The best cars in the world, The Rolls Royce Phantom range gets an exhibition to showcase the cars.

• ‘THE GREAT EIGHT PHANTOMS’ A ROLLS-ROYCE EXHIBITION
• ROLLS-ROYCE ANNOUNCES A GATHERING OF THE GREATEST PHANTOMS IN HISTORY 
• #GreatPhantoms 

At the end of July, ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’, a Rolls-Royce Exhibition, will gather together the greatest Phantoms from the last 92 years in Mayfair, London. The Exhibition will welcome the next generation of this most celebrated luxury item. Over the next eight weeks, Rolls-Royce will announce which great Phantoms will journey to London from around the world, telling the stories of these motor cars and the historical events they witnessed. The first story will chronicle ‘The Fred Astaire Phantom I’. 

‘The Great Eight Phantoms’

From its debut in 1925, a Rolls-Royce Phantom has stood as witness to history’s most defining moments, from treaty signings to occasions of state and the events that have defined the world we live in today.

The conveyance of choice for the world’s most influential and powerful men and women for 92 years, Phantom has stood as a sentinel, silently witnessing moments as significant as The Beatles collecting their honours at Buckingham Palace, Field-Marshal Montgomery driving Churchill and Eisenhower, and numerous global superstars collecting their Oscars. 

Its standing as the longest existing nameplate in the world of motoring is testament to Phantom’s enduring importance to every generation’s leaders, from heads of state to generals, royalty to rock stars, stars of the silver screen to titans of industry. 

To celebrate this unprecedented legacy – a history still very much being written – Rolls-Royce will bring together the most famous examples of all seven previous generations of Phantom at ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ Exhibition from 27 July of this year. 

Phantoms that have been owned by the great and the good will return from around the globe to Rolls-Royce’s spiritual home in Mayfair, London – the global home of luxury – for this never to be repeated event, which will welcome the arrival of the eighth and most modern generation of ‘The Best Car in the World’, the new Phantom. 

In a series of updates over the next eight weeks, Rolls-Royce will reveal which famous Phantoms will travel to London for the Exhibition, an occasion that promises to write yet another chapter in Phantom’s remarkable history. 

The first of these iconic stories is about ‘The Fred Astaire Phantom I’, which is loaned to the Exhibition by its owner, the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. 

Rolls-Royce Phantom – ‘The Best Car in the World’

Rolls-Royce began producing the Phantom I in 1925. The car was developed in great secrecy, with the project code-named Eastern Armoured Car. This suggested Rolls-Royce was intent on producing the kind of military vehicles used in the First World War, most famously by Lawrence of Arabia. Sections of armour plate were left lying around the factory to confuse curious competitors eager to glean the secret of making the ‘best cars in the world’. 

The Phantom I was an instant success. The new 7.668-litre straight-six engine gave the car a fresh spring in its step. When General Motors opened a testing ground in Michigan, it was discovered that no cars could manage even two laps of the 4-mile circuit at full throttle without damaging their engines big ends – where the piston attaches to the crankshaft. However, Phantom I performed with consummate imperiousness and managed that, and more, at a steady 80mph without failure. 

Sir Henry Royce’s restless desire to, in his own words, “take the best that exists and make it better” quickly led to the creation of the Phantom II in 1929, this time with a totally new chassis, which significantly improved the handling, as well as a re-designed engine. 

The next Phantom, the third in the line, was to be Sir Henry Royce’s last project. He passed away in 1933, aged 70, about 12 months into the development of this next Phantom. The finished model, with its peerless 12 cylinder engine, was unveiled two years later and production lasted from 1936 until the Second World War. The final chassis was produced in 1941, although the war meant it did not receive its coachwork until 1947. No announcement came about a replacement and it looked as if the Phantom was another victim of the war. 

In 1950, Phantom IV appeared. The car was originally intended to be a one-off for Prince Philip and the then Princess Elizabeth. However, once seen, a further 17 were exclusively commissioned at the request of other royal families and heads of state around the world. Fitted with a straight-eight engine, it performed superbly at low speeds – essential for taking part in ceremonial parades – and featured the kneeling version of the famous Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet mascot. 

The Phantom V was produced between 1959 and 1968 and 516 of this hugely successful model were made for clients including the Queen Mother, governors of Hong Kong, King Olav of Norway and John Lennon. 

