The World Best Rolls Royce Car: Exploring the Icons

There are likely compelling economic reasons why Rolls-Royce has continued to build cars for over a century, and a review of the company’s history reveals several significant corporate challenges. However, a highly plausible explanation for its enduring success is its consistent effort to cater to individual customer desires to the greatest extent possible. Do you wish for wood from your own garden trees to be crafted into a dashboard? Considered done. Are you keen to have a microwave installed between the rear seats? Absolutely, just ensure your pot noodles are ready. Within reason, whatever the request, Rolls-Royce has strived to go above and beyond, which is precisely why it has been responsible for producing some of the finest automobiles on the planet, truly epitomizing the idea of the World Best Rolls Royce Car.

Reflecting on the brand’s legacy helps contextualize its position among the names of very expensive cars and its status as perhaps the best and expensive car in the world for many.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-1-rolls-royce-10hp-bonhams-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce 10hp – 1904

It would be illogical to compile a list of the greatest Rolls-Royce cars ever created without featuring the company’s inaugural product, the first result of the business partnership between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. The 10hp made its debut at the 1904 Paris Salon show. As its name indicates, it was powered by a 1.8-litre, two-cylinder engine producing 10 horsepower – specifically 10.1PS (7kW). Manufactured in Cooke Street, Manchester, it was originally priced at a seemingly reasonable £395. This figure becomes less modest when considering that a house in central London could be acquired for a similar amount at the time.

Loosely based on Royce’s initial automotive venture in 1903, the Royce 10, which itself was derived from Royce’s personal Decauville, the 10hp was notable for its quiet operation and comfort. These qualities remain fundamental to everything Rolls-Royce undertakes today. The oldest known surviving 10hp, bearing registration U44, was sold by Bonhams in 2007 for £3.5 million – a considerable sum representing the historical value of the world’s oldest Rolls-Royce. Discussing historical models and their value brings to mind the market for 2nd hand luxury cars in kolkata, highlighting how certain vehicles retain significant value over time, albeit on a different scale.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-2-rolls-royce-silver-ghost-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost – 1907

If the 10hp does not quite meet the expectation of Rolls-Royce luxury, the company introduced something with considerably more power three years later: the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Production of the Silver Ghost commenced in Manchester in 1907 before relocating to Derby in 1908. Unlike the 10hp, it was equipped with a 7.0-litre six-cylinder engine producing 40 or 50PS (29kW or 37kW). Initially, it was not officially named the Silver Ghost but followed the 10hp’s naming convention as the 40/50hp. While there were few vehicles on the road at that time, the assessment by Autocar magazine in April 1907 that “The running of this car at slow speeds is the smoothest thing we have ever experienced” undoubtedly provided a significant boost to the company, its employees, Henry Royce, and Charles Rolls.

Over two decades, the engine displacement increased from 7.0 to 7.4 litres, the chassis was reinforced, the suspension was enhanced, brakes were added to all four wheels, and the gearbox transitioned from a four-speed overdrive unit to a three-speed box with a direct-drive top gear. The development car, chassis 60551, was even entered into the Scottish Reliability Trial, a demanding 15,000-mile endurance event, which it completed effortlessly, establishing a new speed record. Another vehicle (pictured, 1915 chassis 9AD) completed a 400-mile journey from London to Edinburgh solely in top gear, achieving an average fuel economy of 24.3mpg. Subsequently, during a top-speed test at Brooklands, it reached 78mph and later 101.8mph with different bodywork.

