1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

This motor car is being sold by Bonhams|Cars Online. It has been imported under our temporary admission customs bond. In addition to the ‘hammer’ price, the winning bidder must pay a bond release fee (£350) and also import tax/duty of 5% of the hammer (if bought by a private individual).

The winning bidder will receive a receipt for the final hammer value, and proof that HMRC fees are paid. If the car is subsequently exported abroad within 30 days then these fees are refundable upon proof of customs/tax payment in the other country.

The bond release fee (£350 payable direct, post-auction, to the CARS shipping company) will produce a NOVA from HMRC, this document is formal proof that all duties & taxes are paid in UK. The vehicle is not registered anywhere. You must register the vehicle with the DVLA. Upon request, Bonhams|Cars Online can suggest some companies who can help with this process.

This vehicle was on static display in the Middle East for a number of years, and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section. In all cases, the documents shown are photocopies, unless otherwise stated. We do not have the originals.

Unless otherwise stated, we have not tried to start or drive the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is strictly sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for viewing by appointment weekdays 9am-5pm, and we advise you (or your appointed engineer) to inspect it at our HQ near Abingdon in Oxfordshire.

VIN: SCAZS0005CCH05665.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this 1982 RHD auto Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Limousine comes with no paperwork beyond whatever photocopies are shown in the gallery section – none of which constitutes any kind of licensing or registration documentation.

It has 97,986 miles on its odometer.

We believe it was bought for a vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2019.

We haven’t tried to start or run the car, so our appraisal of it is entirely based on its cosmetic appearance.

From a few metres away, the bodywork on this enormous metallic grey limousine looks pretty decent and there are no dents, dinks or creases of any real significance.

Move a little closer and you’ll soon see that corrosion is an issue in several places.

The panels, panel gaps and shut lines mostly look consistent and even, with the exception of the doors on the passenger side, which don’t close fully flush with the surrounding bodywork.

The rear wheel arch on the passenger side is holed with rust at the base and there’s bubbling in evidence on the ‘B’ and ‘D’ pillars on the same side and on the roof above the ‘C’ pillar.

Both rear doors have some bubbling, as do the wings behind them.

There is some bubbling above the windscreen, the rear screen and in the rear wheel arch on the driver’s side.

There are scratches to both doors on the driver’s side, bubbling in the lower section of the boot lid, and the badging is missing from both ‘D’ pillars.

The badging on the boot lid looks to be distinctly of the ‘after-market’ variety.

The metal trim on the rear bumper is coming away.

The wheels and chrome are broadly OK – and you’ll find the missing hub cap in the boot, which is also in reasonable condition.

There are some stains on the bonnet where some indeterminate substance has been spilled.

The interior (which has a divider screen separating the front and rear cabins) seems to have fared rather better than its exterior counterpart.

The grey leather upholstery is in really very decent condition in the front, the back and in the pop-up middle row of seats.

The headlining is OK, if a little grubby, but a section at the front has pulled away from the windscreen.

The door cards are reasonable but the veneer door cappings are cracked and have pieces missing here and there.

The carpets are rather shabby and worn and the rubber trim is loose and hanging down in places.

While the dashboard and instruments appear to be in decent condition, we can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t started or driven the vehicle.

Everything in the engine bay, including the engine, appears to be dry, present and correct, if rather dusty.

There is some rust to be seen here and there in the sills and elsewhere beneath the car.

The extent to which this impinges upon the car’s structural integrity is something you’ll want to assess for yourself.

The car doesn’t come with any history or service records beyond what is shown in the photography section.

Currently, it has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5. It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this.

None of the paperwork shown in the gallery constitutes any kind of current licensing or registration documentation.

Yes, there’s some work to be done to get the bodywork ship-shape again. But given the underlying quality and rarity of this hand-built Rolls-Royce limousine, it might well be worth the time and effort required – provided, of course, that the engine and mechanicals are amenable to recommissioning.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at Bonhams|Cars Online near Abingdon; 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’.