Grand tourers, even though favorites for many, are sought after as they bridge the gap between practicality, comfort, and performance. Sure, they might not be as fast as performance-oriented exotics or as comfortable and practical as a luxury-oriented sedan. While not for everyone, these offerings excel in providing a comprehensive and well-balanced package that caters perfectly to the needs of a specific buyer niche. However, some prioritize one thing or another. In this case, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe offers unparalleled luxury in the GT car world, even though it's often considered more of a luxury coupe. Every inch of itself, inside and out, screams luxury, and its performance is never an issue of discussion, even with a 450-ish horsepower V12 under the hood, which is relatively low by today's standards but enough for effortless waftability on a weekend beach cruise with the top down. Debuting among Rolls-Royce's first convertibles of the 21st Century, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe might have debuted with a new design, but one that stays true to the timeless styling of Rolls-Royce cars: a long hood, bulky body, and stylishly designed proportions. Inside, it retains the luxurious ambiance but adds the airy openness of top-down motoring through a convertible tonneau cover. When new, a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe would cost you not less than $400,000 to add to your tastefully curated fleet. Today, it's not significantly different. Due to Rolls-Royce Exclusivity, the Phantom Drophead Coupe has held its value well, with prices averaging between $200,000 and $400,000 depending on the specs, mileage, and factory options with which the car was initially sold.
Rolls-Royce built the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe based on the Rolls-Royce 101EX experimental model, first showcased at the Geneva International Auto Show in 2004. The 101EX was meant to showcase a potential new line-topping two-door Rolls-Royce grand tourer coupe prototype, and like the Phantom Drophead Coupe, it was built on an aluminum space frame chassis adopted from the standard Rolls-Royce Phantom, so there was no significant change on the 101EX's wheelbase. But the 101EX aside, the Phantom Drophead Coupe can trace its roots to several Rolls-Royce Convertibles, most notably the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Despite its controversial design during its time, the Corniche was made as a two-door coupe or convertible, with the convertible being produced more than the coupe, showing buyers' appreciation for its open-air driving experience. It also had a massive front fascia, short front overhangs, and extended rear overhangs, design cues that the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe heavily adopted. After the Rolls-Royce 101EX's second and final showcasing at the 2006 Geneva International Auto Show, Rolls-Royce unveiled the Phantom Drophead Coupe at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. Its underpinnings were shared with the standard Rolls-Royce Phantom, but its design was heavily derived from the 101EX. Production started the same year it was unveiled at Rolls-Royce's Goodwood Assembly plant in Chichester, United Kingdom, and in 2016, Rolls-Royce retired the Phantom Drophead Coupe after producing an estimated 2,000 examples.
Under the hood, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe houses a 6.75-liter V12, among the earlier versions of Rolls-Royce's 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V12. The absence of forced induction means less power, which during production was rated at 453 horsepower and 531 lb.ft being sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed or 8-speed automatic, depending on the model year. But as any car enthusiast would accept, performance figures in a Rolls-Royce are never raised as questions, and buyers never bring it up as a necessity. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe captivates with its blissful driving experience that goes beyond speed and agility. Its engine power is harnessed not just for acceleration but to create a blissful ride complemented by the suspension, which is tuned to perfection to glide over any imperfections on the road and to maintain an extremely stable ride. Circling back to acceleration, 0-60 mph is achievable in 5.5 seconds, which is pretty impressive for a 5,780-pound car.
Even though old, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is tastefully crafted with exquisite attention to detail, featuring the finest materials that give the cabin a first-class experience with drive. Imbued with a sense of natural grandeur, the cabin beckons with its lavish wood finish heavily used on the dashboard from side to side and top to bottom, only having leather at the top surface and in the footwells area. The wood extends to the doors, incorporating leather inserts, chrome-plated trimmings, and switches. The seats are made of the same leather used on the doors on the dash, achieving uniformity with the rest of the interior. Front seat passengers get sufficient legroom and headroom, but due to the size of the front seats, back seat passengers have limited legroom, and the low roofline limits the headroom. In most cases, the rear seats serve better as extra storage for bags during those long road trips for which the Phantom Drophead Coupe is built. On the topic of the roof, it's a tonneau cover finished in teak, showcasing Rolls-Royce's commitment to luxury. When retracted, the roof converts the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe into a chariot, allowing wind to blow through your hair. Imagine cruising a coastal highway with the sun warming your face, wind on your arm resting on the window, and the engine's sound a gentle purr.
