Luxury automaker Rolls-Royce embraces rock 'n' roll vibes alongside a swimming pool in an exceptional fashion

In the world of luxury automobiles, few models have captured the imagination quite like the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Over the past century, this iconic vehicle has become synonymous with stardom, gracing the lives of some of the most famous figures in music, film, and beyond.

One such figure is Sir Elton John, who, in 1973, bought a Phantom VI while en route to a concert. He updated the car with black paintwork, a black leather interior, tinted windows, a television, a video player, and even a fax machine, making it a mobile office on wheels. This Phantom VI later found a new home with Elton's percussionist, Ray Cooper, as a gift in lieu of a cash fee.

Another music legend, John Lennon, owned not one but two Phantom Vs. His first, commissioned in 1964, was later resprayed yellow and hand-painted with swirls of red, orange, green, and blue. Lennon's second Phantom V, purchased in 1968, was white and was used to coincide with the launch of the White Album and to mark a new phase of his life with Yoko Ono.

The Beatles also left their mark on Phantom V history. During their visit to Plymouth while filming for The Magical Mystery Tour, a photograph was taken at Tinside Lido, with the swimming pool serving as a memorable backdrop.

Lennon's yellow Phantom V made headlines in 1985 when it sold for a record-breaking $2,299,000, making it the most expensive piece of rock 'n' roll memorabilia at the time.

Pharrell Williams and Snoop Dogg featured a Phantom VII in the 2004 music video for Drop It Like It's Hot, while 50 Cent appeared in the TV series Entourage in a Phantom VII Drophead Coupe, a scene that went on to become a widely shared meme.

In the realm of film, Marlene Dietrich was gifted a green Rolls-Royce Phantom I in 1930 while filming Morocco at Paramount Studios. More recently, Michael Douglas recreated the short but famous journey of Liberace's Phantom V in the Liberace biopic, Behind the Candelabra.

Liberace's 1961 Phantom V was covered in tiny mirror pieces and used to drive on stage during his long-running residency at the Las Vegas Hilton. Elvis Presley also owned a Midnight Blue Phantom V with bespoke features like a microphone, a writing pad, and a mirror and clothes brush.

However, not all Phantom stories end in glory. Keith Moon, the drummer of The Who, is famously associated with plunging a Rolls-Royce into a swimming pool during his 21st birthday celebrations, although the exact details of the incident are disputed. The body shell of one Phantom was eventually destined for recycling.

As Rolls-Royce celebrates 100 years of the Phantom, they are marking the occasion by submerging a Phantom Extended body shell in the swimming pool at Tinside Lido in Plymouth, UK. A fitting tribute to a car that has been a part of so many unforgettable moments in history.

From rock 'n' roll icons to Hollywood stars, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has undeniably left its mark on popular culture. Whether it's cruising down the Las Vegas strip or making an appearance in a Beatles photograph, the Phantom continues to embody luxury, style, and a touch of the extraordinary.

Luxury automaker Rolls-Royce embraces rock 'n' roll vibes alongside a swimming pool in an exceptional fashion