If you've ever wanted to ride like royalty, it may be your lucky day: a custom-designed Rolls Royce nicknamed "The Ruby" is selling for $1.39 million in London.

The 2005 Phantom DC, which was custom-built for an unknown Indian maharajah, is part Batmobile, part sportscar, and has barely left the garage.

The car, with its red leather interior, gullwing doors, and multiple flatscreen TVs, is already creating a huge buzz among car enthusiasts, in part because of the mystery surrounding the current owner.

Vaughan Davis, who owns the London-based boutique selling the car, told The Daily Mail that the maharajah is a "motor fanatic" with a collection of around 50 vehicles.

He added:

It really is a piece of wonderment and if you ever take it out for a drive you almost can't get out because of all the people who gather around thinking you're a celebrity.

The car, with the license plate "Cexi," has 22-inch alloys and hits 130mph:

And here's a video tour straight from the showroom:

'

For more over-the-top autos, check out these five cars even a millionaire couldn't afford >

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Designer Stuart Hughes and Eurocash AG of Switzerland essentially just turned a car that was already an icon of wealth—the Rolls Royce Phantom—into a gold army tank (via Yahoo Auto).

Click here to check out the golden Rolls Royce Phantom >

An anonymous buyer, described only as "a businessman from the Middle East," just purchased the gold-plated, fully armored, and astronomically expensive Rolls Royce Phantom EWB.

Only two of the cars have been created so far, at the astounding cost of $8.1 million a piece.

The designers replaced the car's chrome trim on the grill, door handles, trunk lid, hinges, and other hardware with 18-karat gold. It has more than 264 pounds of the metal, which might be a good investment considering its current trading value.

You may remember Stuart Hughes from ridiculously over-the-top items like the $8 million iPad 2 and the $4.8 billion golden yacht (which we think was purchased by this guy).

The project began when Switzerland-based Eurocash AG, which bulletproofs autos, started developing the Phantom for one of their clients (who likes to stay safe while driving around in an $8 million car, apparently).

They approached Hughes about the aesthetics of the project. Eurocash AG turned the car into a machine that protects the rider from AK-47s and even hand grenades. Ballistics testing proved it can withstand 570 shots also two grenade blasts at the same time.

In case the rider ever forgets how valuable his transporation is, a plaque inside the Phatom states: "One of the first two Armoured EWB Phantom of Production [sic] in the World." It may not be proper English, but extreme wealth still translates across all cultures.

The gold alone is worth nearly $7 million

Source: Yahoo Auto

Super spacious

This tank can withstand multiple grenade blasts

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Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, Mysore's maharaja from 1902 - 1940 and (then) one of the wealthiest men in the world, owned this iconic Silver Ghost.

The Rolls Royce was known to be the car of choice for Indian royals due to its quality and ability to handle Indian roads.

So much so that of all buyers of this model, Indian princes owned most of the Silver Ghosts produced between 1920 and 1926.

The luxury car was ordered for the Delhi Durbar celebration back in the early 1900s and was then passed on to Wadiyar.

To be auctioned at Bonham's in London on September 16, it is expected to go for £300,000-£400,000 (~$433350-$577800).

Also to be auctioned next month is a gold pendant from the treasury of Tipu Sultan. A rarity, it is expected to fetch between £80,000 and £1,20,000 (~$115560-$173340).

The pendant is set with a 38-carat emerald surrounded by nine precious stones including topaz, blue sapphire, ruby, diamond and pearl.

Tipu Sultan, known to be a staunch opponent of the British, lost most of his treasures after his defeat; very few pieces from it survived in their original form.

Besides these two well known artifacts, other items up for auction include an impressive North Indian 19th century silver sheet-covered wood tester bed estimated at £15,000-£20,000 (~$21667-$28890) and a rare 18th century South Indian carved emerald figurine estimated at £40,000-£60,000 (~$57780-$86670).

This post originally appeared on Luxpresso.

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Think that owning a super-expensive Rolls-Royce exempts you from the product recalls that affect lesser automakers?

Then think again. The luxury carmaker is recalling some 589 2010 Ghosts, which cost around $250,000 each, amid fears that faulty wiring could lead to a fire (via Motor Authority).

Owners of the plagued vehicles can get them repaired at their nearest Rolls-Royce dealer, free of charge.

Now meet some rich and famous people who destroyed their expensive toys >

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The Indian car market is in its infancy for the majority of the country.

