How big is too big? The standard 357cm/140.6in wheelbase Phantom VII (2003-17) was already pretty massive. And there was a factory-made “extended” saloon, for people of means with long legs and required 25cm/10in of extra room in the back. In the side streets of Tokyo, that’s already pushing it. Some folks just don’t know when to quit pushing.
I caught sight of this behemoth as it was gingerly negotiating its way through what most local taxi drivers would have deemed a rather narrow alley in Roppongi, an appropriately swanky part of town. There was also a scooter badly parked on the left side of the street, a small construction site on the other side and ever-present power and telephone poles here and there. Immediately, one could foresee a lot of comedy might ensue.
The Phantom paused. Clearly, the driver could also see trouble ahead. He lowered his window and talked to the workman in charge of traffic. The driver was probably venting, both literally and figuratively. I positioned myself well ahead of the convoy, smartphone at the ready.
Oh bliss, the supertanker was attempting a left turn. No popcorn on hand, unfortunately, but we were going to be here for a little while. A number plate with only “1,” eh? Let’s see you make that turn in a single try.
It was like watching a Panamax ploughing through a municipal pool.
I did not count how many times our HMS Flying Lady here had to hit reverse to angle itself correctly and finally achieve forward progress, but it was several. After a bit of a struggle, the driver just about managed it.
I did try to find out who makes Phantom limos like this, but I’ve not had much luck. There seems to be several stretched Rollers about (in different sizes), but scant information on who makes them. Google is really becoming impossible to use as a research tool, especially now that AI started polluting everything.
I guess this is a modest stretch, compared to some. Still way too much to navigate most of the spider’s web of tiny alleys that constitutes the bulk of the road network here.
Finally able to reach a main thoroughfare, the gargantuan Rolls looked a little more at ease and sure-footed. Or sure-tyred.
There are a few Hummer H1s (and a handful of civilian Toyota Mega Cruisers) in town – I’ve posted evidence of this several times, including in my latest iteration of the T87 Singles Collection. This is probably the only car that would beat the Humvee in outright uselessness as a means of transport in Japan.
You might say that transport is but a secondary function in this case, the primary being to display wealth. The stretch, plus the Numero Uno license plate and the gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy also hint at its owner’s (doubtless deep-seated) psychological insecurities. A real-life episode of Crazy Rich Asians.
Related post:
Future Classic: 2012-17 Rolls-Royce Phantom VII Extended Wheelbase – The Return Of HMS Phantom, by T87
Pure pretentious insanity… perhaps this absurdity deserves the name previously applied to the ridiculous 1960s Mohs: Ostentatienne Opera Sedan. At least Mr. Mohs told it like it was.