The Volkswagen Phaeton is a special and quite recent classic: Launched in 2001 and named after the son of the sun god Helios, "the shining" represented Volkswagen's entry into the luxury saloon class. The Phaeton was launched as the "Concept D" at Germany's international motor show IAA in Frankfurt in 1999; it went into production at the then newly built Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden in December 2001. Assembled by hand, the Phaeton was a completely new development with over 100 patented components and set new benchmarks in the top segment of motoring in terms of technology and comfort. Besides a fully connected, newly developed infotainment system, air suspension and an innovative, four-zone draught-free air conditioning system were also standard features. An optional extra were ergonomically designed 18-way adjustable seats that offered particularly outstanding seating comfort.

Responsible for the elegant look of the car's at least 5.05 metres long body was Volkswagen's head designer at the time, Hartmut Warkuß: He produced a design that is still considered a prime example of an elegant, understated design language 20 years later. The spectrum of engines ranged from a six-cylinder 3.0 litre TDI with an output of 165kW (224PS) and a V10 TDI with an output of 230kW (313PS) to a 12V petrol-fuelled W12 engine capable of producing 331kW (450PS).

The vehicle in the ZeitHaus collection is a Phaeton V8 4Motion with an elegant Mazeppa Grey mother-of-pearl effect finish – produced as a long version in 2015. With 335PS generated by a 4172cc engine and an eight-cylinder V engine, the Phaeton reaches a top speed of 250km/h. When it was launched, it cost 121,883.51 euros.

A total of 84,235 vehicles were sold during the fourteen years it was in production. The Volkswagen Phaeton's most successful year was 2011, when a total of 11,166 were sold worldwide. The last vehicle left the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden production line on 18 March 2016.