Rolls–Royce Models

The Silver Ghost was not the first car that Rolls–Royce produced, but it was the first one with a memorable name and it established their reputation as the makers of "the best car in the world" – an epithet coined in 1907 by Autocar magazine.

The current Phantom model was introduced in 2017.

Rolls–Royce began manufacturing cars in 1904; the first model was known prosaically as the 10 hp. Other models swiftly followed, the horsepower rating gradually increasing, and the Silver Ghost was introduced in 1906 as the 40/50 h.p.

Wikipedia gives us the chassis number of the first 40/50 to be named the Silver Ghost, but (annoyingly) it doesn't tell us when it was made. It does say that "Other 40/50 hp cars were also given names, but the Silver Ghost title was taken up by the press, and soon all 40/50s were called by the name."

A total of 7,874 40/50s and Silver Ghosts were made, before it was replaced in 1926 by the 40/50 Phantom. Subsequently all 'pre–Phantom' 40/50s came to be known as Silver Ghosts.

An updated version of the Phantom (the Phantom II) was introduced in 1929, and this was followed in 1936 by the Phantom III. This was replaced in 1938 by the Wraith (but the Phantom name would re–emerge in 1950).

Production was suspended during the Second World War, and in 1946 the Silver Wraith was introduced. In line with post–war austerity, this was a relatively small model for R–R.

In 1949 the full–sized Silver Dawn was introduced. This was the first Rolls–Royce to be offered with a factory–built body; previously Rolls–Royce had only made the chassis and purchasers would have bodywork added by the coachbuilder of their choice.

Only 760 Silver Dawns were made, and in 1955 the model was replaced by the Silver Cloud. Meanwhile, in 1950, the Phantom series was re–introduced in the shape of the Phantom IV, which was available only to purchasers that Rolls–Royce deemed worthy of the honour – the British Royal Family and other heads of state. This was succeeded in 1959 by the Phantom V and in 1968 by the Phantom VI.

The Silver Cloud was replaced in 1965 by the Silver Shadow. This remained in production until 1980, when it was replaced by the Silver Spirit. In the meantime (1971), Rolls–Royce introduced a two–door, coupé or convertible model known as the Corniche, which remained in production until 1996. Its Bentley version was named the Continental.

A long–wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit, named the Silver Spur, was produced in parallel. This was the first Rolls–Royce in which the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot was retractable.

In 1975, Rolls–Royce introduced a new flagship model named the Camargue. Designed by Pinninfarina (the first production Rolls–Royce not designed in–house), this was not well received and has often featured in lists of the worst cars ever made. It was discontinued in 1986, and only 531 were produced.

The Silver Spirit and Silver Spur were replaced in 1998 by the Silver Seraph. This ceased production in 2002 when the Rolls–Royce marque was sold to BMW.

In 2003, BMW introduced the Phantom VII. This is credited with successfully reviving the Rolls–Royce brand and restoring its credibility as a maker of luxury cars. Drophead and Coupé versions were introduced in 2007 and 2008 respectively; all three versions were discontinued in 2016, and replaced in 2017 by the Phantom VIII.

Since 2010, BMW has revived three Rolls–Royce model names. The first of these was a smaller, "more measured, more realistic" alternative to the Phantom, named the Ghost. It was followed in 2013 by the Wraith (a "luxury grand tourer", based on the Ghost) and in 2016 by the Dawn (a luxury convertible).

Arguably the most famous Rolls–Royce ever was owned by John Lennon, who had it painted in a "psychedelic" design. This was a Phantom V, which he bought second–hand in 1964 on the Beatles' return from their trailblazing first US tour. (The Phantom V was produced from 1959 to 1968.)