The Rolls-Royce model introduced in 1925 as the successor to the Silver Ghost was the Phantom I. Rolls-Royce originally called it the New Phantom, while “Phantom I” became the customary later designation.
The car was the company’s second 40/50 hp model. It retained much of the Silver Ghost’s chassis design but introduced a larger 7.7-litre inline-six engine with pushrod-operated overhead valves, replacing the older model’s side-valve arrangement. This gave Rolls-Royce a more modern powerplant while preserving its reputation for quiet, refined motoring.
Production ran from 1925 to 1931, with cars built at Derby in England and Springfield, Massachusetts. The American version differed in details such as transmission and production dates. A common mix-up is calling the car simply “Phantom,” which is historically understandable; “Phantom I” was not Rolls-Royce’s original official name, but it is the standard name used to distinguish this first generation from the later Phantom II.