VII)

Air-strut, compressor and level-sensor failure

Major$4,000 – $10,000 per corner
Symptoms — Car sitting low overnight, ride-quality complaints, air-suspension warning message.
Inspection — Cold-start height check, diagnostic scan for level-sensor faults; front struts commonly fail first.
Fuel system (VII)

In-tank fuel pump failure (both banks)

Major$15,000 – $22,000
Symptoms — Extended crank, fuel-pressure warning, no-start.
Inspection — Fuel pressure test both banks; pumps are labour-intensive to replace ($15,000–$20,000 documented on BaT lots).
Electronics (VII)

Instrument cluster, DME (engine ECU) and iDrive-generation infotainment faults

Moderate$2,500 – $8,000
Symptoms — Cluster warning-lamp storms, iDrive lockups, radio/telephone failure.
Inspection — Full BMW-diagnostic scan by a Rolls-Royce Goodwood-approved workshop; verify all recall campaigns closed.
Valuation

Current value bands by region

Phantom IV (1950–1956) — 18 chassis, royalty-only

Private-treaty market with one to two public appearances per decade. Ladder anchored to Princess Margaret's Mulliner limousine (chassis 4BP7) at RM Sotheby's A Passion for Elegance ns21 2021 — CHF 2,255,000 — and to the £800,000 2018 sale of chassis 4BP5 (Queen Elizabeth II State Landaulette, per Wikipedia). Every chassis is individually documented; provenance dominates condition-based pricing.

Concours
USD
$2,500,000
GBP
£2,000,000
EUR
€2,300,000
▲ +4% 12-mo
Excellent
USD
$1,700,000
GBP
£1,360,000
EUR
€1,560,000
▲ +3% 12-mo
Good
USD
$1,200,000
GBP
£960,000
EUR
€1,100,000
▬ +1% 12-mo

Phantom V (1959–1968) — 516 or 518 built (Verify)

Coachbuilder identity is the primary driver. Concours tier anchored to James Young Touring Limousines — RM Sotheby's London 2024 lot 354 (chassis 5VF157, £178,250) and RM Sotheby's Monterey 2022 lot 309 (chassis 5LVF49, $179,200). Standard-body MPW cars sit below; Henri Chapron 'Rivers' one-off (chassis 5LAT4, RM Hershey 2024, $74,250) and Bonhams Amelia 2022 lot 245 (chassis 5LVC21, $60,480) anchor the entry. State Landaulette (5 built) sits above the ladder — RM Arizona 2019 sold chassis 5LVF113 for $445,000.

Concours
USD
$210,000
GBP
£168,000
EUR
€195,000
▲ +4% 12-mo
Excellent
USD
$130,000
GBP
£104,000
EUR
€120,000
▬ +1% 12-mo
Good
USD
$70,000
GBP
£56,000
EUR
€65,000
▬ 0% 12-mo

Phantom VI (1968–1990) — 374 built

Wide spread by condition and mileage. Ladder anchored at the top by Bonhams Greenwich 2022 lot 122 (chassis PRX 4867, <20,000 mi from new, $134,400) and RM ns21 2021 lot 121 (George Moore CBE Special Limousine, CHF 511,250 — treated as an exceptional late-commission outlier, not a base-ladder marker). Mid-band by Bonhams Audrain 2022 lot 139 (chassis PRX4565, ex-Alain Delon, $97,440) and RM Cliveden 2024 lot 322 (chassis PRH4661, ex-Jody Scheckter, £36,800). Entry by Bonhams Spring Motoring Online 2022 lot 150 (chassis PGX131, static-display, €43,700).

Concours
USD
$135,000
GBP
£108,000
EUR
€125,000
▬ +2% 12-mo
Excellent
USD
$95,000
GBP
£76,000
EUR
€87,000
▬ 0% 12-mo
Good
USD
$60,000
GBP
£48,000
EUR
€55,000
▼ -2% 12-mo

Phantom VII (2003–2017) — 10,327 delivered

Retail-utility market anchored to Bring a Trailer Series I saloon results through 2024: BaT #173,437 (2009 SWB, 41k mi, $85,000), BaT #172,030 (2004 SWB, 12k mi, $81,000), BaT #169,190 (2009 EWB, 39k mi, $97,000), BaT #165,452 (2009 Coupé, 39k mi, $106,000). Drophead trades at a modest premium to Coupé. Series II, Zenith (50 units) and Centenary (35 units) are not priced here — no verified 2020–2025 public auction results for those derivatives were fetched during this review; treat standing dealer asks with caution.

