Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé

The now-discontinued Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé 6.7 V12 was the open-top member of the Phantom VII family and one of the most distinctive motor cars offered through Rolls-Royce in South Africa. Contemporary South African distribution reporting in February 2007 scheduled the model's local launch for later that year, while the authorised Sandton archive confirms local presence by 2011. A new-car guide dated 20 April 2016 listed the exact derivative as 6.7 V12 with an eight-speed automatic, two doors and a POA price state, and Rolls-Royce confirmed that global production would end in 2016. The planned 2007 launch, presence by 2011, April 2016 local listing and final-commission announcement establish useful evidence bounds but do not prove exact South African start and withdrawal years. The Series II World technical sheet records a body 5612 mm long, 1987 mm wide and 1566 mm high on a 3320 mm wheelbase. It has two doors and four seats, with 1026 mm of front headroom, 943 mm at the rear, 1040 mm of front legroom and 936 mm at the rear. Boot volume is 315 litres and fuel capacity is 80 litres. The compatible DIN base kerb mass is 2630 kg, the gross vehicle weight is 3050 kg and published payload is 420 kg. The separate 2705 kg EU unladen figure uses a different definition and remains contextual rather than replacing the canonical kerb value. That distinction matters when comparing an exact historical convertible with databases that silently mix regional weight definitions. The engine is the familiar 6749 cc direct-injection V12, producing 338 kW at 5350 rpm and 720 Nm at 3500 rpm. An 8HP70 eight-speed automatic and 3.154 final drive replace the earlier six-speed-era configuration, so the Series II figures must not be mixed with launch-car specifications. Official performance is 240 km/h and 5.8 seconds from 0-100 km/h. Combined EU5 consumption is 14.8 l/100km with CO2 emissions of 347 g/km. The staggered wheel package uses 255/50 R21 front and 285/45 R21 rear tyres, with 374 mm and 370 mm ventilated brake discs. The South African 2016 guide recorded six airbags, ABS and stability control. The ownership case is more specialised than the specification numbers suggest. This is an enormous convertible with a highly finished roof system, coach-door body, four-seat cabin and model-specific rear deck. Buyers should examine roof operation and seals, drainage, cabin trim, teak or metal finishes where fitted, wheel condition and the full Bespoke build record. The 315-litre boot is usefully shaped for touring but smaller than the closed Phantom Coupé boot. The 80-litre tank is also smaller than the Coupé's 100-litre tank. Those are body-specific facts and a reminder that the Drophead is not simply a roofless saloon or a Dawn substitute.