THE SILVER JUBILEE ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM VI

It is 1977, and a primary school in Hampshire is awash with red, white and blue, the pupils eagerly awaiting the day off to celebrate the Silver Jubilee. But, equally importantly, for the young motoring enthusiast, March of that year saw the announcement of a new Rolls-Royce for The Queen. the Society of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Traders was to present Her Majesty with a Phantom VI to serve as the new State Limousine. At that time, the Royal Mews had four Rolls-Royces; two Phantom IVs, the model Crewe reserved for Heads of State, and a pair of Phantom Vs. The youngest of the latter dated from 1961, so the Jubilee was the perfect time to refresh the fleet.

The Phantom VI made its bow in 1968 and is the last Rolls-Royce with a separate chassis. Crewe’s prudent management refused to comment on the price, but a rumoured figure was £65,000 – £379,960 in 2022 terms – when £68.70 represented the average weekly wage. The coachwork was by Mulliner Park Wark of Willesden and incorporated a raised roof with transparent rear quarters and an elevating back seat. The central armrest contained the controls for the radio and the air conditioning. A small compartment also included a dictation machine with spare cassettes and batteries. This was also the first Phantom VI powered by a Silver Shadow II engine and with a GM 400 automatic gearbox rather than Hydramatic transmission.

The paint finish was the traditional Black over Royal Claret and a small blue light above the windscreen altered the police of a Royal presence on the roads. The roof incorporated a mounting point for an illuminated Heraldic Shield and a trap door for the Royal Standard. Perhaps most notably, when HM was on board, the Spirit of Ecstasy was replaced by a mascot of St. George slaying the dragon, while the Phantom VI was devoid of number plates. Alas, industrial action resulted in the Phantom not being presented to the Queen until 1978 – a fact that will not surprise anyone old enough to remember the late 1970s.

The Silver Jubilee Phantom VI was augmented by a 1986 model, both serving as the principal State Cars until 2002 when Bentleys succeeded them for the Golden Jubilee. However, the 1977 Rolls-Royce remained in service. When King Charles III arrived at Buckingham Palace on the 9^th September 2022, the sight of the limousine mediately conjured memories of another realm. Hillman Avenger Supers were festooned in patriotic bunting, while street parties had cherry-flavoured Panda Pops for the children and Babycham for the ladies. As for the food, there was cheese & pineapples on sticks and sponge cakes painstakingly coloured in red, white and blue.

And above, there was a spirited debate among certain younger members of the party as to whether The Queen would wear her crown when she took delivery of her new Phantom VI.