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.
I finally have come to agree with the dead internet theory myself.. Many good things on cars or my HiFi hobby that have been around for decades have simply disappeared. And maybe except for some things about JFK or Roswell I find zero credibility in most tin foil hat throries. Fortunately this site exists but it seems to become more and more hidden by the search engines..My comments may be borrish but I feel it helps some great folks who work hard here keep the ad rev coming in.
But on a lighter note this Rolls reminds me of some dark Cruella Deville type character getting lost looking for the Nieman Marcus (does’nt exist,) in Tokyo. A Century wasn’t impressive enough for an outing.
Wow, quite a barge for Tokyo! And with no visible scrapes or dents, that’s one heck of a good driver.
In searching around, it seems that this may be an example of one these limousines linked to below – not too much information about them, but this (assuming it’s of the same species) appears to be an armored limo with bodywork by ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer. Your example sure seems to look similar to the one in the article (and the article has an interior picture too).
https://gtspirit.com/2011/11/11/for-sale-stretched-rolls-royce-phantom-ewb/
Big car sure but as vehicles go not too big and not towing a trailer so easy peasy to navigate most streets
I’m with you about the dead hand of AI polluting the internet with misinformation. Unfortunately I fear many people will just spout whatever google (no longer deserving of the upper case) serves up. It will be interesting to see how this whole AI thing plays out, but as currently deployed it seems pretty pointless.
While the Rolls is impressive, it seems the absolute antithesis of the ‘normal’ Japanese ethos. And is it really that much better in any concrete manner than a Century? The way German technology seems to be going, with ever higher specific outputs and cheapening material specification leading to ever-shorter service lives, the time may not be too far off when the best car in the world is, in fact, a Toyota.
Maybe it already is?
I guarantee a Toyota Century is a better car in every respect than this disgusting abomination. The owner should be arrested, if nothing else for having amazingly bad taste.
While I wouldn’t go so far as to arrest him, I would certainly question the owner’s taste. Maybe even ridicule it. A stretch Rolls Royce may have a place, I guess, somewhere, but the back alleys of Tokyo is not it. I feel sorry for the chauffeur.
If I needed a prestige car (which I don’t), it would be a Century. The big Germans are too whizz-bang-look-at-me these days.
Vulgarity morphing into comedy.
Finally a car big enough to transport the owners ego. While this Roller is a giant at least the proportions match well to my eyes.
The Phantom is not exactly cramped, so if you need 10″ more rear legroom you must be very tall, or have a second rear bench facing backwards. Either way, it’s not exactly discrete and your comment about taste is valid.
Having said that, and with apologies for being British, if you’re going to spend £400k and upwards on a saloon, then the Phantom has to be the best choice. Everything else seems to be chasing it, but never catching it.
But there’s a still a lot of being seen etc going on