Key Takeaways
- The Rolls-Royce Phantom celebrates its 100th anniversary, echoing its rich history and notable owners.
- Keith Moon, legendary drummer of The Who, is rumored to have submerged a car, though the vehicle was likely a Lincoln Continental.
- For a promotional stunt, Rolls-Royce recreated the infamous lore by placing a Phantom prototype on stilts in a swimming pool.
Celebrating 100 Years of the Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom marks a century of automotive excellence with a legacy that includes a variety of famous owners such as 50 Cent and Elton John. To commemorate this milestone, Rolls-Royce has revisited one of the more colorful legends associated with the vehicle—namely, the story of Keith Moon, the iconic drummer of The Who.
The urban myth suggests that Moon had a mishap with a car in a swimming pool. According to Moon, during a party incident at a Holiday Inn, he jumped into a Lincoln Continental, mismanaged the handbrake, and ended up submerged in the pool. While Moon himself recounted this event, it remains widely debated whether it actually occurred, and many believe the car in question was not even a Phantom.
Last week, Rolls-Royce made headlines by setting a retired prototype Phantom into a swimming pool for a staged photo shoot at the Tinside Lido in Plymouth, England. This promotional effort was intended to retell the legendary story, albeit with a twist. Unlike the chaotic scenario described by Moon, Rolls-Royce took a more controlled approach, placing the vehicle on stilts rather than allowing it to truly sink.
Critics have branded this stunt as more of a marketing gimmick than an authentic homage to rock history. Some argue that if the intent was to reflect the car’s storied past, a genuine attempt to submerge a real Phantom would have felt more “Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The staged visuals resonate with nostalgia but may fall flat for those seeking authenticity in the storytelling.
Rolling back to earlier times, the narrative of Moon’s supposed pool incident has seen various reboots, including a humorous segment on the show ‘Top Gear.’ Such instances have fueled public interest, even though no evidence has ever launched the tale into verified status. The flamboyant lifestyle of the 1970s, coupled with Moon’s notorious antics, provides a rich backdrop for such stories, making them a part of pop culture lore.
In essence, while the Rolls-Royce Phantom’s 100th anniversary is a significant milestone in the automotive industry, the attempts to capitalize on Moon’s legendary narrative raise questions about authenticity versus modern marketing. Whether the recreation of this whimsical lore will resonate with fans or appear as a mere PR stunt remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the Phantom continues to stand as an emblem of luxury and craftsmanship, even as it wades through the waters of myth and reality.
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