‘The Phantom of Love’: World’s Most Romantic Rolls-Royce to Star at Concours of Elegance 2025
The Concours of Elegance, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, is delighted to announce that 2025’s show will feature perhaps the most decadent motorcar ever created: the legendary 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I known as ‘The Phantom of Love’.
The Phantom I, registration YE 939, represents the ultimate expression of devotion; it was a breathtakingly opulent gift from a loving husband to his wife that cost an incredible £6,500 when new, at a time when the average UK house price was just £500. The palatial Rococo interior features Aubusson tapestries, along with a dizzying array of other embellishments and exquisite details; the tapestries alone cost over £500 and took over 9 months to produce.
One of the most famous surviving Rolls-Royces, this remarkable machine – a unique display of love and wealth – will captivate visitors at Hampton Court Palace from September 5th-7th for Europe’s premier concours d’elegance event. It will line up alongside 60 other rare and significant motor cars drawn from leading private collections across the globe.
A Love Story in Steel and Silk
The Phantom of Love was commissioned by Clarence Gasque, financial director of the UK division of Woolworth retailers and husband to the heiress of the Woolworths fortune. Gasque approached renowned coachbuilders Charles Clark & Sons with a seemingly simple brief: create a French-inspired design for his beloved wife, with cost being no object. The resulting motorcar would become a masterpiece of automotive artistry and romantic devotion.
Seeking inspiration for this loosely specified commission, the coachbuilder’s proprietor visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and was quite taken with “a very delightful little Sedan Chair which had once belonged to Marie Antoinette, and which had a painted ceiling.” This was to form the basis and inspiration for the palatial Rococo style interior now seen on the car.
The resulting design was one of the most wonderfully crafted, extravagant, and decadently exotic motor cars ever built. The interior featured highly polished satinwood veneer panelling painted and gilt decorated, oval medallions, and a sofa rear seat upholstered in the finest tapestries depicting flamboyant and romantic scenes, reminiscent of a François Boucher painting. Lighting holders adorned with pictures of cherubs provided illumination, while a bow fronted drinks cabinet – more akin to a Rococo commode than a division – was flanked by concealed, fold down inward-facing occasional seats also upholstered in the rich tapestry.
On either side of the interior are elaborate demi-lune vanities that contain 18th century English enamel boxes in fitted compartments and silver gilt bon bon dishes. Still adorning the division today are the French ormolu clock and porcelain vases filled with gilt metal and enamel flowers – bouquets that would never die, symbolising their everlasting love.
Tragedy and Preservation
Tragically, Clarence Gasque died just 18 months after commissioning this extraordinary gift for his wife. The car was then put into storage in 1937 where it remained until 1952, when it passed to noted Rolls-Royce collector Stanley Sears. The car was sold on again in 1986 and has since been in the hands of Japanese, American and Australian collections.
It has an extremely well-documented history, having been extensively described and illustrated in numerous books and magazine articles about the marque, with accompanying Rolls-Royce factory records.
The car remains entirely original to this day, presenting exactly as it was intended nearly 100 years ago.
James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce that this breathtaking Rolls-Royce will be on show at Hampton Court Palace later this summer, adding a romantic, Rococo flourish to Europe’s leading concours. The legendary ‘Phantom of Love’ is a uniquely captivating automotive creation, a truly unique machine that is on a par with any truly valuable work of applied art. Our curatorial team is known for securing the world’s rarest and most significant motor cars to our event, but even by their lofty standards, this is a real coup. We cannot wait for guests to be captivated by this wonderful creation once more.”
The Rolls-Royce will star alongside 60 other concours cars, drawn from leading private collections across the globe. Outside of the main Concours display there will special features, including the Levitt Concours – dedicated to the most passionate female owners – the 30UNDER30, which celebrates enthusiastic owners under 30 years of age and the Club Trophy, which gathers the very best examples of models from the nation’s best car clubs.
Aside from the automotive displays, the Concours of Elegance 2025 will assemble an engaging ensemble of luxury and hospitality partners, meaning guests and visitors can enjoy the ultimate garden party atmosphere, with champagne provided by Charles Heidseick and picnics by Fortnum & Mason. Leading names in the worlds of fashion, art and jewellery will be showcasing their fine luxury goods across all three days, while presenting partner A. Lange & Söhne will be presenting its most refined and intricate timepieces.