Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently revealed a one-of-a-kind Phantom Extended, dubbed the Phantom Goldfinger. This stunning vehicle pays homage to the iconic 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger. Moreover, it marks one of the 12 Rolls-Royce appearances in the 007 film franchise.
Celebrating the film’s 60th anniversary, the Phantom Goldfinger draws inspiration from the 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville, once owned by the villainous Auric Goldfinger. Consequently, the car boasts exquisite and ingenious Bespoke features, subtly referencing the film’s plot and iconic imagery.
The Phantom Goldfinger boasts some of the most intricate Bespoke features ever applied to a one-of-one Rolls-Royce. Each feature references the Goldfinger film plot. After three years of development, the Phantom Goldfinger brings these elegant and playful Bespoke elements to life.
For instance, the complex sculptural Gallery, inspired by the iconic Furka Pass scene or the gold golf putter, hidden in the boot, a nod to Auric Goldfinger’s first encounter with James Bond.
2024 Phantom Goldfinger: Exterior
Paint specialists meticulously matched the exterior yellow hue to the original 1937 Phantom III Sedanca de Ville. Subsequently, a unique two-tone design emerged, with a black finish wrapping around the car’s body as a single, uninterrupted graphic.
Moreover, the 21-inch disc wheels, finished in black with silver ‘floating’ hubcaps, echo the 1937 car’s design. Additionally, the Spirit of Ecstasy, too, carries a unique finish, referencing the film’s plot.
Furthermore, a nod to Goldfinger’s gold-smuggling scheme, sections of the figurine appear to reveal gold beneath, suggesting a solid gold core concealed by a silver coat. As a result, Rolls-Royce specialists achieved this ‘gold reveal’ effect by gold-plating a solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy with 18-carat gold.
Phantom Goldfinger’s Interior: Hidden Gold
Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke Collective has crafted highly complex details and features incorporating 18 and 24-carat gold. Consequently, a hidden vault in the centre console houses an illuminated 18-carat gold bar, shaped like a Phantom “Speedform.”
Furthermore, the front and rear centre consoles, along with the glovebox interior, are lined with an exquisite gold finish. Additionally, the glovebox lid is debossed with Goldfinger’s iconic quote: This is Gold, Mr. Bond.”
Moreover, the air vents, organ stops and speaker frets gleam with a lustrous gold finish. Similarly, the speaker frets are inscribed with the film’s title treatment. Likewise, the treadplates, resembling gold bars, are gold-plated and embossed with the 1964 film font. Finally, the 25-carat gold-plated VIN plaque ends with the iconic 007.
Funk Pass Gallery
The Bespoke artwork in the Gallery is the car’s true centrepiece. This three-dimensional, hand-drawn isoline map depicts the iconic Furka Pass, where 007 tracked Goldfinger to his Swiss Alps smelting plant.
Consequently, stainless steel was used to construct the map and physical vapour deposition was employed to darken the surface. Engraved contour lines and elevation figures reveal the bright metal beneath. Moreover, the cut-out Furka Pass exposes a gilded layer.
Furthermore, this highly complex feature required extensive development. The Bespoke Collective produced 10 prototypes to perfect the design. Finally, the Bespoke clock, centred in the artwork, is inspired by the iconic “gun barrel” sequence, a hallmark of every Bond film since Dr. No.
Furka Pass Starlight Headliner
Paying homage to the memorable Furka Pass scene, Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke Collective designed the Phantom Goldfinger’s Starlight Headliner to perfectly reflect the constellations on July 11, 1964, the final day of filming in Switzerland. Consequently, 719 ‘stars’ glow with a subtle gold hue, surrounded by eight ‘shooting stars,’ each meticulously hand-placed.
Picnic Table Inlay: The Map to Gold Reserves
The Royal Walnut picnic tables are adorned with a 22-carat gold inlay, a mere 0.1 mm deep. This intricate design, featuring a fictional map of Fort Knox, took six months to finalise, evolving through three prototypes. Moreover, the map highlights key locations like Gold Vault Road, Bullion Boulevard and the Bullion Depository, the target of Goldfinger’s “Operation Grand Slam.”
Interior Colourway of the Phantom Goldfinger: Gold Standard
The Phantom Goldfinger, cloaked in Navy leather and Royal Walnut veneer, provides an elegant canvas for the gold detailing inspired by the original car’s interior.
Therefore, the reclining Serenity Seating in the rear suite is subtly elevated with gold stitching, gold-coloured ‘bullets’ capping the seat piping and headrests adorned with gold ‘RR’ monograms.
Exquisite Details on the Phantom Goldfinger
James Bond’s initial encounter with Goldfinger unfolds at Stoke Park, where 007 challenges him to a round of golf. Goldfinger wields a gold putter, guarded by his henchman, Oddjob. The 2024 Phantom Goldfinger replicates this gold putter, mounted beneath the bootlid, adorned with a bespoke ‘AG’ monogram, inspired by Goldfinger’s signet ring.
Moreover, while alone with Goldfinger’s Phantom III, Bond plants a tracking device. The Bespoke Collective has recreated this gadget, subtly projecting the 007 logo onto the luggage compartment floor.
Furthermore, during the Stoke Park scene, Bond narrowly escapes Oddjob, who loads golf clubs and a harlequin umbrella into the Phantom III’s boot. The Phantom Goldfinger’s rear door umbrellas mirror these colours.
Finally, the prized ‘AU 1’ number plate, a reference to gold’s chemical symbol, graces the phantom Goldfinger. This unique vehicle has now been delivered to a discerning Rolls-Royce collector in England.
“Bringing Phantom Goldfinger into being was one of the Bespoke Collective’s greatest creative journeys to date. The elegant and whimsical features that reference the film’s most memorable moments are an exquisite demonstration of the power of Bespoke in adding a new chapter to an existing story. It was a privilege to be a part of the creative team that brought this highly sought-after collector’s piece to life.”
Nick Rhodes, Bespoke Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
