A 2004 Phantom With a Story

Shaquille O’Neal’s 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom is listed on Bring a Trailer, carrying a story as outsized as the car itself. While playing for the Lakers, Shaq says he visited a Rolls-Royce showroom in sweats and balked at the prices. When a salesman asked if he could afford the cars he was considering, O’Neal responded by buying three on the spot. This Phantom was one of them.

The 2004 model launched the Phantom VII and marked Rolls-Royce’s first generation under BMW ownership. Its 6.75-liter V-12 produces 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic. Nearly 400 pound-feet is available from 1,000 rpm. Longer than a Ford Excursion at launch, the sedan combines imposing proportions with coach doors, integrated umbrellas, a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, walnut trim, leather, lambswool carpets, rear picnic tables, and six-zone climate control.

O’Neal says he rarely drove his trio, but this silver example has covered 45,000 miles. Could you resist its old-world comforts? And what would you prove by buying it?

I reordered the story around the car’s listing, then grouped its history, performance, and cabin details for a fresh structure while retaining the key facts.