When Rolls-Royce hits a milestone, the world watches closely. This year marks the 100th birthday of the Phantom, the marque’s flagship model, and the brand chose to celebrate it in a way no one could ignore—by dropping one straight into a swimming pool. It wasn’t just for show; it was a bold nod to the Phantom’s rebellious spirit and its rich connection to music and culture.
The Phantom has always been more than just a car. Since its debut in 1925, it has served as the ultimate symbol of wealth, creativity, and luxury self-expression. Kings and queens have travelled in one, rock stars have customized them wildly, and today’s hip-hop icons still rap about its glowing Starlight Headliner. Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Pharrell Williams all counted themselves among Phantom’s owners, and each helped cement its reputation as the vehicle that transforms presence into power.
But despite its prestige, the Phantom remains closely linked to myth and mischief. This is most evident in the famous story of Keith Moon, the drummer for The Who, who was said to have sent a Rolls-Royce into a hotel pool during one of his notorious parties. Whether it happened exactly as told doesn’t matter—the story has become legend. And a century later, Rolls-Royce embraced that legend by creating a modern reimagining that showed the Phantom still knows how to make a splash.
Highlights:
- Rolls-Royce celebrated the Phantom’s 100th birthday by immersing a Phantom Extended body shell inside the Lido in Plymouth, England.
- The stunt honours the myth of Keith Moon, drummer of The Who, who was said to have driven a Rolls into a hotel pool in the 1970s.
- The selected location also links to John Lennon and The Beatles, who were photographed at the same lido in 1967 during Magical Mystery Tour.
- Today, a used Phantom V sells for around USD $150,000, while a new Phantom Extended commands well over USD $600,000.
The Phantom’s history reflects the history of Rolls-Royce itself in many ways. The Phantom I replaced the legendary Silver Ghost in 1925 and quickly gained a reputation as the “best car in the world.” Successive generations pushed the limits: the Phantom III introduced a V12 engine in the 1930s, while the Phantom VII redefined modern Rolls-Royce luxury in 2003 under BMW’s ownership.
Today, the Phantom VIII continues the tradition with a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V12 delivering 563 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Add in Rolls-Royce’s renowned “Magic Carpet Ride” suspension, and you get a driving experience so smooth it feels less like motoring and more like gliding.
Yet the Phantom’s true genius lies not only in its engineering but also in how it serves as a canvas for its owners. Every Phantom is handcrafted at Goodwood in England, with clients having the freedom to personalize nearly every aspect. From custom paintwork and rare wood veneers to bespoke embroidery and even one-of-a-kind artworks displayed in the “Gallery” dash, a Phantom is never just bought—it’s commissioned. That individuality has made the Phantom not just a vehicle but a statement piece, one as distinctive as the personalities who select it.
Of course, no story of the Phantom is complete without its link to music. Lennon’s yellow Phantom V became a symbol of the 1960s, while Elvis added Hollywood glamour, and hip-hop culture has kept the car’s image alive for decades. Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg rolled a Phantom into their 2004 hit Drop It Like It’s Hot. Lil Wayne featured one on his Tha Carter II cover. And countless artists have mentioned the Starlight Headliner in lyrics as a metaphor for living under your own personal galaxy. As Chris Brown-ridge, Chief Executive of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, expressed it:
“From the Golden Age of Hollywood to the rise of hip-hop, over the last 100 years, music artists have used Phantom to project their identity and challenge convention. Their motor cars often became icons in their own right, with a lasting place in the history of modern music. This enduring connection reminds us that Rolls-Royce and the extraordinary people who are part of the marque’s story are united by one ambition: to make their presence felt.”
That legacy made the Plymouth stunt even more fitting. On what would have been Keith Moon’s 79th birthday, Rolls-Royce submerged a Phantom Extended body shell into the Art Deco Tinside Lido, overlooking the English Channel. The choice of location was deliberate: it was here in 1967 that The Beatles posed for one of their most famous photographs during the filming of Magical Mystery Tour. The symbolism was clear—this was a celebration of the Phantom’s ties to music, history, and myth all at once.
For those concerned about the destruction of a million-dollar Rolls, there’s no need. The Phantom used for the centenary splash was a prototype shell already headed for recycling. Its silky V12 engine and driveline were gone, but much of its interior trim remained, creating a striking image of an unmistakable Rolls-Royce gliding into the water. It wasn’t wasteful—it was performance art, celebrating a century of legends.
These days, a used Phantom V can be found for around USD $150,000, while a brand-new Phantom Extended will cost well over USD $600,000. However, no figure can measure the Phantom’s worth as a cultural icon. It has been immortalized in music, art, and film. It has served as a prop for rebellion, a symbol of elegance, and a sign of achievement. And now, it has even made a splash—literally—to celebrate its 100th birthday.
A hundred years on, the Phantom remains the car that captures imagination like no other. Dropping one into a pool wasn’t just a stunt for shock value—it was a reminder that this car has always been larger than life, a machine that exists as much in legend as on the road. And if history is any guide, the next century of the Phantom will be just as extraordinary as the first.
