What would your initial reaction be if you suddenly come across a Rolls-Royce Phantom completely decked out in gold? You might reach out for your phone to click a few pictures but I’m sure you’ll awestruck for a few moments watching a massive brick of gold roll by. That’s exactly how people react when they see this gold Rolls-Royce Phantom driving around on the Indian roads. The gilded uber-luxury sedan is owned by an Indian businessman named Boby Chemmanur whose face features in the unique logo seen on the doors. The Kerala-based entrepreneur had his Phantom wrapped in gold a few years back and uses it to ferry VIP guests visiting his hotels.
Covering exotic cars in gold vinyl is a popular theme in the Middle East, but spotting something similar in India is rare. The YouTube video below captured the reactions of onlookers who were surprised to see a gold Rolls-Royce on the streets of Bengaluru, an IT hub in India.
The video posted by ‘Spotter India Cars’ shows how easily the blinged-out Rolls-Royce grabs everyone’s attention and makes heads turn. At one point in the video, it can be seen getting more attention than a blue Lamborghini Huracan roadster parked in front of it. People beeline to grab a visual of the unusual automobile and click pictures, including selfies. You might have noticed the taxi sign on the roof, which makes it even more interesting.
Yes, the gold Rolls-Royce is a taxi and can be rented for Rs 25,000 (around $300) per day, which seems quite reasonable considering the fact that the Rolls-Royce Phantom is one of the most expensive cars on sale in India. The current-generation Phantom Series VIII has a starting price of Rs 103 million ($1.3 million) in India. Boby’s gold Rolls-Royce Phantom might be a previous-generation model but that doesn’t make it any less luxurious or special.
Another interesting thing about the car is its fancy license plate. The matching yellow number plates – used by commercial vehicles – in India feature 0001 at the end.
Who is Boby Chemmanur?
Boby Chemmanur is a 60-year-old entrepreneur from India who runs businesses ranging from jewelry stores to hotels to car rentals. According to several sources, his current net worth is believed to be close to $100 million. Also known for his philanthropic work, Boby reportedly was also a professional soccer player and had close ties with soccer legend Diego Maradona who also inaugurated his first jewelry showroom in Dubai a few years ago. Boby is a car enthusiast and owns a huge collection of luxury automobiles.
He bought the Phantom VII LWB in an auction several years ago and decided to convert it into a taxi with the aim to offer the experience of riding in one of the most expensive cars in the world for a reasonable fee. The gilded Rolls-Royce also is a very effective marketing tool for the businessman to promote himself and also his Club Oxygen resorts.
