For Sale at Auction: 2002 Rolls-Royce Park Ward in Carmel, California

Chassis No. SCALD61E22CX19113

By the close of the 1990s, Rolls-Royce occupied an unusual moment in its long history, building cars of immense presence while the marque itself stood on the threshold of a new chapter with BMW. The Silver Seraph, launched in 1998, introduced a 322 horsepower 5.4-liter BMW V12 that brought modern smoothness to the most traditional of British luxury automobiles. It was only the second V12 ever fitted to a Rolls-Royce, following the magnificent Phantom III, and it lent the Silver Seraph a sense of effortless authority. It was a car conceived for those who valued discretion and craftsmanship above all, and it represented the final chapter of Rolls-Royce production at Crewe before the marque passed into a new era.

For patrons who desired still greater accommodation, Rolls-Royce introduced an extended-wheelbase derivative at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show. Revived for the occasion was the storied Park Ward name, an emblem of the coachbuilding tradition that had clothed many of the firm's most distinguished models. Introduced for the 2001 model year, the Park Ward added 250 millimeters of length, concentrated largely for the rear occupants, transforming the rear compartment into a chamber of generous proportions ideally suited to chauffeur-driven travel. Such luxury comes with limited availability and as a result just 127 Rolls-Royce Park Wards were hand crafted; these stand as the last Rolls-Royces to carry the Park Ward designation.

This 2002 example presents handsomely in Black over an elegant Cream leather interior, a pairing that speaks to the model's character of restrained formality. The cabin is appointed with veneered picnic tables, rich burl walnut wood trim, and bespoke interior detailing that reflects its hand built craftsmanship. According to its accompanying CARFAX Vehicle History Report, the car was first registered in Illinois on 20 September 2002. It passed to a second Illinois owner on 20 July 2004 showing just 1,003 miles, before going to a third custodian on 2 June 2007, who brought the car to Florida with 9,635 miles. Today the jet-like, V12-powered Park Ward remains an exceptionally rare and dignified expression of the final Crewe-built Rolls-Royce generation. It offers an exceptional opportunity to acquire one of only 127 examples produced, today showing just 24,580 miles at the time of cataloging.