Rolls-Royce Phantom IV - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Phantom IV is the most exclusive Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Limited

Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....

model ever built.
Only 18 were made between 1950 and 1956, exclusively for royalty and heads of state. Of these, 16 have survived.

Characteristics

By creating the Phantom IV the manufacturer broke with their earlier decision to cease production of the series of "big" Rolls-Royce Phantoms after the end of the Second World War.
The chassis was developed from that of the Silver Wraith

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

For information on the Silver Wraith II, see Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow.The Silver Wraith was the first post-war Rolls-Royce model and was made at the Crewe factory from 1946 to 1959....

, strengthened and lengthened considerably to a wheelbase of 12' and an overall length of 19' 1".

It is the only Rolls Royce motorcar to be fitted with a straight-8

Straight-8

The straight-eight engine or inline-eight engine is an eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with all eight cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

engine, which could run long distances at a very low speed, an important feature for ceremonial cars.

All examples of this unique model were bodied by independent coachbuilders and their hoods surmounted by the kneeling version of the Spirit of Ecstasy

Spirit of Ecstasy

The Spirit of Ecstasy is the name of the hood ornament on Rolls-Royce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her...

History

In 1949, Rolls Royce received an order from the Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...

for a Rolls Royce limousine. His Royal Highness took this decision when he was lent an experimental Bentley

Bentley

Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later...

with an eight-cylinder engine; the young Duke was so impressed he asked Rolls-Royce to build such a chassis to his order.

The commission was accepted and the company, aware that Daimler

Daimler Motor Company

The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...

had enjoyed royal patronage since 1900, was very keen to ensure that they made the best car possible. The company's directors had considered manufacturing a replacement for the larger Phantom III, but were wary the weak post-war economic climate would not support such a large and expensive automobile. Production of the new model was not at Crewe

Crewe

Crewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...

but at the experimental "Clan Foundry" at Belper

Belper

Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...

which had been the home of the motor car branch during the Second World War.

Under the code name "Nabha

Nabha

Nabha is a city and municipal council in the Patiala district to the south-west of the Indian state of Punjab. In 1998, the annual income of Nabha state was Rs 1,50,000/-.- Princely State of Nabha :...

", the royal Rolls-Royce was hand-built on a stretched Silver Wraith chassis. When completed in July 1950 its delivery was accompanied by a public announcement ostensibly breaking the Daimler monopoly stating the Phantom IV had been "designed to the special order of Their Royal Highnesses, the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh". As the car was privately owned when delivered to the young couple and not an official state car

Official state car

An official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit, the official state car might be transported...

, it was painted Valentine green; upon Princess Elizabeth's accession to the British throne in 1952 it became one and was repainted in claret and black. It remains in the Royal Mews

Royal Mews

A Royal Mews is a mews of the British Royal Family. In London the Royal Mews has occupied two main sites, formerly at Charing Cross, and since the 1820s at Buckingham Palace....

to this day and is occasionally used to ferry Royal aides and friends to Royal Ascot. The car was last used at the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton to ferry Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall from Clarence House

Clarence House

Clarence House is a royal home in London, situated on The Mall, in the City of Westminster. It is attached to St. James's Palace and shares the palace's garden. For nearly 50 years, from 1953 to 2002, it was home to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, but is since then the official residence of The...

to Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...

.

This first Phantom IV was the first of two that Princess Elizabeth ordered; in 1954 a similar model with a landaulette

Car body style

Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...

body (since retired) entered the royal fleet.

Rolls-Royces remained preferred by the British Royal Family until the delivery of two customised Bentley

Bentley

s donated by that firm in 2002. However, the Phantom IV is sometimes used for special occasions of the royal family, such as by the Prince of Wales

Prince of Wales

Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...

and the Duchess of Cornwall

Duchess of Cornwall

The Duchess of Cornwall is the title held by the wife of the Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Cornwall is a non-hereditary peerage held by the British Sovereign's eldest son and heir....

at the 29 April 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Other owners included the Queen's sister, HRH The Princess Margaret, The Countess of Snowdon

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....

and the Spanish Head of State, General Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco

Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...

, whose three customised Phantom IVs (two limousines and a cabriolet) are still in ceremonial service with HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...

