Lot details Registration No: AVG334X Chassis No: SCAZ50000ACH01303 Mot Expiry: March 2011
The Silver Spirit was launched at the Paris Salon in 1980. Penned by Fritz Feller, it was a welcome replacement for the long-serving Silver Shadow and was the first of a new generation of models that not only formed the basis of the Flying Spur, Silver Dawn, Touring Limousine and Park Ward for Rolls-Royce, but also the Mulsanne and Eight Series cars of sister company Bentley.
The Silver Spirit was not entirely new, however, and employed the floorpan of the outgoing model as well as its proven OHV 6750cc V8 powerplant. The opulent newcomer was lower and longer than the Silver Shadow and, courtesy of its finely-tuned hydraulic self-levelling suspension, was said to provide the best roadholding ever offered by the marque. It was also the first Rolls-Royce to feature a retractable version of the Spirit of Ecstasy - it automatically withdrew into the safety of the radiator shell if dislodged from its standard position. There were a total of four iterations of the Silver Spirit, via which it remained in production until 1998. By that time BMW had obtained an interest in the manufacturer and the Spirit was replaced by the BMW V12-powered Silver Seraph.
The Series I right-hand drive Silver Spirit up for sale was built in 1981 and features Cotswold Beige coachwork and a dark brown leather interior. It is understood to have been supplied new by Lexmead of Byfleet, Surrey. The vendor tells us that a combination of the service book and MOT certificates confirm the indicated mileage of just under 73,000 to be correct. Evidently the car has remained in the same ownership since 1999, during which time it has covered some 17,000 miles as part of a wedding fleet and been serviced and maintained by the company concerned. We understand the Silver Spirit comes complete with the original handbook, service and warranty books. The vendor describes the paintwork as "excellent", the engine as "functioning normally", the transmission as having been "reconditioned in 2008" and the interior trim as "all good and clean", with the exception of the driver's carpet which is apparently somewhat worn. The Rolls-Royce is MOT'd into March 2011.
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