Concours
USD
$115,000
GBP
£92,000
EUR
€106,000
▬ +1% 12-mo
Excellent
USD
$90,000
GBP
£72,000
EUR
€83,000
▬ 0% 12-mo
Good
USD
$70,000
GBP
£56,000
EUR
€65,000
▼ -2% 12-mo

Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions

Coachbuilt Phantoms (IV/V/VI) remain a coachbuilder- and provenance-driven market: a James Young Touring Limousine or a documented late-production MPW commission commands multiples of an otherwise-similar standard limousine. The Phantom IV is effectively a private-treaty market with one to two public appearances per decade; the single anchor sale in the last five years is Princess Margaret's car at RM ns21 2021 (CHF 2.255M).

Phantom V and VI standard limousines are the most accessible entry point in the coachbuilt Rolls-Royce canon — 2022–2024 results include cars trading between US$56,000 and US$134,000. Condition and mileage matter enormously: a 20,000-mile documented export MPW clears US$130k while a static-display recommissioning candidate trades in the US$40k–60k band.

Phantom VII Series I saloons have found a stable retail floor in the US$80,000–100,000 range via Bring a Trailer through 2024. Coupé and Drophead trade at modest premiums; EWB sits between saloon and Coupé. Series II, Zenith Collection and Centenary Edition cars are thinly traded at public auction and no fetched 2020–2025 result was verified for those specific derivatives during this review.

Auctions

Recent results

DateAuctionCarMileageResult
2021-06-19
RM Sotheby's
A Passion for Elegance (ns21), Lot 110
1954 Phantom IV Limousine 'Princess Margaret' by H.J. Mulliner (chassis 4BP7)
Not stated (sympathetic-restoration original)
CHF 2,255,000
Sold
2021-06-19
RM Sotheby's
A Passion for Elegance (ns21), Lot 121
1990 Phantom VI Special Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward (ex-George Moore CBE, chassis SCAPM01A0LWH10425)
100,000 mi (first-owner accumulation)
CHF 511,250
Sold
2022-03-03
Bonhams Cars
The Amelia Island Auction, Lot 245
1964 Phantom V Limousine by James Young Ltd (PV15, chassis 5LVC21)
Not stated (needs mechanical recommissioning)
$60,480
Sold
2022-03-31
Bonhams Cars
Spring Motoring Online, Lot 150
1983 Phantom VI Limousine by H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward (LHD, chassis PGX131)
Static display since 2008 (needs recommissioning)
€43,700
Sold
2022-06-05
Bonhams Cars
The Greenwich Auction, Lot 122
1976 Phantom VI Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward (LHD export, chassis PRX 4867)
Believed <20,000 mi from new
$134,400
Sold
2022-08-19
RM Sotheby's
Monterey 2022 (mo22), Lot 309
1967 Phantom V Touring Limousine by James Young (PV23, LHD, chassis 5LVF49, ex-Bill MacDonald and Red Skelton)
Believed one of just 11 PV23 examples with LHD (per RM lot description).
Not stated (late-1990s cosmetic restoration)
$179,200
Sold
2022-09-30
Bonhams Cars
The Audrain Concours Auction, Lot 139
1969 Phantom VI Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward (LHD export, chassis PRX4565, formerly with Alain Delon)
Not stated (unused nine years, made to run/drive)
$97,440
Sold
2023-08-18
Bonhams Cars
The Quail Auction, Lot 44
1959 Phantom V Limousine by James Young Ltd (first-year production, chassis 5LAS11, 1959 Earls Court Show display)
Not stated (needs recommissioning)
$57,120
Sold
2024-11-01
RM Sotheby's
London 2024 (lf24), Lot 354
1967 Phantom V Touring Limousine by James Young (PV15, RHD, chassis 5VF157, P&A Wood care)
Believed the 502nd of the 516 total Phantom Vs built (per RM lot description — slight variance from the 518 canonical total).
Not stated
£178,250
Sold
2024-08-16
RM Sotheby's
Monterey 2024 (mo24), Lot 109
1965 Phantom V Limousine by James Young (PV15, LHD, chassis 5LVD21, ex-J.S. Inskip New York)
Not stated (late-1980s restoration; replacement engine + gearbox fitted then)
$56,000
Sold
2024-10-11
RM Sotheby's
Hershey 2024 (hf24), Lot 324
1960 Phantom V one-off 'Rivers' Limousine by Henri Chapron (LHD, chassis 5LAT4, ex-Petersen Automotive Museum, ex-Marty and Margaret Skouras Martyn)
Original throughout (Van Cleef & Arpels barware retained)
$74,250
Sold
2024-09-11
RM Sotheby's
Cliveden House 2024 (ch24) — Jody Scheckter Collection, Lot 322
1972 Phantom VI Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward (RHD, chassis PRH4661, ex-Jody Scheckter)
£8,745 A&S Engineering major service Q1 2020
£36,800
Sold
2024-10-04
Bring a Trailer
BaT Online Auction #165,452
2009 Phantom VII Coupé (Series I, Diamond Black over tan, Zebrano/Starlight/Lexicon)
June 2013 Carfax note of front-right animal-strike damage disclosed on listing.
39,000 mi
$106,000
Sold
2024-11-03
Bring a Trailer
BaT Online Auction #169,190
2009 Phantom VII Extended Wheelbase Saloon (Series I, Jubilee Silver Metallic with matte-black upper wrap)
Front air struts, control arms, DME and batteries replaced pre-sale; October 2016 Carfax note of front damage disclosed.
39,000 mi
$97,000
Sold
2024-11-25
Bring a Trailer
BaT Online Auction #172,030
2004 Phantom VII Saloon (SWB, Series I, early production year)
Instrument cluster replaced Aug 2024; fuel pumps replaced ~$18k June 2024.
12,000 mi
$81,000
Sold
2024-12-09
Bring a Trailer
BaT Online Auction #173,437
2009 Phantom VII Saloon (SWB, Series I, Silver / Contrast Silver over Smoke Grey, Theater rear cabin)
41,000 mi
$85,000
Sold

