Rolls-Royce New Phantom launch chassis
Rolls-Royce sold a smooth new engine and chassis, then a coachbuilder dressed it as anything from a sporty open car to a formal limousine.
1926 Rolls-Royce New Phantom limousine · Lars-Göran Lindgren · CC BY-SA 3.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
A newspaper advertisement on May 2, 1925 announced that Rolls-Royce could demonstrate and accept orders for a new 40/50 H.P. chassis called the New Phantom. Its 7.7-litre six-cylinder engine moved the valves above the cylinders and delivered more power than the Silver Ghost it replaced. Buyers chose a short or long chassis and commissioned a separate coachbuilder, so the launch car was really a mechanical platform rather than one fixed body shape.
Look a little closer.
The name Phantom first appeared officially in the May 2 advertisement; calling the older 40/50 H.P. the Silver Ghost at the same time prevented confusion.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
The day Phantom became an official name
Rolls-Royce reproduces the substance of its Times advertisement dated May 2, 1925. It distinguished the older Silver Ghost chassis from the new model and recorded the first official use of New Phantom. Autocar reviewed the newcomer only six days later, on May 8.
Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars · Phantom: 100 years of perfection ↗One chassis, many possible cars
Rolls-Royce supplied the rolling chassis, while independent coachbuilders created the body and cabin to a client's order. The National Motor Museum's early chassis received an open touring body from Hooper for Lord Montagu, but that survivor is one illustration—not the universal launch shape, mass or seating plan.
Source: National Motor Museum · 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom story ↗Where these facts come from
- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars · Phantom: 100 years of perfection
- National Motor Museum · 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom story
- National Motor Museum · Rolls-Royce 40/50 New Phantom collection record
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.