After all, Rolls-Royce has used it Phantom name on full-sized luxury cars and limousines since 1925, making it the longest-used car model nameplate in automotive history.

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Except that by the time the Rolls-Royce Phantom Mark VII arrived in 2003, Rolls-Royce was no longer English anymore, but definitively German, owned by BMW. BMW’s road to owning Rolls-Royce began long before the first Phantom rolled out of Goodwood. In the early 1990s, the Munich automaker made an unsuccessful bid to buy stakes in both Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

A decade later, they finally got their chance – but not without a complicated battle with Volkswagen.

At first, VW ended up with the designs, the Spirit of Ecstasy emblem, and the famous Pantheon grille, while BMW only secured the Rolls-Royce name and trademarks.

For several months, it looked like VW might build Rolls-Royce cars using BMW’s engines under a licensing deal. Eventually, the two sides struck an agreement: starting in 2003, BMW would take full control of Rolls-Royce, while VW kept Bentley.

Once the agreement was in place, BMW faced an unusual challenge: launching a new Rolls-Royce without a single carry-over design or blueprint from the outgoing Silver Seraph. The company had the name, the badge, and the brand’s heritage – but none of the physical elements that made a Rolls instantly recognizable. That meant starting with a blank sheet of paper, reimagining every line and detail from the ground up.

Designer Ian Cameron set to work adopting the Pantheon grille (which was, at first, off-limits as part of the brand’s intellectual property) and reimagining the Spirit of Ecstasy for BMW’s first Rolls-Royce, the seventh generation Rolls-Royce Phantom.

It replaced the Silver Seraph as Rolls’s full-size luxury sedan, which meant it needed epic proportions that heralded just how much money you were sharing the road with. As such, the Phantom touted a long wheelbase and hood and high roof with tall wheels and tires. Under the hood, the larger-than-life aesthetic continued. BMW bored and stroked their existing V12, the N73, to 6.75 liters.

The new mill offered 453 horsepower at 531 pound-feet of torque, with much of the torque available from just 1,000 rpm.

You can test the results right now at Beverly Hills Car Club, where we have an elegant and low-mileage 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom, a true statement of luxury and craftsmanship, showing just 29,520 miles on the odometer. Finished in its factory silver exterior, this Phantom is beautifully complemented by a refined seashell interior, highlighted by extensive burl walnut veneer that reflects the marque’s dedication to traditional coachbuilt elegance.

Powered by a smooth and commanding 6.75-liter V12 engine paired with an automatic transmission, this Phantom delivers effortless performance with remarkable refinement.

It comes equipped with power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes, signature courtesy and side marker lighting, and elegant chrome trim throughout.

The iconic retractable Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament sits proudly above the Pantheon grille, while the distinctive rear-hinged coach doors provide both visual drama and ease of entry.

Inside, the cabin is a showcase of comfort and detail, offering air-conditioning, a multi-function steering wheel, power-adjustable seats, and a premium audio system. The craftsmanship is evident in every surface, from the hand-finished wood veneers to the plush lambswool floor mats. A unique touch of practicality and luxury, the factory Teflon-coated umbrellas are discreetly housed within the rear door frames, ready at the push of a button.

As the first Phantom model developed under BMW ownership, our car blends traditional Rolls-Royce craftsmanship with modern engineering and technology, resulting in one of the most advanced luxury sedans of its time.

In summary, this Phantom represents a remarkable combination of presence, comfort, and engineering excellence.

With its timeless design, opulent interior, and thoughtful features, it offers a driving experience and remains mechanically sound.

Of course for those of a more louche bearing – or simply those who wanted to appear louche – there was a tendency in the UK to refer to such ‘motors’ as ‘Rollers.’ Indeed, the notion of the ‘Roller’ in UK gangster mythology was rather summed up by the 2008 film RocknRolla by director Guy Ritchie, the former husband of Madonna.

The late, great actor Tom Wilkinson, a friend of my father, told him he had taken the dual lead role in the film – as  Lenny Cole, the head of London’s declining old school mob regime – because he had never previously played a part where he was called to use the work ‘fa-a-a-ahrk’ in every third sentence. There may have been a further attraction: a gang in the movie was called The Wild Bunch.

The immortal director Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch was always Tom Wilkinson’s favorite film.

-Alex Manos, Owner