However, one man has taken shrewd advantage of the burgeoning market and has profited nicely.

According to the Hindustan Times, barber Ramesh Babu has a collection that is now comprised of 68 cars, including luxury makes such as Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, and BMW.

This is a true rags-to-riches story. Babu's father died when he was very young and left the family with virtually no savings.

Instead of completing his schooling, Ramesh had to drop out and work full time as a barber to make ends meet. Luckily, his barber business grew greatly over time.

Babu's clients now include policemen, prominent politicians, as well as a few Bollywood stars. But even with clientele that prestigious, he only charges about $2 for a haircut.

So if the income did not come from his celebrity clientele, how is he able to afford a stable of 68 cars?

In 1994 he took advantage of the success his salon was experiencing and bought a small van. Instead of using it for his own needs, he rented it out.

The profits have allowed him to expand the fleet with BMW, Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, as well as an armada of 50 Toyota vans. But instead of keeping them for himself, he rents out the entire collection to anyone who can afford it.

One day with his Rolls-Royce Ghost costs $1,000. For those of you keeping track, The Times of India reports that the average monthly income of urban India is about $320, making this a rental solely for the upper class.

Babu's rags-to-riches story has not gone unnoticed, as there are currently plans to make a movie of his story in three different languages.

Now take a look at India's finest luxury train >

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Morgan Stanley is out with its top stock picks for 2015, shedding the short-term predictions and going long in 50 securities it believes will continue to post strong EPS growth. 

Instead of looking for undervalued equities, analysts across Morgan's global research team chose companies with compelling competitive advantages that differentiated them from the pack.

"The main criterion is sustainability — of competitive advantages, business model, pricing power, cost efficiency and growth," the bank wrote.

Amazon.com

Ticker: AMZN.O

Sector: Online Consumer Discretionary

EPS Growth (5-Yr CAGR): 26%

"Over the next 5 years, we are looking for 30% annualized sales growth. We have high conviction that Amazon.com can maintain growth at this level by increasing the number of its Amazon Prime accounts."

Source: Morgan Stanley

Anheuser-Busch InBev

AmBev

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"Refined luxury" and "Rolls-Royce" tend to be synonyms in the car world.

It could also be a synonym for "unbelievably expensive."

Despite their exorbitant prices and difficult economic conditions, Rolls-Royce had their best ever year of sales in 2011 according to Jalopnik.

The automaker moved 3,538 of their huge luxury cars with double digit growth in almost all major markets. The Asia-Pacific market led the way with nearly 50% growth, while Asia and the USA each grew by about 20%.

A majority of the growth came from the entry-level Roller, the BMW 7-Series based Ghost. Still, the most affordable car in their lineup will still set you back a minimum of $250,000.

Now look for sales to triple if Rolls introduces a $175,000 model.

Now take a look at this hidden collection of significant cars >

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To commemorate the Year of the Dragon, Rolls-Royce produced a special edition of the $380,000 Phantom for the Chinese market.

Rolls built a very limited number and charged an astronomical $1.2 million per car.

But according to Autoblog, the price did not hamper the car's sales. Rolls-Royce sold every one they could make in just two months.

They are not saying how many they built, but we do not think that it could have been very many.

The Year of the Dragon Edition features a unique gold stripe down the side of the car, dragons in the woodwork, and special throw cushions, among other small changes. We are not entirely certain why these seemingly tiny features necessitated the almost $1 million premium over the standard car.

No matter the reason, buyers snatched the opportunity to buy a limited edition car for an outrageous price.

Now take a look at something even more expensive >

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The other day we showed you some expensive cars taking center stage on the streets in the Philippines.

Today, they have definitely been one-upped by the cars of Dubai.

While we knew that the exorbitant wealth in the Gulf meant it was teeming with rare cars, we did not realize that they seemed to hang out together all the time. Our tipster in the UAE spotted this gaggle of pure awesome. From left to right we have a Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead, and a McLaren MP4-12C.

Combined, all three have approximately 2000 horsepower and are worth well over $2 million at current market values. Sitings like this may not happen every day in the states, but we have the feeling this might just be another day in the UAE.

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A 21-year-old man in Nanjing, China, is facing financial ruin after he accidentally clipped the side of a Rolls-Royce Phantom while driving near the airport this week, ChinaSmack reports.

The man reportedly sheared off part of the bumper of the luxury car, which could cost close to $158,000 to repair. The Rolls-Royce is owned by a corporation that was using it to shuttle VIPs to and from the airport, and is worth around $1.9 million, according to ChinaSmack.

