14 years run to end for Rolls-Royce Phantom VII

After 14 years of production, the last Rolls-Royce Phantom VII has emerged from the factory in West Sussex.But, being a Roller, this is no normal car. The final seventh-generation Phantom is an extended wheelbase version with a nautical theme created for a “renowned contemporary Rolls-Royce collector.” Send offs don’t get much more flamboyant than this.

The Phantom VII is a significant milestone in Rolls-Royce’s history, being the first model produced under BMW ownership in 2003.Five models have emerged since then, with the Phantom Drophead Coupé, Phantom Coupé, Ghost, Wraith and last year’s Dawn being built at the Goodwood headquarters.

The British marquee is now preparing the production line for the arrival of the Phantom VIII which, like all current Rolls-Royces, will be hand-built in the UK facility once the new all-aluminum chassis structures arrive from Germany.

However, before the switch over took place, there was one final swansong for the soon-to-be-replaced luxury saloon with a strict criteria in place.The customer requested a car that mimics a grand ocean liner, so the factory set about lavishing the long-wheelbase Phantom – worth £373,824 before any customisation even takes place – with nautical based features

This includes artwork of 1930s cruise ships etched into the dashboard panels and classic ocean liner radio clocks housed in a rotating bezel that can be adjusted to 24 different time zones, depending on where the owner plans to cruise to in their final-ever Phantom VII.

To continue the sea theme, the lambswool carpets have been hand-cut with a wake effect and even the ‘Blue Velvet’ paint and powder blue leather upholstery are a nod to the colour of the ocean.

There are even ocean liner motifs hand-painted on the shoulder of the car along with a silver pin stripe, white-wall tyres and an all-silver Spirit of Ecstasy.

Under the deck-long bonnet is the same 6.75-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine that produced 454bhp – good for 0 to 62mph in 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 149mph, or 130 knots.The Phantom VIII is due to be revealed later this year ahead of its launch in 2018 along with the all-new Cullinan 4X4.