Rolls-Royce Silver Spur (LWB). 1986. 42, 000 miles.
Offers invited on £20, 000.
I am the sixth owner of Rolls-Royce 14913. The car was registered on C188BCL and delivered on 9th January 1986 by Mann Egerton, Norwich, to the first owner a Mr Cheung at his business address in London SW3. He used the car sparingly and covered less than 20, 000 miles by 2003. After that the Silver Spur appears to have been passed around within the motor trade, until May 2017 at less than 23, 000 miles it was purchased by an American businessman. He kept the car in UK storage at an independent specialist who fettled it regardless of cost. They kept it ready for him to use on visits to the UK and Europe. Total spent by him on servicing and maintenance May 2017 – February 2021 £20, 443. 81, by which time the car had covered 33, 300 miles. Covid prevented further travel and prompted the decision to sell the car.
As Covid restrictions eased I purchased the car from the independent specialist in January 2022. An account of my hunt to find and purchase my perfect Silver Spur and the first year of my ownership experience appeared in the September / October 2023 edition of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Driver.
I have continued the no expense spared approach to maintenance. In January 2023 £1, 000 was spent on a Service D (24, 000 mile service) and five of the correct Avon white band tyres were fitted costing £1630. In February 2024 a Service A (6, 000 mile service) was carried out, together with work to address the MoT advisories. The car is now in excellent mechanical order and ready to be enjoyed. The MoT expires 10th January 2025.
In the search for my perfect Silver Spur I was repeatedly disappointed by the cars I viewed not matching up to the vendors descriptions. I eventually settled on this car because the low mileage (now 42, 000) could be verified, as could the superb condition for its age (now 38 years), backed up by recent expenditure that exceeded the asking price. These remain powerful arguments, coupled with the fact that the car has been used, rather than stored, and any service issues have been addressed.
The car retains the original painted coach lines and the Royal Blue paintwork remains lustrous. The sills are original and still have the correct drainage holes to prevent water retention. The bodywork appears original. There is slight bubbling next to the Silver Spur boot badge. Inside the cream leather upholstery has benefitted from regular feeding and remains unmarked and supple. The correct lambs wool over-rugs protect the immaculate dark blue Wilton carpet. Footstools and picnic tables in the rear add to the air of luxury. With some difficulty I sourced and fitted the correct Blaupunkt Toronto cassette radio to replace the modern Alpine CDE 126BT unit, which is available should it be wanted. The door cappings are in generally good condition but the varnish is beginning to glaze at the back edge of the rear doors as it is to the left of the glove box. I haven't felt this detracts from the pleasure of ownership of the car.
The service book shows regular Rolls-Royce main dealer servicing from new until 2003 and thereafter at independent specialists until 2022. In my ownership servicing has been carried out by the experienced car restorer and car restoration project manager for the TV shows Car SOS and Guy’s Garage, who advised me in the search for my perfect Silver Spur. We are confident that the car is in excellent condition for it's age and that it will give the next owner the same great pleasure it has in my ownership.