List of the 18 units

Chassis Chassis A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...	First owner	Coachbuilder Coachbuilder A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles.The trade dates back several centuries. Rippon was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Barker founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, Brewster a relative newcomer , formed in 1810. Others in Britain included...	Type of coachwork	Coachwork number/design	Original colour	Upholstery Upholstery Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...	Delivery date	Curiosities
4AF2	HRH The Princess Elizabeth, The Duchess of Edinburgh Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...	H. J. Mulliner H. J. Mulliner & Co. H. J. Mulliner & Co. was a well-known British coachbuilder operating at Chiswick in West London.The Mulliner family can trace their coachbuilding history back to 1760, building coaches for the Royal Mail in Northampton....	Limousine 7 seater	5034 / 7162	First Valentine green then claret and black	Front: blue leather, rear: grey cloth	6 July 1950	Mascot of Saint George and dragon, designed by artist Edward Seago Edward Seago Edward Brian Seago RBA ARWS RWS was an English artist who painted in both oils and watercolours.The son of a coal merchant, born in Norwich, Seago was a self-taught artist, , and enjoyed a wide range of admirers from the British Royal family and the Aga Khan to the common man... , it is made of silver and can be transferred from car to car. Fitted with a specially modified driver's seat in case the Duke of Edinburgh wished to drive himself. On April 10, 1952 the Queen was driven in this car to her first Royal Engagement, the presentation of Maundy Money Maundy money Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England held on Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. At the service, the British Monarch or a royal official ceremonially distributes small silver coins known as "Maundy money" as symbolic alms to elderly recipients... at the Westminster Abbey. Carried the Queen to the opening of the Parliament in 1954.
4AF4	Rolls Royce	Park Ward Park Ward Park Ward was a British coachbuilder founded by William M. Park and Charles W. Ward in 1919. They had worked together at F.W. Berwick Ltd., the makers of Sizaire-Berwick cars.Their business operated from Willesden, North London.-History:...	Pick-up truck	~	Grey	~	1 October 1950	Experimental truck used for the factory. Dismantled in 1963.
4AF6	HM Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...	H. J. Mulliner	Cabriolet	5077 / 7205	Blue silver	White	3 December 1951	Scrapped in 1959.
4AF8	HH Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Hakim of Kuwait Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah GCMG, CIE, KStJ was the last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait from 29 January 1950 until his death, and the eldest son of Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. As the eleventh ruler of the al-Sabah dynasty in Kuwait, he took power after the death of his cousin Sheikh Ahmad...	H. J. Mulliner	Limousine 6 light saloon	5153 / 7206	Beige and royal midnight blue	Biscuit	July 1951	At The Nethercutt Museum, 15151 Bledsoe Street, Sylmar, CA 91342
4AF10	HRH The Prince Henry, The Duke of Gloucester Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....	Hooper Hooper (coachbuilder) Hooper was a British coachbuilding company based in London.-Founding:The company was founded as Adams and Hooper in 1805 and held a royal warrant from 1830, building elegant horse drawn carriages, supplying them to King William IV, Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. The first royal car, a Hooper...	Limousine	9663 / 8292	Black	Fawn	1 September 1951	Featured in the 1966 films Arabesque Arabesque (film) Arabesque is a 1966 thriller starring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren. The movie is based on Gordon Cotler's novel The Cypher and directed by Stanley Donen.-Plot:Professor David Pollock is an expert in ancient hieroglyphics at Oxford University... and Fumo di Londra (Smoke over London).
4AF12	Ernest Hives, director of RR, then HRH The Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent	Hooper	Limousine 7 seater	9719 / 8307	Blue	Beige	1 July 1951	~
4AF14	General Francisco Franco of Spain Francisco Franco Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...	H. J. Mulliner	Limousine 5 seater	5035 / 7181	Black	W of E beige	13 June 1952	Armoured rear.
4AF16	General Francisco Franco of Spain	H.J. Mulliner	Limousine 7 seater	5036 / 7181	Black	W of E beige	4 July 1952	Armoured rear.
4AF18	General Francisco Franco of Spain	H. J. Mulliner	Cabriolet	4945 / 7183	Black	Green leather	28 March 1952	It was officially used for the first time on the 18th July 1952 victory parade. Armoured rear.
4AF20	HH Aga Khan III Aga Khan III Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan III, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO, PC was the 48th Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. He was one of the founders and the first president of the All-India Muslim League, and served as President of the League of Nations from 1937-38. He was nominated to represent India to...	Hooper	Limousine sedanca de ville	9750 / 8293	Dark green	Red leather	May 1952	When R. R. sold the car to the Aga Khan they included a clause which said he could not sell the car. However after his death his widow sold it to the Mayfair-Lennox hotel (Missouri, USA), where it was used to pick up guests at the airport but due to the boot short capacity it was resold in 1962.
