Rolls-Royce, as aptly put by the BBC, is a name that has “entered the English language as a superlative”. Established in 1904, the high-end automobile brand was a labour of love between the Honourable Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce. This unlikely alliance, fostered over a mutual love of cars and a desire for perfection, spurned the creation of “one of the best cars in the world" – an emphatic promise that was used to advertise the very first Rolls-Royce car, the Royce 10 H.P., or “Silver Ghost.”
Designed by Royce, the 10-horsepower car became a powerful contender in the luxury automobile industry, celebrated for its lightweight durability and strength. This marked the beginning of an untouchable legacy that lasted an awe-inspiring 118 years, during which the marque crafted countless iconic cars. Read on to learn about notable Rolls-Royce cars that fetch the highest prices.
Rolls-Royce Droptail La Rose Noire: $30 Million
The Rolls-Royce Droptail range is the most expensive automobile series on the market at the time of publication. Only four Droptails will ever be made, each with a bespoke theme and splendid in their own right.
The Droptail La Rose Noire was released in 2023 and was inspired by the Black Baccara rose, a sultry, luscious flower originating in France. With an old-school roadster body – a nod to Rolls-Royce’s early days of glory – it is the brand’s first-ever two-door open-topped car. The bodywork is soaked in bold red, and the hood is adorned with motifs of pomegranate-hued falling petals. This stunning car is fitted with a 6.75-litre V12 engine that generates 563 HP. With a top speed of 155 mph, this fuschia beauty can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Rolls-Royce Boat Tail: $28 Million
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a nautical-inspired marvel, with its sleek yacht-like design and incomparable smoothness. Besides paying homage to the sea, the Boat Tail is a Coachbuild model – a bespoke motor car crafted in collaboration with the client, engineers, and artisans. The car’s structure is reminiscent of J-class yachts, with its polished cerulean exterior, lengthy silhouette, and unwavering symmetry.
The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is more than just a car – it's a celebratory occasion. With the push of a button, the rear deck opens to reveal a wine and dine suite, comprising cocktail tables, a champagne chest, a sun umbrella, two bottles of Armand de Brignac vintage cuvée, caviar, and blinis.
According to the head of Rolls-Royce Coachbuild design, three clients commissioned a custom Rolls-Royce Coachbuild model, all of them sharing a love of yachts and upscale seafaring. It is well-known trivia that Jay-Z and Beyonce are one of the three clients who bought this sweet ride. Each client will have tailormade specifications woven into their respective Boat Tails.
Rolls-Royce Sweptail: $12.9 Million
The Rolls-Royce Sweptail is the brand’s first Coachbuild creation – an invaluable and utterly unique one-off, created in collaboration with artisans, engineers, and patrons.
Handmade over four years, the Sweptail is inspired by the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé. It is the pinnacle of automotive couture, crafted to be unlike anything ever seen before. It’s a slender motor car with a low, flowing roofline and a distinct swept tail at the rear end. Buttery Moccasin leather seats and the rich ebony-toned interiors are spotlighted in sunny resplendence with the car’s glass roof.
The car, commissioned by Hong Kong real estate magnate Samuel Tak Lee, was introduced to the world in May 2017 at the annual Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. Worth £10 million, it was the world’s most expensive new automobile at the time.
Rolls-Royce 10EX Experimental Touring Limousine: $7.3 million
Introduced in 1926, the 10EX Experimental Touring Limousine was the world’s first concept car. As an automobile guinea pig of sorts, this car was a playground of innovation for Rolls-Royce, featuring avant-garde technologies such as a gas turbine engine, four-wheel independent suspension, and an electronically-controlled air suspension system.
After its testing tenure, the 10EX was used by the brand as a showcase car, sometimes even used to demonstrate Rolls-Royce’s engineering superiority. It is regarded as the only concept car retained by the brand for decades after its experimental career.
Many concept Rolls-Royces followed, such as the 15EX, 16EX, and 17EX. However, being the global first, the 10EX brought a whopping $7.3 million at an RM Sotheby’s auction.
1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Round Door: $7.2 Million
As indicated by the name, this peculiar Phantom I model is defined by its colossal round doors. The Phantom I Round Door has a fascinating backstory. Originally a brand new Phantom I with its quintessential Hooper Cabriolet body, the model never made it to the Detroit-based man who initially commissioned it. The car was then sold to the Raja of Nanpara in India, before finding its way to Jonckheere Carrossiers, a Belgian motor coachbuilder.
Jonckheere completely revamped the car with big circular doors, a two-piece window, a long vertical tailfin, bullet-shaped headlights, and brand new scarlet banquettes. Such transformations, although unthinkable to a staunch Rolls-Royce fan, did captivate luxury autoheads with its uniquely sinuous build.
Jonckheere Carrossiers’ records were sadly destroyed in a fire, so the original commissioners of the car remain a mystery. However, it has been in the custody of several prominent automobile collectors, including entrepreneur Max Obie.
The Phantom I Round Door is currently on display at Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Rolls-Royce 10 HP: $7.04 million
Designed and built by Sir Henry Royce, the Rolls-Royce 10 HP was the brand’s very first car. Produced in 1904 through a partnership between Royce and Charles Rolls, it marked the start of a 118-year legacy.
The Rolls-Royce 10 HP was once sold exclusively by Royce’s own company, Royce Ltd. It was inspired by Royce’s personal second-hand Decauville, which he believed wasn't living up to its potential. Determined to improve upon it, Royce succeeded in making the 10 HP significantly smoother and quieter than other cars of its era—a hallmark of the brand that continues to this day.
The 10 HP was fitted with a water-cooled twin-cylinder engine with an overhead inlet and side exhaust valves, securing a top speed of 39 mph.
1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Double Pullman Limousine: $6.4 million
The Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP followed the iconic 10 HP, armed with more power and comfort. This model’s defining feature was its driver-centric design, as the driver’s seat was as cushy and roomy as the passengers’. With its pragmatic design, rugged beauty, and simplicity, it marked a shift in the purpose of cars – it became a thing of utility and leisure, not just a status symbol.
The 40/50 HP also nurtured a love of toy cars in the public, as it inspired the famous line of toy cars, Corgi. This led to the car’s new moniker, “Corgi.” Undoubtedly, the Corgi – the toy cars and the 40/50 HP – raised a new generation of automobile enthusiasts.
The car was outfitted with a 50-brake horsepower and a top speed of 60 mph, a remarkable achievement for its time. It was auctioned off for $6.4 million at a Bonhams auction in 2012.
Peerless sophistication, decadence, and stunning charisma make the Rolls Royce one of the most aspirational cars in the world. Indeed, a Rolls Royce in your driveway heralds utmost dignity and whisper-soft luxury, elevating your collection to an echelon of exclusivity few can dream.