The long-running Phantom VI (1968-90) carried on the royal connection, notably with the Silver Jubilee Car, a raised-roof version presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1977 by the British motor industry to celebrate her 25 years on the throne, and later famously used at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 

In 2003, a watching world was greeted with Phantom VII, a glowing affirmation of the start of Rolls-Royce’s renaissance at his new home in Goodwood, West Sussex. It was sharply contemporary yet timeless in the manner in which it deftly retained Phantom’s characteristic aesthetic. Built at the Home of Rolls-Royce. an all-new, state-of-the-art centre of excellence, it arrived with a 453bhp 6.75-litre V12 – enough to propel it from 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds – and every possible comfort a new breed of discerning luxury consumer could desire. Exquisite detail right down to the car's Teflon-coated umbrellas and self-righting wheel-centres, left a curious public in no doubt the marque was in safe hands.

Production of the Phantom VII ceased thirteen years later at the end of 2016. 

‘The Great Eight Phantoms’, a Rolls-Royce Exhibition, will be the first time that this exceptional group of truly iconic luxury motoring pieces will be gathered under one roof. Every Rolls-Royce Phantom is an exceptional car, but thanks to their pedigree, this particular collection will include some very singular cars indeed, all owned at some point by famous individuals, and having played their part in witnessing the making of world history.

This is such an uncommon pageant, it is no exaggeration to say we might never see the likes of it again. 

‘The Great Eight Phantoms’, a Rolls-Royce Exhibition, will take place in Mayfair, London, at the end of July this year. 

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, London celebrates 2016 as its most successful year ever.

• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is celebrating 2016 as the most successful year ever in the dealership’s history
• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London reports substantial growth in 2016, a testament to London’s standing as a global centre of entrepreneurship
• The British marque’s flagship showroom in the heart of Mayfair sold the third most cars worldwide over the course of 2016 and attracted a younger, more dynamic breed of businessperson

H.R. Owen dealership Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is celebrating the most successful year in its history.

This exceptional result has been driven by sustainable growth in new car commissions, Provenance pre-owned and Bespoke.

Located on the iconic Berkeley Square in Mayfair, the dealership placed an impressive third in the world for Rolls-Royce in terms of individual customer commissions in 2016, rising up from seventh the previous year.

The marque’s Bespoke Financial Services offering, affording successful entrepreneurs flexibility when commissioning their Rolls-Royce motor cars, also enjoyed a remarkable year – driving a new, younger breed of customer to the brand for the first time.

Rolls-Royce’s flagship dealership celebrated substantial growth over the course of the year, as Britain’s entrepreneurs continued to turn to Rolls-Royce as the ultimate symbol of attainment.

The world’s most successful and influential entrepreneurs from around the globe call London their home, with their investments into Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London serving as investments to Britain itself.

“This historic record result for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is testament to the capital’s position as a global centre of entrepreneurship. These highly successful men and women are the drivers of our economy, creating jobs and wealth and to them the commissioning of a Bespoke Rolls-Royce stands as the ultimate reward for their success,” said Claus Andersen, Brand Director of Rolls-Royce.

“Our iconic showroom in Berkeley Square has proven the perfect place in which to serve this growing new breed of the successful businessperson. We are proud to deliver an exquisite, hand-made British luxury good to the world’s most influential men and women.”

Rolls-Royce’s operations in the UK as a whole grew by an impressive 27 per cent, adding up to the company’s second most successful year in its history.

The introduction of highly successful new collections was the drive behind such impressive figures, with the launch of the dynamic Black Badge series and the stylish Dawn drophead coupéattracting a younger, more dynamic breed of entrepreneur to the marque.

H.R. Owen and its supercar Sunday was a huge success bringing one of London's streets to a standstill.

• H. R. Owen’s Supercar Sunday proves a great success, as owners and enthusiasts gather to celebrate the group’s most exciting models
• Taking place at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London in Mayfair on Sunday 23 October, Supercar Sunday brought together H.R. Owen’s customers and 50 different supercars from across the group
• The Lamborghini Aventador, BAC Mono and Rolls-Royce Wraith were just three of the high-end supercars on show at the event
• Lamborghini Pangbourne brought seven of its stunning models to Supercar Sunday in a Drive Out event from the Berkshire showroom 

H.R. Owen’s Supercar Sunday event brought one of Mayfair’s most famous streets to a standstill, with owners and enthusiasts touching down at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London in Berkeley Square to celebrate the group’s most exciting models.

