110 AUTOMOTIVE
Silver Ghost – so closely , in fact , that some modern enthusiasts refer to it as a ‘ Super Ghost ’. Over the next four years , Royce continued to refine his design until , in 1929 , The Times carried a fresh advertisement announcing the arrival of Phantom II . The advertisement listed all the engineering improvements and upgraded components that justified its designation as an entirely new model .
qualities always associated with Rolls-Royce products ”. At this time , Rolls-Royce supplied only rolling chassis , with the form , styling and appointment of the motor car itself in the hands of independent coachbuilders , who created bespoke bodywork to the owner ’ s specification . Rolls-Royce offered the New Phantom in longwheelbase form , suitable for formal saloon and limousine designs , and with a shorter wheelbase ideal for owner-driver motor cars with closed , open and ‘ sportier ’ coachwork .
Then as now , Phantom ’ s generous proportions enabled owners to specify almost any detail or indulgence they wished . Some clients asked for concealable writing desks or swivelling occasional seats in their long-wheelbase limousines , while owner-drivers are known to have requested safes , dedicated spaces to stow golf clubs and even , in one famous instance , a secret compartment in which to carry diamonds .
On 8 May 1925 , The Autocar magazine published its review of the new model . “ Few are the firms engaged in the manufacture of motor cars who enjoy quite such a reputation as Rolls-Royce Ltd ,” it enthused . “ Almost the conjoined names have become the household word for luxury , and every novelist worthy of the name imparts a distinguished air to any character by crediting him or her with the possession of one of the firm ’ s cars .” With Phantom , Rolls-Royce had clearly succeeded in not only maintaining , but furthering the qualities established and made famous by the Silver Ghost .
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS
Though undoubtedly gratifying , such encomiums did not distract Henry Royce . The design of the original New Phantom had closely followed that of its predecessor ,
VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE
Somewhat ironically , the only person who remained unimpressed was Royce himself , who insisted that even the short-wheelbase Phantom II was irritatingly oversized for his personal use . He therefore instructed his design team to develop a more compact , sporting Phantom II variant which he could enjoy driving across France to his winter home at Le Canadel on the Côte d ’ Azur .
The designers dutifully produced a close-coupled car , 26EX – ‘ EX ’ standing for ‘ Experimental ’ – on an adapted short Phantom II chassis . Records show that neither the Rolls-Royce sales department nor the factory were keen on the concept ; indeed , had it not been intended as Royce ’ s personal transport , it might not have been built at all .
THE ART OF LUXURY ISSUE 69 2025