The Sweptail is based on the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé and hand-built over four years.[3] Inspired by coachbuilding of the 1920s and 1930s, the car was commissioned in 2013, by a super-yacht and aircraft specialist.[4] At the time of its May 2017 debut at the yearly Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, it was the most expensive new automobile in the world, costing around £10 million.[5]

The Sweptail is owned by Hong Kong-based customer Sam Li, son of billionaire real estate mogul Samuel Tak Lee.[6] Giles Taylor, former director of design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars described the vehicle as "the automotive equivalent of Haute couture".[7]

In 2019, it was overtaken as the most expensive new car by the Bugatti La Voiture Noire which sold for US$18.7 million.