Rolls Royce just credited John Lennon's 1964 Phantom V as the car that started the Black Badge legacy
Published on Mar 06, 2026 at 2:33 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Mar 05, 2026 at 3:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Rolls Royce just marked 10 years of its Black Badge lineup, the darker and more rebellious side of the ultra-luxury brand.
Today those cars are known for swapping polished chrome and traditional elegance for gloss black finishes and a sharper attitude.
However, while the Black Badge series officially launched in 2016, Rolls Royce now says the idea behind it goes much further back.
In fact, the company believes one of the earliest previews of the look came from a very famous customer back in the 1960s.
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The Rolls Royce Phantom V John Lennon ordered in 1964
While celebrating 10 years of Black Badge, Rolls Royce has been digging through its archives to see where the aesthetic really began.
During that process, historians came across a few older cars that already hinted at the dark, dramatic look long before the modern series existed.
One of the most famous examples belonged to John Lennon.
Back in 1964, at the height of Beatlemania, Lennon ordered a Rolls Royce Phantom V built by coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward.
However, he didn’t want the usual shiny chrome and traditional luxury look.
Instead, he went in the exact opposite direction.
The car was black everywhere.
The exterior was finished in deep gloss black, and much of the trim that normally sparkled in chrome was darkened to match.
Meanwhile inside, the theme continued with black Bedford cord cloth seats, black nylon rugs, and even seven matching pieces of black luggage.
Even the windows used reflective Triplex Deeplight glass, which gave the whole car a slightly mysterious feel.
Lennon later went on to get the car painted in a bright yellow as pictured above.
Looking back now, Rolls Royce says this car can be seen as the ‘spiritual progenitor’ of Black Badge.
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Rolls Royce had played with the dark look long before Black Badge existed
Interestingly, Lennon wasn’t even the first customer to experiment with darker Rolls Royce styling.
While reviewing its historical records, the company also pointed to a 1928 Rolls Royce 20 H.P. Brewster Brougham commissioned by businessman J. E. Aldred.
At the time, shiny chrome was considered the ultimate luxury detail.
But Aldred decided to do things differently, asking for a black Spirit of Ecstasy and a black radiator grille instead.
That might sound normal today, but back then it was a pretty bold move.
Fast forward nearly a century and Rolls Royce eventually turned that darker aesthetic into a full lineup.
The modern Black Badge series first appeared in 2016 with the Wraith and Ghost.
Later came the Dawn in 2017, the Cullinan SUV in 2019, and most recently the electric Spectre joined the range with its own Black Badge version in 2025.
So while Black Badge might feel like a modern idea, Rolls Royce customers have been quietly experimenting with darker luxury for a very long time.
And if the brand is right, John Lennon’s Phantom V might have been one of the coolest previews of all.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
