Rolls-Royce Phantom V
1959-1968 · Rolls-Royce Phantom V — Limousine, V8, designed by Rolls-Royce (Crewe).
The Story
The Phantom V (1959) was Rolls-Royce’s formal limousine of the 1960s – a vast, coachbuilt state car bodied by Park Ward, Mulliner Park Ward and James Young, powered by the new 6.2-litre V8. 832 were built, carrying royalty and heads of state the world over.
But its immortality belongs to a single car: John Lennon’s. Ordered in 1964 and delivered in matte black, it was repainted in 1967 in psychedelic art-nouveau swirls – prompting an outraged onlooker on Piccadilly to scream ‘How dare you do that to a Rolls-Royce!’ Inside were a television, a refrigerator, a floating record player and a back seat that folded into a double bed. It survives today at the Royal BC Museum, perhaps the most famous Rolls-Royce on earth.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Limousine class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Rolls-Royce (Crewe)
A corporate attribution for the post-war coachbuilt Rolls-Royces with no single named stylist: the factory built the rolling chassis and drivetrains, supplied to external coachbuilders (Park Ward, James Young, H.J. Mulliner) who clothed them to commission.
Studio Motors POV
The Phantom V is the rolling throne of the 1960s – and John Lennon’s turned it into pop-culture history; with these cars, provenance is the entire game.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Phantom V
Worth Knowing About the Phantom V
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) John Lennon's psychedelic Phantom V (repainted 1967) had a TV, a refrigerator, a 'floating' record player and a back seat that converted into a double bed. 2) When it cruised down Piccadilly, an outraged woman screamed 'How dare you do that to a Rolls-Royce!' 3) Queen Elizabeth II and Fred Astaire also owned Phantom Vs – all three cars were shown together at Rolls-Royce's 'Great Eight Phantoms' exhibition.
5 Fast Facts
- 1) 6.2L V8, ~220 bhp. 2) 832 built, 1959-1968. 3) Bodies by Park Ward, Mulliner Park Ward and James Young. 4) ~5,600 lb bare chassis before a body was even fitted. 5) John Lennon's car now lives at the Royal BC Museum.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
John Lennon (the psychedelic car, later loaned to Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Elton John and the Moody Blues); Queen Elizabeth II; Fred Astaire.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Provenance is everything – a documented royal or celebrity car is worth a fortune, and the James Young limousines are the most elegant. Verify the V8 and the complex coachbuilt body and electrics; otherwise a usable, imposing classic.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Rolls-Royce Phantom V
- Class
- Limousine
- Production years
- 1959-1968
- Units built
- 832 (James Young built 197 bodies)
- Variants
- James Young / Mulliner Park Ward coachwork
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
- Displacement
- 6.2L (6,230 cc)
- Power
- 220 hp
- Torque
- lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- s
- Top speed
- 101 mph
- Power-to-weight
- hp/tonne · lb/hp
- Transmission
- 4-speed automatic (GM Hydramatic)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-wheel drive · Petrol
- Curb weight
- lb
Questions
Phantom V FAQ
What is the story of John Lennon’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V?
John Lennon ordered his Phantom V in 1964 and had it repainted in psychedelic art-nouveau swirls in 1967, prompting outrage on Piccadilly. The car now resides permanently at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Canada.
How many Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs were built?
Approximately 516-518 Phantom Vs were produced between 1959 and 1968, each on a coachbuilt chassis clothed primarily by Park Ward, Mulliner Park Ward, and James Young.
What engine does the Rolls-Royce Phantom V have?
The Phantom V uses the 6.2-litre Rolls-Royce V8 producing approximately 220 bhp with a 4-speed GM Hydramatic automatic. The same engine family, enlarged to 6.75 litres, powered Rolls-Royces for decades after.
How much is a Rolls-Royce Phantom V worth today?
Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs trade across a wide range — ordinary examples can be near or under $100,000, while excellent or provenance-rich cars exceed $350,000 (e.g., CHF567,500 at RM Sotheby’s). Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s regularly handle Phantom V sales.
Which other famous figures owned Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs?
Queen Elizabeth II famously used Phantom Vs as State cars. Lennon’s psychedelic Phantom V and a royal Phantom V were both featured in Rolls-Royce’s Great Eight Phantoms exhibition. (Fred Astaire’s exhibition car was a Phantom I, not a Phantom V.)
The Rolls-Royce Lineup
Explore every Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith ’46Silver Dawn ’49
Phantom IV ’50Silver Cloud I ’55Phantom V ’59Silver Cloud II ’59
Silver Cloud III ’62Silver Shadow I ’65Phantom VI ’68
Corniche (1971) ’71Camargue ’75Silver Shadow II ’77
Silver Spirit / Silver Spur ’80
Corniche (2000) ’00Phantom VII ’03Ghost (1st Gen) ’09
Wraith ’13Dawn ’15Phantom VIII ’17Sweptail ’17Cullinan ’18
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