1986 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur

This low-mileage, 6-owner car was first registered on 9th January 1986 and delivered new by Mann Egerton to its first owner at his business address in London SW3. He used the car sparingly and had covered fewer than 20,000 miles by the time he parted company with it in 2003. 

After that the Silver Spur appears to have moved a few times within the motor trade until May 2017. At that time, and still with fewer than 23,000 miles on the clock, it was bought by an American businessman from Connecticut for use when he was in the UK or Europe.

The car was kept and looked-after by marque specialists who weren’t shy of asking the American owner to part with large sums of money to ensure the car’s optimal upkeep. 

Indeed, between May 2017 and February 2021, he spent over £20,000 on the car – even though he added no more than 10,000 miles to the odometer. 

When Covid reared its ugly head, putting an end to overseas travel for the foreseeable future, the American decided to sell the car. 

The current owner purchased the car from an independent specialist in January 2022, and an entertaining account of his hunt to find and buy the right Silver Spur and his first year of his ownership experience appeared in the September / October 2023 edition of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver.

He was expertly guided and advised in his mission to find the ‘right one’ by a friend with over 40 years motor trade experience and a very good reputation as a restorer of classic cars.

This friend has maintained and serviced the car since the vendor bought it, using Flying Spares parts where necessary.

The vendor has adopted the same no-expense-spared approach employed by his predecessors. In January 2023 £1,000 was spent on a Service D (24,000 mile service) and five new (and correct) Avon white band tyres were fitted at a cost of £1,479. In February 2024 a Service A (6,000 mile service) was carried out, together with work to address any MoT advisories. 

The vendor tells us that the car is now in excellent mechanical order and ready to be enjoyed. 

Having driven the car ourselves, we can wholeheartedly endorse his opinion and report that the engine is powerful and quiet; the gearbox is smooth and progressive; and the car starts, goes, handles, accelerates, rides and stops exactly as you would wish it to. 

This is a fine-looking car and its condition is far more a reflection of its low mileage and diligent curation than its age.

The bodywork is free from any creases, dinks, dents, ripples or folds of note and the panel gaps and shut-lines are consistent and even.

The Royal Blue paintwork is in very decent overall condition, as is the car’s chrome, lights, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings.

The wheels are untroubled by the passage of time and the tyres have plenty of life left in them.

There is some nascent bubbling and blistering to be seen around the Silver Spur boot-lid badge and the front passenger door handle.

There are a few small splits to the paint at the top of the nearside ‘C’ pillar and some paint has rubbed away on the rear edge of the o/s/r door.

We also found a thin scratch on the boot lid, another on the o/s/r wing, a couple of stone chips on the bonnet, and a scuff and what looks like a dab of touch-up paint between the windscreen and the bonnet on the nearside.

Unsurprisingly, the condition of the interior is every bit the equal of the exterior and is in keeping with a vehicle that has yet to get past 43,000 miles.

The magnolia leather (piped in blue) upholstery is in pretty much irreproachable condition. 

The driver’s seat has little more than some light creasing to show for its long life, let alone any ingrained patina, and the other seats look as if they’ve barely been sat on.

The blue carpets (piped in magnolia) are in fine fettle, as are the blue lambswool over-rugs – which are thick enough to keep your ankles warm.

The door cards are in excellent order. So, too, is the headlining. 

Only the wood veneers are threatening to let the side down a little. The lacquer is cracked, lifting or tarnished in several places and will need some attention sooner rather than later. 

The steering wheel, gear selector and other controls look good.

We didn’t tweak every lever, press every knob or flick every switch, but those we did tweak, press and flick did as they were told without complaint or delay. 

The boot is in similarly impressive nick.

The engine bay is clean, dry, and tidy. 

Everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car’s undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

We’ve seen absolutely nothing to make us shake our heads or tut.

The car comes with a fully stamped-up service book. The first 14 stamps are from marque dealers Hadley Green, the next few are from Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists, and the last are courtesy of the vendor’s mechanic friend.

It has been serviced, maintained, repaired, fettled as tuned as appropriate, whenever necessary, regardless of cost.

It comes with a full set of handbooks and manuals, a V5C, a clear HPI report, two sets of keys, and a wad of bills, invoices and receipts.

It also comes with a copy of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver containing the story of its selection and purchase, and a number of magazines, brochures and other related miscellany.

The MoT expires on 10th January 2025.  

It’s easy to see how and why the vendor’s long search for ‘the right one’ ended with this excellent Silver Spur.

It drives very well indeed and, aside from one or two relatively minor cosmetic issues, it really does look and feel remarkably fresh and sorted.

With its low mileage and a service book bulging with stamps, this might well be the ‘right one’ for you, too.

We’re confident to offer this fine car for auction with an estimate of £12,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.