1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

In the care of the current registered keeper since approximately 1985, this Horse Chestnut Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit has covered just 42,000 miles from new. Fitted with an Oatmeal interior, the majority of the interior wood was refurbished only a couple of years ago.

Always kept garaged and said to be running well, it’s been maintained by the same specialist for the past two decades and is being sold by them on behalf of the late owner’s wife.

Offered for sale with no reserve, this is a great opportunity for a hands-on enthusiast to buy a well-maintained example - after being able to chat to the team that have been looking after it for the past 20 years.

The Horse Chestnut coachwork is in fine order being straight and well cared for, and while hand-built cars like this can show somewhat variable panel alignment, this one presents very well indeed.

It’s an imposing shape anyway but that magnificent grille really sets this Silver Spirit apart from other luxury cars from the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz – and that’s without taking into account the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy…

The light lenses, which are huge, are in great shape, as are the badges. The chromework, although less extensive than on previous models, is pretty good as well.

The wheels are good, as are the hubcaps, and they are fitted with Avon Turbosteel tyres on the front axle and Goodyear Eagles on the rear, all of which look to have decent tread.

The paintwork looks good as you walk up to it but closer inspection shows there are some flaws including some marks from bird poop and age (i.e. #77, #165 and #168), a few small bubbles that need catching (i.e. #71), plus some scratches (i.e. #208).

Other flaws? The front spoiler has also come away a little on the nearside (#58), the headlamps have some condensation inside them (#66 and #67), and there’s a stonechip in the windscreen (#82).

The Silver Spirit is near Reading, so please feel free to contact the vendor to make an appointment to view it in person.

The driver’s seat shows only light creasing to the hide, with a little colour loss to the odd patch (93 and #100). This is consistent with its age and mileage and, we think, adds to the car’s appeal; we buy old cars for their character and because we are all romantics at heart, so why would you want to erase the very history so many of us crave?

The rest is even better. It’s easy to forget what car interiors used to be like, back in the day; constructed of proper materials like wood and leather and metal, it was also designed and assembled by craftsmen and women, so it’s no wonder it’s weathered the past four decades with such impressive aplomb.

And it’s a lovely place to be. Obviously, the driver and front seat passenger have that gorgeous dashboard to admire but it’s those in the back that get the full Rolls-Royce experience, enjoying individual rear seats, a pair of foot rests, vast legroom, plus walnut veneer-trimmed and illuminated mirrors to either rear pillar.

The headlining is clean and taut, the door cards are in good order, and the refurbished walnut veneer trim is good.

A more modern Blaupunkt Lausanne CD player has been fitted, and a Jack Barclay Ltd sill plates suggest its supplying dealer was something of a legend in these circles.

The boot, which has some stains to the carpet, is home to the tool kit.

The only real patination we might like to address would be the steering wheel (#6), the condensation inside the rev counter and speedometer (#45), some of the underdash wiring is a little untidy (#91), and a few bits of veneer trim that escaped the recent refurbishment (i.e. #51, #162 and #187) but that’s all very much in the nice to do category rather than anything more pressing.

Oh, and the lamb’s wool overmats have gone green with age and so are probably past saving, although the small amount of mildew we can see on the leather (i.e. #192) should be removeable.

As you can see, the Silver Spirit starts well and revs and ticks over as it should. As you’d imagine after being pampered by the same specialist for so long, we are told it drives well too after having had the carburettors overhauled only recently.

The engine bay is in a decent condition but those of a fastidious nature will want to clean it up and perhaps detail it to being it up to the same standard as the rest of the car.

The underside looks good but could do with its underseal touching up to keep it protected.

The Silver Spirit’s MoT certificate is valid until July 2023 and it was gained, as so many times before, without coming to the attention of the MoT tester.

We are told that the car comes with its service history book and handbook in addition to the paperwork confirming the care it’s received over the years.

Please contact Simon, who is selling the Silver Spirit on behalf of the late owner’s wife, to arrange a viewing and to examine the paperwork that supports his claim that it’s got a “good history”. He’s also very happy to discuss the car and the work he’s carried out on it, which should give potential buyers reassurance as to its condition.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

A reminder of the good old days when Rolls-Royce still built the world’s finest motorcars by hand, this Silver Spirit would benefit from some gentle refurbishment but give the plethora of specialists, not least the chap who’s been looking after it so well and for so long already, this needn’t be a cause for concern; in fact, if you’re looking for the most cost-effective entry into the rarified world of the hand-built luxury saloon, this would be a very good place to start.

With a guide price of between £8,000 and £12,000 we think this one offers an awful lot of car for the money anyway but as it’s being offered with no reserve, it is going to sell from the very first bid, no matter how derisory that might be.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Reading, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.