From 9am-12pm on Sunday 23 October, over 50 of the best supercars in the world were on display in Mayfair from across H.R. Owen’s high-end brand network.

The leading luxury dealer group deals with some of the biggest and most desirable marques in the business, including BAC, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini.

Naturally, spectators gathered in their hundreds to get a glimpse of the remarkable models on display, which included the new Lamborghini Aventador and the Ferrari California T.

The Aventador and six other models were brought to Berkeley Square by Lamborghini Pangbourne, which hosted a Drive Out event in the morning from its Berkshire location to Mayfair.

Upon arrival at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London, H.R. Owen’s guests enjoyed coffee and breakfast before meeting with fellow supercar lovers to talk all things automotive.

Over 300 attendees of all ages were on location in Mayfair, with younger supercar fans sitting in the stunning models and enjoying a tour of the showroom.

From taking the driver’s seat of a Rolls-Royce Dawn to sitting in the back of a Ghost, guests were given full licence to roam at one of the most lucrative dealerships in the UK.

Claus Anderson, Brand Director of H.R. Owen Rolls-Royce said: “Supercar Sunday was a hugely popular and enjoyable event for everyone involved and certainly an event you can label fun for all the family. Supercar spotters around Mayfair were also fully satisfied with their day, as they got a glimpse of some remarkable models.

“To bring Berkeley Square to a standstill is testament to the excellent cars H.R. Owen deals with, and bringing so many people together is just another way the group gives back to its loyal customers.”

H.R. Owen opens a new and unique Bugatti dealership in Mayfair London, the only showroom in the UK, ready for Chiron.

• H.R. Owen Bugatti is the first dedicated Bugatti showroom to be opened in the UK
• Bugatti continues successful partnership with dealer partner H.R. Owen
• New showroom in Mayfair will be the only place in the UK to view and order the new Bugatti Chiron 

Bugatti is celebrating the reopening of its London showroom. The address in Mayfair, which has been established for several years, has now taken on a new shine. Bugatti’s long-term partner in the United Kingdom, H.R.Owen Bugatti, has had the showroom, which is exclusively devoted to the French luxury brand from Alsace for the first time, completed in the new Bugatti brand design.

This is the first dedicated Bugatti showroom to be opened in the UK and will be the only place in the UK to view and order the new Bugatti Chiron.

The showroom is located on Bruton Street in Mayfair, adjacent to H.R. Owen’s famous Bentley dealership – Jack Barclay and other dealerships of the company and delivers the perfect environment in which to view the new Bugatti and discuss personalisation options with the factory trained team. It allows customers a private and secluded buying experience, out of view from the outside world, and allows them to get up close with the car.

The showroom features the very latest Bugatti branding, with the legendary Bugatti blue playing a prominent part in the modern and clean styling around the room. H.R. Owen Bugatti is furnished with items from the recently launched Bugatti Home Collection.

The specially designed armchairs are made using the finest leather and blue carbon fibre, the same high-spec materials that feature in Bugatti’s cars. As well as the present and future, the showroom will also reflect Bugatti’s history and heritage, with a selection of art installations and sculptures that celebrate the brand beyond the cars. H.R. Owen Bugatti is more than just a car showroom, and is designed to convey a shared passion for the Bugatti brand and everything it stands for.

The launch of the new showroom is an important moment for both Bugatti and H.R. Owen, with senior figures from both companies present at the official opening. Dr Stefan Brungs, Member of the Board of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. for Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, and Anita Krizsan, H.R. Owen Bugatti Brand Director, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the new dealership.

Dr Stefan Brungs said: ”London is one of the most important locations for Bugatti worldwide. Many of our current customers love this city and have a residence here. The launch of H.R. Owen Bugatti means that we are now able to serve our exclusive clientele in a perfect setting. 

With the expert and experienced team at H.R. Owen, we know that customers in London and from the rest of the UK will be wonderfully looked after right from the very start of their ownership experience.”

About 65 Bugatti Veyrons are currently owned by customers in the United Kingdom and about 15 orders for the Chiron have been received from this country so far. Since the start of cooperation with Bugatti in 2006, HR Owen Bugatti in London has always been one of the top performers in the super sports car manufacturer’s dealer network.

Anita Krizsan said: “The Chiron is the greatest car in the world, and it is only right that it has a showroom that reflects that. We aim to deliver the most exclusive, most luxurious and most bespoke service of any car dealership in the world.

