The picture was like a postcard: crowd, riders, royal guards, Benemérita agents… Although it may sound cliché, Madrid dressed up this Tuesday. And in the center of all the spotlights, as if at the epicenter of the party, two armored vehicles of those that exude elegance, luxury and elan. Two Rolls-Royce Phantom IVs that carried their Majesties Don Felipe and Doña Letizia and Princess Leonor during one of the most important celebrations in Spain: the swearing in of the Constitution by the King’s first-born daughter in Congress.
Like everything in our country, both vehicles have a long history. The model in question, the Phantom IVis considered one of the most exclusive of the British brand. And the truth is that there would be even more… And when it was put together in early 1950, it was planned that the only recipients would be Prince Philip of Edinburgh and Princess Elizabeth of England. Rolls-Royce had now established itself as a blue blood brand with the maxim: “The price is forgotten, but the quality remains.” The terrible economic situation after the Second World War had led them to ignore the popular market and focus on royal Families and heads of state concentrated.
As Pedro de la Torre confirms in “That wasn’t in my motorsport history book,” the fine workmanship and first-class materials helped bring the brand to the forefront of luxury: “The quality of the products made the brand British.” The height of elegance and sophistication, a detail evoked by the top of the radiator, a female figure with a winged appearance integrated into the design. It refers to the so-called “Spirit of Ecstasy”, which is intended to honor the importance of customers. Curiously, one of the company’s owners, Charles Rolls, refused to have this statuette in his vehicle throughout his life because it obscured his vision.
The Phantom IV, ordered between 1948 and 1949, promised to be a sales fiasco. However, once the spotlight fell on it, orders poured in from around the world. And among them, as could not be otherwise and has been reported a thousand times, was Francisco Franco. The dictator purchased three, one of which was a convertible. There is still some controversy today as to what led him to purchase them. Love of luxury, desire to be like a king? One theory is that he simply took the advice of Fernando Fuertes from Villavicencio, head of his civil house. You will know.
What is clear is that this vehicle was a miracle. The new 160hp Phantom featured a 5,665cc inline eight-cylinder engine, offered incredible low-speed performance – not for nothing was it intended for parades and formal events – and featured a version of the “Spirit of ecstasy‘ in kneeling, as a sign of respect to the buyers. “It was converted by Mulliner Co. Lid as a five-seater convertible and painted black with tinted leather upholstery. “Like the rest of the models, they were manufactured with armor,” ABC explained in 2004.
The editor was more than modest. The reality is that these models have been individually crafted by different craftsmen, so each piece is still unique. In the end, a total of 18 copies were delivered to heads of state and royal families of Saudi Arabia, of which 16 remain today. Incidentally, the two limousines and the Spanish convertible always belonged to the army and not to Franco’s army.
Pictures of a historic day
It must be said that the acquisition was no coincidence. After countless disagreements regarding armor, the Spanish government provided the brand with a sample of the desired thickness. The idea was that it would withstand shots from an assault rifle. He in turn modified it to adapt it to the requirements of the peninsula. From 1952 onwards they gradually reached the heart of the country. As the authors of the essay “The Secret Life of Franco: The Hidden Face of the Dictator” explained, they did it without wheels and it was necessary to adapt national wheels. All three are still active and are used on state occasions, such as the wedding of the princes in 2004 or the proclamation of Felipe VI. in 2014.