Even if the man's family sold everything they owned, including their home, they would still significantly fall short of that sum, ChinaSmack writes.

And since the man took full responsibility for the accident, he is not eligible for insurance coverage and will have to pay out of pocket. He's reportedly reached out to the company that owns the Rolls-Royce in hopes that it will have mercy on him.

Now find out why China-made cars are not ready for primetime >

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British vintage car enthusiasts gathered in a parking lot in downtown Boca Raton, Fla. over the weekend to ogle more than 150 classic cars, from Jaguars to Aston Martins.

One very famous Lotus also made an appearance.

The event, sponsored by the Gold Coast British Sports Car Club of South Florida, drew hundreds of spectators. The Union Jack was omnipresent, and we even found one British car fanatic dressed in full bobby garb.

We were on hand to check out the scene.

Old cars were so much simpler. This elegant Jaguar XK140 uses a leather strap to hold the hood down.

There was also a bevy of Jaguar's notoriously unreliable grand tourer, the XJS. The hoods are up to show off the V12 engines, not because they are broken down.

We have not seen very many E-Types in colors other than British Racing Green. The steel color on this series two car seems to suit it nicely.

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This post originally appeared at Luxpresso.

A recent Bloomberg report stated that luxury cars, Bentley and Rolls Royce were planning to increase their presence in India considerably.

While the former may seem relatively new, we know that Rolls Royce and India go back when Maharaja's would play polo and order the luxury car by the dozens.

Here we take a look at the regal car's royal Indian history.

Pearl of the East

The very first Rolls-Royce bought by an Indian prince was the 'Pearl of the East'. The prize-winning car was bought by the Maharaja of Mysore after he saw it at the Bombay - Kolhapur Motor Trial in 1908.

Source: Luxpresso

Colonial model

To suit Indian preferences, Rolls-Royce developed a 'colonial' model, which was well-suited to the rougher roads and conditions of remote regions, and a popular choice for many maharajas. They were fitted with a wide variety of coachwork for entertainment, hunting, ceremony and transportation.

Source: Luxpresso

Phantom DC Concept

In 2011, a pimped-out version of a Rolls-Royce, owned by a maharaja went on sale for a cool $1.4 million. With the number plate 'Cexi', the super car is the only one of its kind in the world. It was customised from a 2005 Rolls-Royce, and is now a four-seater Phantom DC Concept with gull-wing doors.

Source: Luxpresso

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While driving a classic car is enjoyable on its own, sharing it with family makes it even better.

Our own Julie Zeveloff spotted this man taking what appear to be his daughters out for a ride in Manhattan in a Rolls Royce Corniche.

Even though it's an older model, it appears to be quite a clean example. But what really matters is that everyone is having a good time. If you are in a convertible Roller in Manhattan, there is a good chance you are having a lot of fun.

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Q: What is the biggest sedan currently in production?

A: Whether you're asking about the biggest on the outside or the inside, that honor goes to the Rolls-Royce Phantom extended-wheelbase sedan.

The wheelbase -- the distance between the front and rear wheels -- of this behemoth measures 150.4 inches, and its overall length is 239.5 inches. That is within an inch of being twice as long as Scion's new iQ hatchback.

The Phantom also is big inside, with passenger volume of 125 cubic feet, more than any other sedan.

All that size and room comes at a high price -- $450,000. Assuming that might be just a little too steep, other sedans with large interiors include the BMW 740 Li (115 cubic feet), the Hyundai Equus (111) and Genesis (109), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (109), Audi A8L (107), Lincoln MKS (105) and Ford Taurus (102).

You can check the specs for these models in the Cars.com Research section to see how they compare in passenger volume, overall length and cargo space.

© 2012, Cars.com

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For years, Rolls-Royce has boasted that the loudest thing in one of its cars at 100 MPH is the ticking of the clock.

But the company's latest concept is looking to evoke a response from all of your senses.

Dubbed the Rolls-Royce Ghost Six Senses Concept, the new car has special, bespoke features that are meant to get a response from sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. We're guessing the "sixth sense" in the name relates to the car itself and not the ability to see dead people.

For sight, small details take over to catch the eye. There is a Carrara White finish and special wheels on the outside while the interior abounds with rich leather and woods.

While the ride may still be silent, the sound system is far from it. The concept stereo promises to make you feel like you are at the symphony, or the Metallica concert, depending on your musical preference.