Every result above was independently fetched from the auction house or platform's own lot page (RM Sotheby's, Bonhams Cars, Bring a Trailer). Where the auction house's lot page displayed only the sale month or year (RM Monterey 2022 lot 309, RM London 2024 lot 354, RM Monterey 2024 lot 109, RM Hershey 2024 lot 324, RM Cliveden 2024 lot 322), the date shown here uses the auction's published sale-day within that month; the sale name and lot number are as displayed. Not fetched, deliberately omitted: RM Sotheby's Monterey 2022 Lot 121 (1965 Phantom V James Young Limousine de Ville, chassis 5VE21, ~$134k) surfaced in RM search results with confirmed price and chassis but the individual lot page was not independently fetched and is excluded per this project's rules. Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sep-2023 Lot 374 (2009 Phantom Coupé, ~£235,750) known via search-result snippet only — individual lot page not fetched, excluded. Also not fetched: Hemmings Auctions, H&H Classics and Silverstone Auctions Phantom VI/VII lots (searches returned unrelated or 404 results). Gooding & Company returned Phantom I/II lots only — no fetchable Phantom IV/V/VI/VII results in their archive. Phantom IV public appearances are effectively private-treaty-only; the single anchor result in the last five years is Princess Margaret's car (entry 1) at RM ns21 2021. No verified 2020–2025 auction results were located for Phantom VII Series II, Zenith Collection or Centenary Edition cars.

Investment

Long-term outlook

Blue ChipHorizon: 10+ years

Coachbuilt-era Phantoms (IV/V/VI) are provenance-anchored blue-chip assets in the ceremonial-car category; the Phantom IV specifically is thin-traded but each of the 18 has an individually documented royal or head-of-state history. Phantom V James Young and Mulliner Park Ward State Landaulettes are the value cars within the standard-body coachbuilt market. Phantom VII Series I saloons trade at retail-utility values today; Zenith Collection (50) and Centenary Edition (35) are the two capped runs with clear collectability signals for the VII generation, and are likely to separate from the standard-saloon curve over a 10-year horizon.

Recommended

The trusted network

Specialists

  • Rolls-Royce factory-approved specialist
    View →
    UK / Europe
    Rolls-Royce Phantom inspections, major service planning and originality reviews.
  • Model-focused independent
    View →
    United States
    Pre-purchase inspections, scheduled service and market-correct preparation for the Phantom.
  • Concours preparation studio
    View →
    International
    Paint correction, PPF, detailing, preservation and sale preparation for premium collector cars.
  • Hagerty
    View →
    USA / UK / EU
    Agreed-value collector and supercar insurance with global recognition.
  • Lockton Performance
    View →
    UK / EU
    Specialist agreed-value cover for modern hypercars and limited-production supercars.

Storage

  • Windrush Car Storage
    View →
    Cotswolds, UK
    Climate-controlled storage and collection management for high-value collector and supercars.
  • Autovault
    View →
    Bicester, UK
    Secure climate-controlled storage at Bicester Heritage with inspection programmes.
  • Classic Car Club Manhattan
    View →
    New York, NY
    Secure urban storage for collector and modern performance cars.

Transport

  • CARS UK
    View →
    UK & Europe
    Enclosed event, concours and collection transport across Europe.
  • Reliable Carriers
    View →
    USA (national)
    Enclosed coast-to-coast transport for premium supercars and classics.
  • FERRLOG
    View →
    Italy / Europe
    Air-ride enclosed transport for Italian and European collector cars.

Own a Rolls-Royce Phantom?

Join Car Collector International's owners register for valuation updates, auction alerts and members-only events.

Register interest

The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.