Creation
Body
Sitting on top of the new stainless steel grille is the Spirit of Ecstasy, an iconic mascot recognised the world over. Claude Johnson originally commissioned the sculptor Charles Sykes to produce a mascot worthy of his cars in 1911. It is thought that Sykes used a woman by the name of Eleanor Thornton as his model, and the resulting sculpture has graced Rolls-Royce motor cars ever since.
When BMW Group bought the rights to produce Rolls-Royce motor cars in 1998, it was clear that after so many years of use, the original mould for the Spirit of Ecstasy had become worn. The decision was taken to recast the mould, using state-of-the-art computer technology, and old photographs of Eleanor Thornton herself, to restore the missing detail and definition to the legendary figurine. Like the Phantom, the Phantom Coupé’s silver lady retracts into the radiator grille, either at the touch of a button, or automatically when you remove the key from the ignition.
