First New Rolls-Royce Phantom Auctioned Off For $780,000

Rolls-Royce introduced the eighth-generation Phantom last summer and the first model has just been sold for $780,000 at the Naples Winter Wine Auction in Florida.

The car was purchased by Jon and Bonnie Mason of Dover, Ohio who picked up the Phantom for a healthy premium over its estimated base price of between $450,000 and $500,000. However, the first car also came with a selection of wines from the Alpha Omega winery as well as an opportunity to participate in the 2019 ROBB Report Car of the Year ceremony.

The $780,000 auction price is certainly high but it seems like a bargain compared other models such as the first 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 which recently sold for $925,000. Thankfully, all proceeds from the auction will support the Naples Children & Education Foundation which supports more than 60 nonprofit agencies and more than 200,000 children in Collier County, Florida.

The eighth-generation Phantom clearly echoes its predecessor but it has been equipped with a larger grille and new laserlight headlights which cast light over 600 meters (1,968 feet). The car also has 22-inches wheels and the “largest single-piece of hand-polished stainless steel on any motor car” in the world.

Of course, most owners are interested in the interior which features all-new front seats as well as two 12.3-inch displays. The model also has an analogue clock, handcrafted wood trim, and an assortment of options including everything from a starlight headliner to a rear drinking package with whisky glasses and a decanter.

Power is provided by a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V12 engine that produces 563 hp (420 kW) and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission which uses GPS technology to ensure it’s always in the right gear.