Bold, low-slung, and wide are words that would best describe the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe's exterior design. The bold and wide appearance comes from the front end, which embodies the Rolls-Royce design language featuring the Pantheon grille as a signature centerpiece complemented by the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy up top. Flanking the grille are two pairs of distinctive headlights borrowed from the Rolls-Royce 100EX and used on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, unveiled a year after the Phantom Drophead Coupe. The low-slung side profile gives it a stunning appeal, and when open, the coach doors enhance that appeal and give a glimpse of what awaits you in the interior. With the roof retracted, you'll notice a uniformity in the line flow from the top of the headlights to the rear quarter panels, unlike most convertibles with a door line lower than the front and lower quarter panels. A feature that the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is adored for is the teakwood decking behind the rear seats that is unveiled when the roof is retracted. It adds a touch of flair, complementing the wood in the interior, and gives the car a yacht-like appeal.
Building a convertible car is a craft that Rolls-Royce seemed to have mastered when they made the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe despite not having built that many convertibles in the past. The engineering lies in maintaining a high degree of torsional rigidity and flex, especially when cornering throughout the car's body, all while keeping the weight down. Clear as day, the Phantom Drophead Coupe isn't light but has excellent chassis rigidity. Its chassis didn't require any strengthening or bracing thanks to Rolls-Royce's construction ingenuity, which guarantees even the lightest body shimmy or flex. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Chief designer, Ian Cameron, once explained that the car is more accommodating in several ways. One is that you don't need to drive off the road to retract the roof, as it's possible to do so while driving. However, you can't bring the top up while driving. Additionally, the tonneau cover takes around 25 seconds to operate, which is quite a lot of time, especially if you are suddenly met by rain. But again, the seats have minimal stitching, making them easy to wipe, and the floor mats are made from moisture-resistant fibers. If you get rained on too much, the seats have heating functionality, and the AC system is more than capable of warming up the cabin in a matter of minutes. Still, on the tonneau, it has five layers of insulation suppressing wind and noise, thus retaining the quiet ambiance in a regular Phantom with an aluminum roof.
Being a luxury car brand, Rolls-Royce cars hold their value well compared to most competitors. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is one of the British automaker's models that has retained its value steadily despite being discontinued nearly a decade ago. Most examples available for sale average between $300,000 and $400,000, similar to the recommended MSRP during production, which was around $410,000. Sure, cheaper options for around $200,000 to $300,000 are available, but they've most likely had a rough past. If you're considering buying a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, Exotic Car Trader is your go-to destination. Explore our extensive Rolls-Royce Phantom listings, and should you have a change of heart, our inventory includes other Rolls-Royce listings for you to peruse.
Amongst grand tourers, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe reigns supreme as, despite its age, it continues to captivate with its offerings ideally suited for a weekend seaside cruise. Its design, both inside and out, is a masterclass in timeless elegance, and while it might not match up with modern grand tourers, its magnificent V12 delivers when needed without disrupting the cabin's quiet ambiance. Exotic Car Trader creates an exclusive and safe way of buying and selling cars, eliminating the daunting experiences of private selling for buyers and sellers. Every vehicle listed on Exotic Car Trader goes through a private seller verification process, ensuring legitimacy for our buyers. Also, Exotic Car Trader's car buying process is well outlined, with all fees and packages providing our buyers with a seamless and inclusive experience. We can handle the escrow of funds at no additional cost to the buyer and seller, and we also provide trade-in and financing options for buyers. For transaction safety, our Transactions Team is world-class and equipped with industry fraud detection tools to ensure a safe and secure transaction. These are just some of the benefits you enjoy when buying or selling on Exotic Car Trader. Contact us for listing services or to buy a car on Exotic Car Trader today! Ultimately, the choice to own a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is not about seeking the fastest grand tourer or one with the highest performance. It's about embracing its effortless style, elegance, and the joy of open-air driving.
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