The history of Britain’s original luxury car brand runs deep. In 1884, the Rolls-Royce company dug its roots into London’s posh soil and, in typical British fashion, quietly rose to prominence as the planet’s finest producers of high-quality vehicles. Even after selling its name and marquee to BMW over a century later, in 1998, the automotive juggernauts never turned their back on their origins. To this very day, the name “Rolls-Royce” is synonymous with “luxury cars.” 

Living in and breathing rarified air across three centuries, Rolls-Royce has unsurprisingly designed some of the greatest vehicles to ever grace Earth’s roadways. From the very first 6-cylinder Silver Ghost to the most recently announced Spectre EV, these are our picks for the best Rolls-Royce cars the world has ever seen.

10. Rolls-Royce Boat Tail (2021-)

This ultra-luxury Coachbuilt Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a thing of utter beauty—and the world’s most expensive, street-legal car. Fitted with “suicide doors” and an array of bespoke features, such as a rear cocktail lounge/bar and a pair of matching “his and hers” watches built into the dash, this stunning cabriolet is perhaps the rarest Rolls-Royce ever created, as just 3 models were manufactured, each built to their buyer’s specifications. 

9. Rolls-Royce Twenty (1922-1929)

No car exemplifies the “Roaring Twenties” better than the aptly named Rolls-Royce Twenty. Originally built for the general population (i.e., normal people), the Twenty eventually became the choice for owners with chauffeurs. That seems fitting since this so-called small luxury car eventually became a notable movie star, appearing in films such as The Abominable Dr. Phibes and The Battle of the Sexes. Just under 3,000 models were produced.

8. Rolls-Royce Spectre (2023-)

We know what you’re thinking: “How can an electric Rolls-Royce that’s not even out be a ‘best car’ contender?”

Because the 2-door Spectre is going to change the world on the way to becoming an eventual collector’s car. As the very first all-electric Rolls-Royce—it’s also the fastest, most powerful and most intelligent Rolls-Royce—Spectre will feature touch-activated and reverse-hinged Starlight Doors, fully digital bespoke instrument dials, a new Whispers infotainment and AI system and an estimated driving range of up to 323 miles. Now’s the time to buy a luxury electric vehicle.

7. Rolls-Royce Cullinan (2018-)

Prior to 2018, Rolls-Royce had not dabbled in anything other than luxury cars. With the creation of the Cullinan, the British automotive company accomplished several firsts, including building their first-ever Rolls-Royce SUV and AWD vehicle. (Yes, it’s classified as a “station wagon,” but we all know what it really is.)

Although it utilizes several Phantom components, such as its modular “Architecture of Luxury” aluminum platform and headlights, the new Cullinan stands apart as a true, honest-to-goodness off-road SUV. In fact, the Cullinan is equipped with a drive-mode selector system with a built-in “Off Road Button,” allowing it to engage all-wheel drive to push precise amounts of torque to all four wheels. Once activated, drivers can even tailor settings to accommodate just about any terrain. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind luxury vehicle that doubles as an off-road SUV.

Why isn’t the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan ranked higher on our list? Because, like any good English tea, it still needs time to steep. Before too long, it’ll rise to the top. 

6. Rolls-Royce Phantom I (1925-1231)

The original Phantom, also called 40/50 Phantom I, was Rolls-Royce’s replacement for the to-be-discontinued Silver Ghost (see below). It included a larger engine and newer overhead pushrods, which produced more power. It was eventually shown the door in favor of the last-ever 40/50 model, the Phantom II. 

5. Rolls-Royce Phantom III (1936-1939)

The final Rolls-Royce before World War II caused production woes, the Phantom III exuded power and class. In fact, it was the only Rolls-Royce equipped with a V12 engine until the Silver Seraph debuted in the late-90s. With two fuel pumps, a double ignition system and 24 spark plugs, it was the most advanced, performance-focused model in Rolls-Royce’s portfolio to date.

4. Rolls-Royce Corniche (1971-1995)

Fewer than 7,000 hand-assembled Corniche convertible and coupe models were manufactured over the course of 25 years, which is a shame because it’s one of the era’s most sophisticated and intricately crafted cars, Rolls-Royce or otherwise. Today, these are classic sports cars that turn heads and reach speeds of nearly 120 mph. While it’s not the fastest Rolls-Royce—that honor goes to the Wraith and upcoming Spectre—the Corniche is certainly one of the most satisfying to drive.

3. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965-1980)

The unibody Silver Shadow, aka the Silver Wraith II or Silver Mist, was the vehicle that helped Rolls-Royce evolve into the modern luxury car company we see today. Smaller, sleeker and quicker than the previous Silver Cloud model, the Silver Shadow became one of the most popular high-end cars in England during the 1970s. It featured a 172-horsepower 6.2L V8, a spectacular Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic gearbox and a high-pressure, self-leveling suspension system, the latter of which provided unrivaled ride quality. 

It’s an icon and one of Rolls-Royce’s signature vehicles, even 50 years after the last of its 30,000-plus models was produced.

2. Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003-)

The Silver Shadow may very well be the official signature Rolls-Royce car, but the Phantom is certainly the most contemporary.

As the longest-established nameplate in automotive history—Rolls-Royce has been making Phantom models since 1925—the Phantom has always boasted standard-setting, bespoke features that few rival cars could offer. Take the full-size 2017 Phantom Series II’s list of commissionable features, for example: 

• Illuminated front Pantheon Grille
• Starlight Headlights with 580 individual laser-cut stars
• Shooter Star Headliner, made from hundreds of fiber-optic lights
• Privacy Suite with an electrochromic glass divider and intercom system

Read more about the evolution of Rolls-Royce since 2003, when the Phantom was first released.

1. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost (1906-1926)

The car that put Rolls-Royce on the map, so to speak, was the original Silver Ghost. Named as “the best car in the world” by Autocar in 1907, the Silver Ghost delivered on its promise of being extremely reliable and quiet—an extremely risky proposition considering all cars were loud and unreliable at the turn of the century. But after 7,000 miles of real-life driving, required maintenance costs were estimated to be around £2.13, thus proving that cars could be dependable. 

Over the course of 20 years—including a brief hiatus during World War I—fewer than 8,000 Silver Ghost models were manufactured (~400/year), making it one of the rarest collector cars today. In fact, the first prototype is noted to be the most valuable car in the world, with an insured price of over $35 million. It may not be the fanciest or most technologically advanced car under the Rolls-Royce name, but it’s arguably the most important one to ever don the Double-R badge. 

Call us purists or suckers for nostalgia, but we think it’s the O.G. Silver Ghost that deserves the #1 spot on this list of the best Rolls-Royce vehicles ever made. Although we don’t have any Silver Ghosts for sale, we can help you find or build and configure another newer Rolls-Royce vehicle, like the Phantom, Cullinan or Ghost. Please contact our exotic car dealership near Aventura at (786) 577-5217 to learn more about your options.