Lot Ended
Description
Three owners from new; 168k miles with 23 service stamps; new tyres;
long MOT; private plate; driven 120 miles to the sale
New decade, new car: 1980 saw the
launch of the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit - longer, wider, lighter and with 30%
more glass, the modern lines of the Spirit shook off the shadow of its
predecessor. Same engine and gearbox, though: 6,750cc alloy V8 and GM THM400
auto ‘box, a winning combination if ever there was one.
Road-holding was
reported to be "the best yet from Rolls-Royce" thanks to significant
improvements to the self-levelling rear suspension and the new car had a top
speed of 120mph. Interior appointments were as luxurious as ever, using only the
finest hides and veneers, the most noticeable change being the adoption of
separate rear seats.
"A gloriously individual possession that signifies
impeccable excellence and taste, an extravagant celebration of detail over
function, a monument in the driveway and an occasion to drive," was how
Autocar summed it up.
Copies of the factory build sheets show
that this Silver Spirit left the Crewe factory in November 1985 finished in
Ocean Blue with Magnolia hide upholstery and Mountain Blue
carpets.
It had been ordered via Jack Barclay for
Mrs BA Watkiss, Director of Watkiss Group Aviation Ltd in Biggleswade. She was
to be chauffeur-driven in the car for the next 12 years during which time it had
the registration number 1 BAW.
She sold it in
1998 by which time it had covered 162,470 miles and been serviced 22 times,
virtually all the services carried out by main agents, giving an average service
interval of under 7,500 miles, all backed up by invoices.
For the next 21 years the car was owned by a Mr A Needham of
Warrington (who paid £14,800 for it via a dealer) and reputedly mainly used it
as a wedding car until he passed away in 2016. It only covered 3,000 miles
during this period with one more stamp in the book at 164,026 miles in April
1999.
Our vendor acquired the Rolls from his
widow in June 2019 as a gift for his grandson Charlie, but unfortunately the lad
had a bad accident in another car so our vendor decided to keep the Spirit for
himself - much to his wife's dismay as she thinks he already has far too many
other cars...
A globe-trotting scientist,
academic and inventor, with homes in Oxford and the South of France and a
passion for vintage Rileys, he has barely used the Rolls over the last six
years, covering a mere 700 miles, the odometer currently showing 168,132 miles.
Always garaged in his ownership, it got a new set of tyres in June this
year.
As you can see in the photos, this Spirit
is in generally good condition for its year/mileage with just the odd blemish
here and there. It has an MOT until July 2026 with just one advisory (slight
underbody corrosion) and comes with 18 old MOTs, two sets of keys and all its
handbooks. The private plate is also included.
Driven 120 miles to the sale with no issues, it has been starting
promptly and running well on site, although we did note that the exhaust is
blowing slightly. The vendor has also provided his own description of the car
which can be perused on the viewing days. It can also be emailed on request.
On offer here at a modest guide price, this
stately old Silver Spirit looks very presentable as it is and could be spoodled
up over time as desired.
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com