The Silver Ghost remains the longest-produced Rolls-Royce model in the company’s history, with 6,173 units built in Manchester and Derby between 1907 and 1925, and an additional 1,703 manufactured in Springfield, USA, until 1926. It was also the final Rolls-Royce developed under Charles Rolls, who tragically became the first British citizen to die in an aeroplane crash when the tail of his Wright Flyer detached during an air display.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-3-rolls-royce-phantom-i-bonhams-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Phantom I – 1925

The illustrious Phantom nameplate is far from new, having been first introduced in 1925. It featured a different and larger 7.6-litre six-cylinder engine compared to the Silver Ghost, alongside minor refinements to the chassis, brakes, steering, and suspension systems. While a comprehensively improved vehicle, it didn’t quite garner the same level of initial astonishment as the Silver Ghost, primarily because the preceding model’s brilliance set an expectation for the Phantom to be equally, if not more, exceptional.

Mirroring the Silver Ghost, customers would acquire the chassis and mechanical components directly from Rolls-Royce before commissioning bespoke bodywork from an independent coachbuilder. This practice is the reason finding two Phantom Is with identical body designs today is highly improbable.

The Phantom I was produced from 1925 to 1929. The Phantom II, the final iteration of the ’40/50hp’ Rolls-Royce series, was built from 1929 to 1936. The Phantom III, notable as the only V12-powered Rolls-Royce until the Silver Seraph arrived in 1998, continued production until the commencement of World War II. The vehicle depicted is a 1927 Phantom I, chassis 14RF, previously owned by King Edward VIII.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-4-rolls-royce-silver-wraith-1950-bonhams-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith – 1946

In the 1930s, Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley. This union enabled both businesses to develop superior vehicles and manufacture them more cost-effectively by sharing various components, which were then specifically tuned for either Bentley or Rolls-Royce applications. While the Silver Wraith wasn’t the first model produced after the companies merged, it marked Rolls-Royce’s first post-war car, with production beginning in 1946.

The chassis was manufactured in Crewe at the former Rolls-Royce Merlin engine plant (demand for the Merlin engine significantly decreased after the war’s end) alongside the Bentley Mark VI. However, for the first time, Rolls-Royce offered a standard body option directly to customers, rather than solely selling a chassis requiring external coachwork. Available with a straight-six engine in 4.3-, 4.6-, and later 4.9-litre displacements, it was smaller than the pre-war Phantom and, in Rolls-Royce’s estimation, better aligned with the post-war national sentiment of austerity. Notably, it became available with a four-speed automatic gearbox from 1952, sharing the distinction of being the joint-first automatic Rolls-Royce. Despite being sourced from General Motors, this introduction was significant, considering manual transmissions have not been offered on a Rolls-Royce for many decades.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-5-rolls-royce-silver-cloud-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud – 1955

Following the Silver Ghost and Silver Wraith, the lineage continued with the Silver Cloud. Replacing the Silver Dawn (yes, another model bearing the ‘Silver’ name), the Silver Cloud presented a distinctly different visual profile. While still large and imposing, it moved away from the central ‘box’ shape and covered rear wheels characteristic of the Silver Dawn and indeed many other cars since the 1920s.

Sharing a close relationship with the Bentley S1, the Silver Cloud featured a box-section chassis and boasted improved brakes and suspension compared to the Silver Dawn. It even incorporated electrically controlled damping and, by 1956, offered power steering and air conditioning. A four-speed automatic gearbox was standard fitment. Initially powered by a 4.9-litre straight-six engine (Series II and III models received 6.2-litre V8s), it had “adequate power” (as Rolls-Royce famously described it) to exceed 100mph, though the exact power output was not publicly disclosed by the company. With the Silver Cloud, Rolls-Royce aimed to demonstrate its capability in building a thoroughly modern vehicle, and it succeeded.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-6-rolls-royce-corniche-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Corniche – 1971

The Corniche nameplate first appeared in 1939 during the development of a new Rolls-Royce model based on the Bentley Mark V. After completing 15,000 miles of testing across Europe, the prototype was tragically destroyed by a bomb before it could be returned to the UK. With the outbreak of World War II, new car development understandably ceased being a priority. However, the name was reserved and eventually used for the first time in 1971.