Rolls has actually added "woody spice" to the walnut veneers to activate the sense of smell. The high quality leathers will also work in the same way. Taste has everything to do with the cool box in the back. While the Ghost doesn't come with Grey Poupon, the rear seat passengers are able to enjoy a perfectly chilled glass of champagne.

Finally, this Roller has natural leather, deep rugs, lambswool, and fine wood veneers are just meant to be touched.

The Ghost already starts at a price near $250,000, so we can only imagine how much the Six Senses will cost if it makes it to production.

Now check out another expensive concept car >

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When you think of opulent luxury cars, there are usually two words that come to mind: Rolls and Royce.

After its acquisition by BMW, Rolls-Royce introduced the Phantom, a gigantic, tank-like, luxury car that could probably destroy everything in its path.

There have also been a number of variants of the car. Our friend David Tulchinsky saw the convertible version, or the Phantom Drophead in Rolls parlance, sitting on M Street in good old Washington, DC.

The Drophead was sitting on M Street outside a lounge. There is a lot of money in that area of town, so seeing one there it isn't as surprising as you'd think.

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Nobody has ever accused a Rolls-Royce of being small. In fact, they are some of the biggest cars on the road anywhere today.

But our friend Craig Lubman saw this stretched Phantom that puts other Rollers to shame.

This Phantom XXXL was on Second Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Typically, stretched Rolls-Royces and Bentleys are actually Lincoln Town Cars with different body panels. But as far as we can tell, this looks to be a legitimate Rolls-Royce.

If he drives by the BI offices, we'll ask for a ride.

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Rolls-Royce is known for some of the most epic and expensive cars you can buy today. So it is fitting that it would also have an amazing dealership.

Now Rolls-Royce has opened a dealer in one of the wealthiest areas on Long Island and in America: Jericho. This is the largest dealer in North America and the second largest in the world.

The latest addition to the luxury empire can hold about a dozen of the luxury behemoths. While that doesn't sound like many, the inventory in the showroom alone could easily top $5 million.

It's 9,200 square feet and looks to have all of the luxuries that the buyer of an ultra-luxury car would expect.

Take a look at the swanky interior below:

Here's a car to buy instead of a Roller >

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We recently stopped by Manhattan Motor Cars to check out the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Originally, released in 2009, the Ghost has been gaining ground and popularity and just a year ago they released an extended wheelbase edition with additional rear seat passenger room.

The only place in Manhattan where you can get the Ghost is at Manhattan Motor Cars in West Chelsea, which also specializes in Porsche, Lotus, Bentley, and Lamborghini.

The Ghost is totally customizable, explained Jeff Dragin, Sales Manager at the dealership. "You could come in with a special leather coat you like or a unique piece of wood and we will build that into the car," he said. Rolls-Royce will even hold onto the extra pieces in case you need to repair the car. 

Starting at around $250,000 the Rolls-Royce Ghost isn't cheap, but it is worth every penny.

Manhattan Motor Cars: the only place in town where you can get a Rolls.

Here's Jeff Dragin, sales manager and our tour guide.

The showroom is located in far West Chelsea.

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Between August 15 and 19, automobile collectors and enthusiasts will flock to the annual car week in Monterey, Calif. at the legendary Pebble Beach golf course.

Thousands of people will partake in shows, auctions and the swanky parties that go with it. We were there last year, so we know how awesome the weekend will be.

Many of the cars being auctioned are expected to go for millions, and even cars from Jay Leno and George Clooney will be sold for charity. These are the autos to look out for on the block.

1960 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione

Auction: Gooding and Co.

Estimated sale price: $7-9 million

Why it's cool: One of only nine of its kind, it is a distinguished show car that was once documented by a Ferrari historian. It placed first in the 1994 FCA Nationals and has new disk breaks and covered headlights.

1938 Horch 853A Special Roadster by Erdmann & Rossi

Auction: RM Auctions

Estimated sale price: $6-8 million

Why it's cool: This car has previously won Pebble Beach's Best In Show award along with numerous other accolades. It's one of three surviving cars of its kind.

1955 Aston Martin DB3S Sports Racing Car

Auction: RM Auctions

Estimated sale price: $3.5-4 million

Why it's cool: Custom-made at the Aston Martin factory by Dutch racing car driver Hans Davids, this car was raced in England and the United States before being retired and has placed in many shows.

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