“At H.R. Owen we are proud to have been chosen to be the only Bugatti dealership in the UK, and the first standalone showroom in the history of the brand in the country. This is truly a reflection of our standing as the premiere luxury car dealer group in the UK.”

Rolls Royce to supply a fleet of cars at the Hurlingham Classic Tennis Tournament, to ferry the players around.

• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London will play a key role at the Tennis Classic at Hurlingham in London, taking place 21-24 June
• Players at the prestigious tournament will be chauffeured around in a selection of Rolls-Royce models
• There will be two Rolls-Royce Dawns on display in the grounds of the exclusive Hurlingham Club, while players will ride in the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Ghost
• Players taking part in the tournament include global stars such as David Ferrer, Marin Cilic, Richard Gasquet, Kei Nishikori and more

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is taking a central role at the upcoming Tennis Classic at Hurlingham, and will be chauffeuring some of the world’s most famous tennis players around during the tournament.

Former US Open Champion Marin Cilic and Roland Garros finalist David Ferrer will both be taking part in the grass-court event, which is one of the most quintessentially British of tournaments and takes place in one of the most exclusive and prestigious locations in London.

The players will be chauffeured around the tournament and the local area in another timeless British icon, as H.R. Owen is providing a fleet of Rolls-Royce Ghost and Rolls-Royce Phantoms to help the players get to the club and around London.

The H.R. Owen dealership will also provide two Rolls-Royce Dawns to go on display in the club that has been described as a hidden gem of South London. The all-new convertible Dawn will add an extra level of beauty to the stunning grounds of the Hurlingham Club during the four-day tournament.

Other players that will be taking part in the Tennis Classic at Hurlingham include famous names such as Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Tomáš Berdych, Richard Gasquet and Feliciano Lopez. They will play a series of exhibition matches that will serve as the perfect warm up to Wimbledon, which begins the following week. Being driven in the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom will allow them to focus on what really matters – preparing for the matches ahead.

H.R. Owen’s Rolls-Royce brand director Claus Andersen said: “The Tennis Classic at Hurlingham is a timelessly elegant English event on the tennis calendar, and is a perfect fit for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London. The event allows the players to prepare for Wimbledon, and we are delighted to be able to help with their preparation by providing a fleet of Rolls-Royce cars to help them get around in a relaxing and luxurious manner to let them concentrate on their game.”

The Tennis Classic at Hurlingham is one of the most intimate events in the tennis calendar and takes place at The Hurlingham Club from 21-24 June, just a few miles from the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showroom in Berkeley Square in Mayfair.

The re-birth of an Icon, the most famous sports car in the world gets reborn, and one of it's owners showcases it.

• Stratstone acquires the third ‘Missing Six’ Lightweight E-type

Stratstone has today been revealed as the owner of one of the famous 2015 Jaguar Lightweight E-types.  Chassis number 15 is one of the infamous ‘Missing Six’ and didn’t have to travel far from the iconic Jaguar Browns Lane production facility in Coventry as it made its way to its new base at Stratstone Jaguar London in Mayfair.

The fascinating story of the Lightweight E-type dates back to February 1963 and the intended 18-car ‘Special GT E-type’ race car project from that time.  Only 12 of the 18 were built and delivered by the Browns Lane competitions department between 1963 and 1964, which gave rise to the infamous ‘Missing Six’.  

These missing chassis numbers – 13 to 18 – were found in 2014, and so the modern-day production by Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Vehicle Operations division’s Jaguar Classic, got underway.

The modern incarnation of the Lightweight saw Jaguar Classic draw on the company’s original 1960s tooling and production methods, and it’s unique highly experienced engineering and design resources.  

Replete with world-leading aluminium body technology, skilled hand craftsmanship, the six-cylinder XK engine with its aluminium block, wide angle aluminium cylinder head and dry sump lubrication (derived from the Le-Mans winning D-type of the 1950s), the 2015 Lightweight E-type is both original and special in every way.

The cars are delivered as period competition vehicles, fully compliant with FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes.  All of the ‘Missing Six’ are built to period-exact dimensions and specifications, ensuring absolute authenticity and a modern-day build to the highest quality standards.

