sliver spirit — Reviews — Classic Cars For Sale

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The Silver Spirit was available from 1980 to 1998, always with a 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce V8engine. There were multiple changes of spec in those 18 years, especially to engine power and suspension, but a late Spirit is recognisably the same car as an early one. As with all Rolls-Royce cars, these models offer a very special motoring experience as long as they have been properly maintained.

That experience is about wafting and gliding. It is not about powering through corners, although a Spirit offers surprisingly good dynamics when hustled along. Most important is to understand the car’s character before buying one, and to appreciate it as a work of automotive craftsmanship rather than just a lot of metal for your money.

VITAL STATISTICS

ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT, 1988

Engine 6750cc/V8-cyl/OHV

Power (bhp@rpm) 238bhp@4000rpm

Torque (lb ft@rpm) Not quoted

Top speed 115mph

0-60mph 10.3 sec

Economy 14mpg

Gearbox 3-speed automatic

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

BODYWORK & CHASSIS

Despite top build quality, Silver Spirits do corrode. On the outside, any problems with the wheelarches (both front and rear) or the lower trailing edges of the front wings should be apparent. Repair panels are available, but it takes a skilled specialist to insert them seamlessly and match the paint. Look carefully at the sills and round the front bulkhead, too. Two-tones were available but not common.

Inside the car, lift up the front carpets and check the floorpans. Blocked aircon drain tubes and leaking windscreens seals are quite common, and water can sit under the carpets. Eventually, the floorpans rot. You can often smell impending trouble when you get down to carpet level!

Check the front spoiler for kerbing damage. Replacements for later cars are expensive. Underneath, check that the underseal is intact, and double-check places where it is not. Examine the mounting areas for the rear springs and rear suspension arms – and don’t be surprised to find corrosion under the boot floor.

ENGINE

The Rolls-Royce V8 was new in 1959 and therefore more than 20 years old when it reached the Spirit. It is an under-stressed engine, which means that major components go on almost indefinitely, but it is not bullet-proof.

Check the service history. Who has done the work, and how regularly? Regular maintenance is essential, and belts, hoses and fluids must all be changed at intervals to ensure tip-top running. A rough-sounding engine in a Spirit is a definite no-no: knocks suggest piston wear from corroded liners. Leaks can be bad news, although oil leaks from the sump area may be innocuous. Blowing exhaust manifolds will prove expensive. Overheating might not be serious, but finding out the cause could be costly.

DIY maintenance is only for the skilled, whether it’s a carburettor engine (to mid-1986) or an injected one (Bosch K-Jetronic from 1987 MY).

RUNNING GEAR

Both the three-speed (to 1990) and later four-speed automatics are strong and generally trouble-free gearboxes. Changes should be barely perceptible. Listen for a whining back axle, which suggests a lack of maintenance.

The hydraulic self-levelling suspension is a complex. Don’t buy a car with suspension problems, because the cost of sorting it out will make your eyes water. Don’t try to work on it yourself; the high fluid pressures involved can cause injuries. Even the metal suspension parts need proper maintenance, and don’t imagine that changing a coil spring is a DIY job. To find out what you can and can’t do safely, join the RREC – the club runs maintenance weekends to show owners how to do the DIY-possible jobs on their cars.

Expect brake troubles on a car which has not been used for some time. These will range from rusty discs to dodgy hydraulics.

INTERIOR

Don’t lose your heart to a gorgeous-smelling, well-preserved cabin when the rest of the car is below par. Check for matching over-rugs as well as carpets, and be wary of any damp smells.

Check that all the instruments and warning lights work. On 1990 and later cars with Active Ride, the suspension warning light may not go out; you can often clear the ‘fault’ and extinguish the light, but there can be more worrying underlying causes. Does the aircon work properly – without leaks? What about the electric windows, especially on a car that has been standing?

Replacing damaged leather to OE standards will be very expensive indeed. Then, how did it get torn? Was a previous owner unlucky or simply careless? As for damaged wood trim, don’t even go there. Veneers were matched to individual cars.

