Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

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There were no real surprises in Autumn 1980 when Rolls-Royce unveiled their new Silver Spirit and its long wheelbase counterpart, the Silver Spur, alongside Bentley's sporting Mulsanne range.

The well-proven 6,750cc V8 engine previously used in the Silver Shadow was retained and now had slightly more power (228bhp and a mighty 330lb/ft) but the styling was much more modern and angular, being longer, wider and lower but with 30 per cent more glass area.

"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.

First registered in March 1982, this first-generation Spirit has covered 91,242 miles from new in the hands of six owners with a good service history comprising 12 stamps in the book, most by the supplying dealer, PJ Evans of Birmingham. The last service entry was in 2012 when the car had covered 89,216 miles – not many miles ago, but rather a long time ago so we’d recommend a good service before regular use once more.

The vendor acquired the car earlier this year as part of a deceased estate and while he has little interest in it, the previous owner clearly liked it and kept it for nine years, covering only 3,000 miles with some of the annual visits to the MOT station being separated by just a few hundred miles. The second owner also loved it and kept it for 20 years from 1986 until 2006.

The car is finished in Ocean Blue with a blue Everflex roof, while the interior has acres of beige hide piped in blue with a forest of walnut trim, electric seats and windows and period radio cassette with original Blaupunkt graphic equaliser. Get me that ELO tape!

Barn-stored for some time and little used over the past year (c.400 miles), it would doubtless benefit from a good valet and leather feed to bring the faded leather back to its former glory. Bodily, the car looks straight with no obvious corrosion in the usual spots that afflict these and their Bentley counterparts. The paint has faded a little, but with a good mop we suspect it could be brought back up to par with relative ease.

The history file includes the V5C, owner’s wallet and manual, an online check showing that it has an MOT until May 2019 with three minor advisories although the certificate itself has gone astray.

This stately old Roller offers an opportunity to bring a nice old car back to its former glory and is being offered here at a fraction of what the first owner would have paid back in 1982 when it cost as much as a house…