Trevor Finn, CEO of Stratstone’s parent company Pendragon PLC, comments: “Our intention for this very special Jaguar is that it will serve as a living and dynamic ambassador for Stratstone across the UK and Europe.  A passion for cars and motorsports is ingrained at the heart of Stratstone and its illustrious heritage. 

This car brings its own legacy and we’re delighted to be a part of its story.  It was a pleasure to have the chance to work with Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations and we’re proud and privileged to have been successful in securing one of the ‘missing six’. We want E-type 15 to be the UK’s E-type and the plan is to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see it in a variety of locations.”

Handing over the keys to Chassis Number 15, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations’ Managing Director, John Edwards said: “The remit of Jaguar Classic is to indulge our most discerning and enthusiastic fans’ passion for our cars, and I am delighted to officially hand over this special Jaguar Lightweight E-type to Stratstone.  

The E-type is an iconic car, especially in London, so to deliver it to its new home right here in the heart of the capital is really something quite special.”

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London pays tribute to the most extreme Rolls-Royce ever – the new Black Badge.

• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London pays tribute to the most extreme Rolls-Royce ever – the new Black Badge
• To celebrate the extreme new edition, H.R. Owen takes a look at some more extremes from Rolls-Royce’s past
• Highlights include the customer that chose a colour scheme to match his t-shirt, and another that has already ordered three Dawns
• Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London most successful salesman has recently recorded his 1000^th sale, and doesn’t plan on stopping yet

With the imminent arrival of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge, the most extreme edition from the famous manufacturer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London is celebrating some other extremes from the company’s history. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has been based at its flagship showroom in Berkeley Square in Mayfair, West London, since 1927, and has seen all manner of extremes in that time.

1. Precise pink

Rolls-Royce offers limitless possibilities for personalisation, allowing you to choose your car in whatever colour you like. The most specific colour scheme chosen by a Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London customer was a red exterior and a bubblegum pink interior. It wasn’t just any red and pink, though, as the buyer brought in a t-shirt that he wanted to match the colours to.

2.Three at once

Taking delivery of your new Rolls-Royce is truly a special occasion, but for one customer June is going to be a time to really treasure. They are taking delivery of three Rolls-Royce Dawns – the first time that a customer has bought three cars in one go from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London.

3. A special occasion

When a customer does take delivery of their new car, it is far from being a simple hand over of the keys and the documents. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London makes sure it is an occasion to remember, and takes the new owner through every aspect of their car. The process takes on average three hours, and is the perfect introduction to life with a Rolls-Royce. As a final, and personal touch, the new owner even gets a gift specific to their car.

4. All about timing

When a car is sold through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London, it is treated with the utmost care and attention. Before it is deemed worthy to be handed over to customer, it will be thoroughly prepared, with each car taking five hours to valet and get just right.

5. Carefully painted

To achieve the Rolls-Royce mirror-like finish, the only robots you will find at the Home of Rolls-Royce apply five layers of paint. Highly skilled paint experts paint any hard-to-reach spots. In total the process of applying a flawless exterior finish takes 7 days and uses over 100lb of paint.

6. Find the lady

The Spirit of Ecstasy is the a finishing touch of simplistic elegance on the bonnet of every bonnet, but the mechanism that moves her up and down is anything but simple – there are as many as 24 unseen linkages and bearings that work together to tuck her out of sight.

7. Finely tuned

Even though many elements of a Rolls-Royce can be changed according to a customer’s desires, the 1300 Watt, 18 speaker Bespoke Audio system in a Rolls-Royce is so exhaustively tuned, interior designers must seek the permission of the Engineer who created it before making any design changes.

8. Stars above

The Starlight Headliner, one the most popular Bespoke features in a modern Rolls-Royce, comprises 1340 individually hand-woven fibre-optics in the interior roof. Customers are able to specify a specific constellation, which will be verified by a local observatory, and more than 2km of cabling is painstakingly hand-woven to achieve the eye-catching effect.

9. Starting early

What car did you drive in your early 20s? A Rolls-Royce might not be within reach for every 21-year-old, but that is the age of the youngest customer ever to have bought a car through Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London. It wasn’t just any car – it was the one-off Rolls-Royce Inspired by Film, which really brings the bespoke element of Rolls-Royce to life.

Amazingly, this Rolls-Royce buyer isn’t the youngest anywhere in the world, though, as a gentleman from Taiwan who ordered his first Phantom at the age of just 12.

The Rolls-Royce Black Badge will be making its first appearance in the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London showroom in July.