Rolls-Royce Phantom VI

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI is a British limousine made from 1968 to 1990 by Rolls-Royce. A total of 374 Phantom VIs were made, of which fewer than 40 were manufactured in the last decade of production.

The exterior is almost identical to the facelifted Phantom V.

Construction

Most of the coachwork was created by Mulliner Park Ward, usually in limousine form, although a few landaulets were made.

The Phantom VI was the last Rolls-Royce with a separate chassis. It featured coil springs in front, leaf springs and live axle in rear, and drum brakes on all four wheels. The car was powered by a 90-degree V8 with a bore of and stroke of with twin SU carburettors, coupled to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. In a 1979 upgrade the engine capacity was increased to , a 3-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter was substituted, and separate front and rear air conditioning units were provided.

In 1990, the last Rolls-Royce Phantom VI chassis were built. However, as the completion of the coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward took around 18 months, the last cars were made in the period of the next two years.

Design of a Phantom VII based on the Silver Shadow's body was discussed in the 1970s, but plans were scrapped. No prototypes were built. A production Rolls-Royce Phantom VII was rolled out in 2003.

Owners

Before her death in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II had two Rolls-Royce Phantom VIs: the Silver Jubilee Car and a more conventional 1986 model. These two cars were the official state cars until the introduction of the two Bentley State Limousines in 2002.

When in use by the Queen, the hood ornament, Spirit of Ecstasy was replaced by a model of St George slaying the dragon.

File:Car Marriage Kate Middleton and her father.jpg, 1977 Silver Jubilee car carrying Kate Middleton
File:Rolls-Royce Phantom VI 2009 State Limousine Windsor Castle.jpg, Phantom VI at Windsor Castle

Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia, also owns a Phantom VI; it was previously owned by Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy.

Legacy

Three other Phantom models were built between 1995 and 1997, also by order of the Sultan of Brunei. This car was named ''Rolls-Royce Cloudesque'' and sometimes referred to as ''Rolls-Royce Phantom VII''. The exterior is reminiscent of a stretched Phantom V Limousine; the extra length being added at the B-pillar. The boot is redesigned, looking more like that of a Silver Seraph. The headlights were designed in a Silver Cloud III style (but with chromed eyelids), hence the name ''Cloudesque''.

References

External links

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Rolls-Royce Phantom VI

{{Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Cars introduced in 1968
1970s cars
1980s cars
1990s cars