Available as either a coupe or a convertible, the Corniche was equipped with a 6.75-litre V8 engine producing approximately 240PS (176kW). Power was delivered to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission sourced from General Motors. It featured disc brakes, which became ventilated from 1972, as well as independent suspension incorporating hydraulic self-levelling technology licensed from Citroën and built by Rolls-Royce. This technology was quite advanced for its time.

Just under 4,500 examples were built over its 25-year production run, with convertibles accounting for approximately three-quarters of the total volume.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-7-rolls-royce-phantom-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Phantom – 2003

Rolls-Royce has been acquired three times throughout its more than 11-decade history: by Vickers, Volkswagen, and ultimately by BMW. The narratives surrounding these ownership transfers are captivating, particularly how BMW skillfully secured Rolls-Royce from Volkswagen, an excellent example of corporate acumen. Each transition presented management with a fundamental challenge: how to reassure the world that Rolls-Royce retained its essential British character and its unwavering pursuit of excellence. When the company joined the BMW group, concerns arose that future Rolls-Royce models would merely be large BMWs with different body shells. Fortunately, with access to a substantial new financial backing, Rolls-Royce was able to develop what many consider the finest car in its history: the new Rolls-Royce Phantom. Information on modern models like the new rolls royce ghost or details on the upcoming electric rolls royce spectre price showcase the brand’s continuous evolution under current ownership.

The Phantom VII represented a transformative moment. As the first vehicle constructed at the new Rolls-Royce facility at Goodwood, its 6.75-litre V12 engine was exceptionally smooth. The double-wishbone suspension system could absorb virtually any road imperfection without passengers perceiving it. The cabin, featuring heavily double-glazed windows and extensive sound deadening, offered near-total isolation from road noise. The six-speed gearbox was arguably the finest fitted to any Rolls-Royce at that time. Added features like the choice of over 44,000 standard paint colors (with custom options available), the umbrellas conveniently stored within the doors (and heated to ensure dryness), and the distinctive ‘power reserve’ dial underscore why the Phantom achieved such remarkable success.

It’s estimated that Rolls-Royce sold slightly over 10,000 Phantoms from 2003 to 2017. Considering the starting price for the Phantom was £250,000 in 2003 and that every single unit would have been uniquely customized with options, this sales figure represents a significant commercial triumph.

best-rolls-royce-cars-ever-8-rolls-royce-cullinan-goodwood-26082020.jpg

Rolls-Royce Cullinan – 2018

It is acknowledged that some individuals may react negatively to the inclusion of the Cullinan on a list of the world’s best Rolls-Royce cars. While such strong opinions are understandable, it’s important to consider the context and what Rolls-Royce aimed to achieve. The mandate was to create a vehicle that retained the appearance, feel, and driving characteristics of a true Rolls-Royce – meaning it had to be powerful, imposing, exceptionally quiet, and utterly luxurious – while also possessing genuine off-road capability. Discounting the likelihood that many owners will seldom venture off-pavement and acknowledging its creation as a response to the global surge in SUV popularity, the key point is that Rolls-Royce engineered the Cullinan to be a proficient off-roader should an owner choose to use it in that manner. Although there are more extreme off-road vehicles available, the Cullinan is confidently capable on less-traversed paths, making it a remarkable technological achievement in its own right.

Named after the largest diamond ever discovered, the one prominently featured in the British Crown Jewels, the Cullinan is constructed on an aluminium chassis. It is powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 571PS (420kW) and a substantial 850Nm (627lb ft) of torque available from just 1,600rpm. The vehicle features four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering, and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that utilizes satellite data to anticipate the appropriate gear for the road’s gradient or an approaching corner. It is also equipped with a camera system that scans the road ahead, adjusting the suspension accordingly to deliver the brand’s signature ‘magic carpet ride’ – a system distinct from that used by Citroën on models like the C4 Aircross. Furthermore, it boasts a wading depth of 54cm. While not the most extreme wading depth among all vehicles, it represents a considerable engineering accomplishment for a vehicle of its type.

Images one to five courtesy of Bonhams.