Description
Kelham Hall | Newark, Nottinghamshire Viewing: Tues 22nd September 2026 from 12pm Auction: Weds 23rd September 2026 12pm Location: Kelham Hall Main Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX Registration No: T. B. C. Chassis No: SCA1568034UH00111MOT: March 2027 Supplied by Jack Barclay on the September 1st, 2004 Just under 20, 000 miles from new Just one owner until acquired by our vendor, and always chauffeur-driven Meticulously maintained, with the most recent service in March, 2026, at 19, 500 miles “Luxury cars abound, but there’s only one Rolls. And whatever one might think about the national origins of the new stewards, they seem to understand their mission. The new Phantom (the seventh generation of the name) has the craftsmanship, comfort, presence, and prestige of its predecessors. Call it tradition made modern.”—Tony Swan in Car and Driver, May, 2003 Less than five years after acquiring what is arguably the world’s most famous luxury car marque, the BMW Group had not only engineered a brand new Rolls-Royce flagship but also erected a state-of-the-art production facility on the Goodwood estate within which to assemble it. Launched on January 1st, 2003, the seventh-generation Phantom marked a technological step change from its predecessors, yet was still unmistakably a Rolls-Royce. Based around a hand-welded extruded aluminium spaceframe chassis clothed with aluminium and composite panels, the newcomer featured a highly sophisticated independent air suspension system mounted on steel subframes (double wishbone front and multi-link rear) as well as speed-sensitive power-assisted steering and massive four-wheel disc brakes. Developing some seventy-five per cent. of its peak torque at just 1, 000rpm, the bespoke 6¾-litre V12 was eerily refined. Quoted as developing some 453bhp and 531lb. ft. of torque and allied to a six-speed automatic transmission, it gave the luxury saloon an improbable turn of speed with contemporary road testers achieving 0-60mph in 5. 7 seconds and 149mph. Initially contentious, the Phantom’s bold styling lent it a road presence that rivals simply could not match; although reviewers devoted almost as much ink to its rear-hinged ‘coach’ doors, discreetly-mounted Teflon-coated umbrellas and matchless interior. Put simply, BMW set a new benchmark for the luxury car market with its first ‘clean sheet’ Rolls-Royce design. While labelling any car as “the best in the world” might these days be deemed a cliché, our American cousins did hail the new Phantom as “The King of Cars.” Characterised by a genuinely timeless luxury, this exquisite Phantom VII was sold new into the hands of a very appreciative owner, and its present owner—only the second registered keeper—has held it in similarly high regard. Having covered just under 20, 000 miles from new, it survives in an excellent state of preservation and surely ranks among the best and most original Phantom VIIs presently on the market. The story goes that the long-term first owner employed a chauffeur who took the greatest possible care over the car’s upkeep, hence it is in a wonderful state cosmetically, inside and out. The vendor, we believe, is justified when he describes it as “excellent” in all areas. We understand that servicing has been carried out at appropriate intervals, and the mechanical condition is correspondingly high. Our vendor, a keen Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiast, reports that he bought the car in June, 2026, from a famous actor, though it seems the actor did not register the car in his name. Unfortunately, our vendor has come to the decision that the Phantom is not right for his fleet; he has a custom of painting all his cars dark green, but considers this one too good and too original to repaint! Consequently, it must seek another owner who will help to preserve it for long into the future. The MOT history gives some insight into the level of care the car has received. It has been tested almost every year, with the exceptions of 2009, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025. It has passed every test since 2018 (18, 552 miles) with no advisories, and was most recently tested in March of this year, so the certificate remains valid for another six months. Because it has seen relatively little use in recent years, the vendor commissioned a service shortly after taking ownership, so the car should not require any considerable attention in the immediate future, other than further upkeep as required during ongoing use. We trust that any interested individuals who inspect the car will fall for it just as our vendor did, and just as we have done ourselves. The paint and brightwork are exemplary, and the interior, abounding in luxury fittings, is one of the loveliest one could expect to find in a car of this century. There is no indication that this Phantom has ever been submitted for judging at a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club event, but it would be very interesting to see how it might fare; we would expect a high score. We were very satisfied with...