4AF22	HH The Prince Talal of Saudi Arabia Talal ibn Abd al-Aziz Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz , also called The Red Prince, is a senior member of the Saudi royal family, and has led the Arab Gulf Program For the United Nations Development since 1986. He is a former ambassador to France. He served as Minister of Communications till 1955 before the Ministry was...	Franay	Cabriolet	- / 7183	Cream and green	Green leather	June 1952	The only Phantom IV with a French-made coachwork. This one was listed in their works description as a sedanca de ville but a four door cabriolet was erected on the chassis instead.
4BP1	HM King Faisal II of Iraq Faisal II of Iraq Faisal II was the last King of Iraq. He reigned from 4 April 1939 until July 1958, when he was killed during the "14 July Revolution" together with several members of his family...	Hooper	Limousine	9890 / 8361	Black	Red leather	26 March 1953	Made for his coronation.
4BP3	HRH 'Abd al-Ilah, Prince Regent of Iraq 'Abd al-Ilah Crown Prince Abd al-Ilāh of Hejaz, GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a cousin and brother-in-law of King Ghazi of the Kingdom of Iraq. Abdul Ilah served as Regent for King Faisal II from April 4, 1939 to May 2, 1953, when Faisal came of age...	Hooper	Touring limousine 7 seater	9891 / 8370	Black	Light blue leather	26 March 1953	Built for the coronation of his nephew, King Faisal II. Years later all the royal family members were assassinated in the 1958 coup d'état. At the time of the uprising, the car was at Hooper's in London for servicing and was saved as a result.
4BP5	HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...	Hooper	Landaulette	9941 / 8399	Black and maroon	Front: blue leather, rear: grey cloth	1 May 1954	Rolls-Royce kept this car for the exclusive use of the British Sovereign. Finally in 1959 it was purchased by the Queen and used by the royal family until the late 1980s. It is currently on display at the Sir Henry Royce Foundation.
4BP7	HRH The Princess Margaret, The Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI....	H. J. Mulliner	Limousine 7 seater	5686 / 7368	Black	Beige cloth	16 July 1954	Purchased by Princess Margaret, she chose Pegasus designed by Edward Seago and made (by Louis Lejeune Ltd Louis Lejeune Louis Lejeune Ltd. is a small bronze foundry in England, producing mainly small ornamental bronzes, decorative architectural fittings, and car mascots... , London) as her mascot. Fitted with an adjustable seat in case the Princess wished to drive herself.
4CS2	HH Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Hakim of Kuwait Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah GCMG, CIE, KStJ was the last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait from 29 January 1950 until his death, and the eldest son of Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. As the eleventh ruler of the al-Sabah dynasty in Kuwait, he took power after the death of his cousin Sheikh Ahmad...	H. J. Mulliner	Limousine 6 light saloon	5724 / 7376	Two-tone green	Olive green leather	1 February 1955	~
4CS4	HH Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Hakim of Kuwait Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah GCMG, CIE, KStJ was the last Sheikh and first Emir of Kuwait from 29 January 1950 until his death, and the eldest son of Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah. As the eleventh ruler of the al-Sabah dynasty in Kuwait, he took power after the death of his cousin Sheikh Ahmad...	H. J. Mulliner	Limousine	5725 / 7376	Golden copper and silver	Beige	August 1955	On display at Castillo Concejuelo Castillo Concejuelo Castillo Concejuelo is a private castle and automobile museum, located in Torre Loizaga, Biscay in the Basque Country, Spain.-Museum:Described as one of the most significant Rolls-Royce collections in the world, it contains 42 Rolls-Royce cars in three pavilions, in a total of 63 cars on display... in Torre Loizaga, Biscay Biscay Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao... , Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
4CS6	HM Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...	Hooper	Limousine	10177 / 8425	Black then repainted in bordeaux	Grey leather	October 1956	In 1977 the car was in London for "major repairs and refurbishing". After three years and a reported $25,000 worth of repairs, the car was still in the U. K. There was a dispute over who owned the car; the ousted Shah or representatives of the Iranian Embassy who said it belonged to their country. Finally the exiled Pahlavi family lost their claim to ownership in the British courts. This unit is currently displayed at the National Car Museum of Iran National Car Museum of Iran The National Car Museum of Iran is a museum in Karaj, Iran, opened in the year 2001. Inside the museums are classic cars owned by the last Shah of the Pahlavi Dynasty, Mohammad Reza Shah. There are two parts to the complex... .

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.