OUR VERDICT

You’ll buy one of these old-style luxury saloons because there is no experience like driving an elderly Rolls-Royce. You’ll appreciate the utter serenity that comes with it, although it isn’t entirely without stress, unfortunately, as your wallet will notice. Fuel bills are high, and repairs cost what these cars’ original owners could comfortably afford. Roadholding and handling are adequate, but spirited driving will make you understand why the much quicker Bentley Turbo R needed a major suspension and brake revamp.

  Rolls-Royce

  Silver%20Spirit

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

1. Steer clear of pre-1984 cars as they can be a lot of trouble. Much of the bodywork was poorly designed and didn’t fit properly. The door and window frames of the first cars to leave the factory had a terrible fit and finish, which let a lot of wind into the cabin. These early cars were recalled for modifications and the door seals were redesigned.

2. Fuel injection was made standard in 1987, so it’s worth buying a car that has it fitted. The carburettor engines are simpler, but the fuel economy benefits that come with fuel-injected engines are worth it.

3. Corrosion can be a serious problem on cars built before 1992. It occurs in obvious places such as the wheelarches and the sills. The bottom four to six inches of the body are the worst areas for rot, as are the rear arches and the panel behind them.

4. Interiors are well-built and generally hard-wearing, but pay particular attention to lighter shades of leather. Magnolia and other pale hides will show wear more than darker equivalents, particularly on the driver’s seat. Cars that have been used for wedding transport may be more worn than usual on the back seats.

5. Carefully inspect the front and rear screen before you open the doors, then have a look at them from inside the car. If you can see any mist then there’s probably damp beneath the carpets that’s been caused by water ingress. It’s also worth getting down on your hands and knees and patting the interior floor for any more signs of damp.

6. V8 engines like the Roller’s can guzzle oil, so check the level, which will also be an indicator of whether the car has been well maintained. For the truest reading, do it after the engine has reached peak operating temperature and then been allowed to cool down.

7. An advanced Auto Ride electronic suspension system was introduced in 1990. This automatically adjusts the suspension settings to firmer or softer depending on how hard the car is being driven at the time. Be aware that it can go wrong and lead to an irregular, lumpy ride, which should become obvious on a test drive. Repairs are eye-wateringly expensive – dampers alone cost around £800 each.

8. A recall was issued in December 1995 for ious Rolls-Royce models that were manufactured with incorrect oil in their braking systems. The cars in question were built between June and October 1995, and while the majority will have been corrected, it’s worth thumbing through the service history to find out whether they were.

9. Later cars are generally much more reliable than early examples, but cars built between 1995 and 1998 are prone to head gasket problems. This is easily spotted by removing the engine oil filler cap and inspecting the bottom of it. If you see a pale, gloopy residue then the head is on its way out. Oil that smells of rotten eggs is another indicator.

10. When it’s working properly, the ride is one of the highlights of the Silver Spirit. However, the rear suspension gas springs can lose their pressure and become hard, which will be noticeable on a test drive, particularly from the back. If you can, go for a ride in the back of the car as part of your inspection/test drive, as any faults with the suspension system should become obvious.

VERDICT

With the Silver Spirit, there’s no question that later cars are the better bet, so it’s a case of finding as recent a model as possible that suits your budget. Cheap cars may look attractive from the outset – and you can pick up a useable example for as little as a few thousand pounds – but it’s worth remembering that parts and repairs are seriously pricey, so spending more in the first place is advisable.
Apart from the affordability, the beauty of the Silver Spirit is that there’s probably a Rolls-Royce specialist somewhere near you and it’s young enough for parts to be easy to obtain. Big space, big comfort and a very big engine mean you’ll be the most cosseted commuter around if you use yours every day. But be quick prices of good, last-of-the-line cars are now on the increase. Becoming a Rolls-Royce owner has never been so affordable.