Highlights

One of only 369 built to right-hand drive, standard wheelbase specification
Just two owners until August 2021
Full of luxury fittings, including an in-car refrigerator
Sold with cherished registration 9 UOX
Will be sold with a brand new MOT

The Appeal

Throughout almost the entire history of motoring, from its earliest Silver Ghosts up to the present-day Goodwood models, Rolls-Royce has been able to justify its claim of making ‘The Best Car in the World’. As excellent as the new BMW-built models may be, though, they have little or nothing in common with Rolls-Royces of old besides the name. If you want to travel in unparalleled luxury, while enjoying both modern conveniences and old-fashioned elegance, you should give some serious thought to Silver Seraph ownership.

The Silver Seraph was built for just four years, from 1998 to 2002, during the brief period when Rolls-Royce was owned by Volkswagen, but at heart it’s obviously a product of Rolls-Royce’s days as an independent, all-British car-maker. Indeed, its development began in the 1980s. In styling terms, though still looking modern, it is clearly a relative of the popular 1960s Silver Shadow, and the graceful sloping line of the boot echoes the Silver Cloud of the 1950s. The interior, with its soft carpets, rich walnut and Connolly leather of the finest quality, provides everything one hopes to find in a traditional British luxury car.

There’s a twist, however, when you lift the bonnet. Gone is the long-lived Rolls-Royce V8, and in its place sits an almost unbelievably smooth and silent BMW V12. Mated to a five-speed automatic, driving the Seraph is like gliding around on a magic carpet. It’s a quick car, too – it will do 140mph – but that’s missing the point. One doesn’t hurry a Rolls-Royce, one sits back and lets it cruise along at leisure, and for that purpose the Seraph couldn’t be better.

Rarity is another factor to enhance the Seraph’s desirability. Just 1,570 were built in total, and only 369 in right-hand drive on the standard wheelbase. While all Rolls-Royces tend to be looked after by their owners, this outstanding survivor, virtually a two-owner car, must be one of the best to exist in largely original condition. It is almost totally unblemished, and really must be seen to be fully appreciated.

The History and Paperwork

Chassis H08135 left the factory in Silver Pearl with Cotswold Hide upholstery, and a multitude of extras including a sunshine roof, telephone and refrigerator
Originally sold on 10th September 1998 by S. P. Broughton & Co. of Cheltenham to Lewing Ltd. of Nantwich, with the registration S1 JRG
The businessman first owner, a racehorse enthusiast, reputedly used the Seraph primarily for travelling to racecourses to see his horses compete
In April 2005, ownership transferred to a Mrs. Good who retained it until August 2021
It was purchased by the present owner with a view to using it for wedding hire but that never came to pass
Paperwork includes the present and historic V5s, MoT certificates issued between 2010 and 2021, and a small collection of invoices including one for £3500 of servicing work in 2022
Also present are the original owner’s documents including the manual, Quick Reference Guide, Service Handbook, Assistance Service Book and three Service Schedules and Record Books, all of which are contained within two cases
The service record reveals annual servicing up to 2006, with further services completed in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2021

The Interior

Trim and fittings including the original Cotswold Hide upholstery are in remarkably good, well-preserved condition
Exceptionally luxurious specification with optional extras including the sunshine roof and in-car telephone
Refrigerator in the boot fitted as a special request

One knows what to expect when entering a Rolls-Royce – plush carpets, beautiful walnut and soft leather – but for all that to still be in such good condition at 25 years old must surely exceed everyone’s expectations. Apart from the fact that the interior has recently been shampooed, we are not aware of it having received any serious attention, and yet the upholstery is so like new that it almost defies belief. It is possible that it has been re-Connolised at some stage but it’s highly unlikely that it has ever been reupholstered, so we can only take its present condition as a testament to the superb quality of the original hide.

We have had a good look round the car and could not find anything to fault in the leather of the seats or the doors. It really is exceptional, and we must say the same of the carpets and headlining; if there is even a tiny fault, it must take saintly patience and hawk-like vision to spot it.

Of course, what really gives these Rolls-Royces their special character, that sense that they are upholding a centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship, is the beautiful walnut trim which is applied generously across the car. In almost all areas, this presents extremely well, with a light patina beginning to appear in just one or two places, but that is no bad thing; antique wood is most highly prized with that veneer of patina which can only be acquired over many years.

The only fault we must point out, and which would really benefit from some restorative work, concerns the wooden door cappings, on which the laminate has started to crack and break up, although not to such an extent that it has become unsightly or unpresentable. Only the front passenger door is affected to any significant degree, but for the car to look its best one may wish to restore all the affected woodwork.

We find the boot very tidy, although, again there is just one fault to mention, which is that the boot struts have weakened a little over time and will not support the boot independently for more than a few seconds, but far more interesting than that is the fact that the Seraph still retains its full original toolkit under the boot floor.

It gets more interesting still. We have made reference to the car’s optional extras, including the sunshine roof and in-car telephone. It also boasts air-conditioning, power windows, heated power seats, an ashtray, concealed cup holders and its original radio-cassette player, while rear-seat passengers benefit from some lovely folding picnic tables.

The best item of all is to be found in the boot – a refrigerator, no less. This was not an optional extra but was instead fitted by Rolls-Royce’s coachworks department, Mulliner Park Ward, as a special request when the first owner asked for it to be transferred from his previous car – perfect for a picnic at the races with some Champagne or Pimm’s.

The Exterior

Beautifully finished in its original Silver Pearl metallic
Cosmetically refurbished in 2021
Presents very much like new, in near-concours condition

This being effectively just a two-owner Rolls-Royce, we are sure it has had a fairly easy life. The likelihood is that it has always been garaged, kept for special occasions and driven in a relaxed, leisurely manner, so we’re sure it has never looked anything less than completely respectable. Even so, 25 years is a long time and the Seraph picked up a few blemishes, not that you’d know as it was treated to a comprehensive cosmetic refurbishment in 2021.

Paintwork undertaken by ATTN:2 in July 2021 came to a total of £1000, and involved rust removal and detail repairs to the front and rear bumpers, all the doors and sections of the wings. Now the Seraph is positively immaculate and almost faultless. We did observe that there are a few tiny blisters under the paint on the fuel filler cap, but everywhere else it looks as if brand new. There are a few light marks on the chrome in places, but they are almost invisible, and the wheels are in outstandingly good order. The only other cosmetic fault we spotted was a crack in the rear nearside light lens, but that is hardly a major concern.

Those minor quibbles aside, this is as close to perfect as a 25-year-old car tends to get, and there’s not much more to be said. The underside appears to be very clean and solid, so the car can’t really be much better, and it really isn’t that far from being a potential winner of a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club concours.

The Mechanics

One of the smoothest, quietest cars one can travel in
Benefits from a recent comprehensive service
MoTed in 2021 with no advisories

Nostalgic as we may be for cars of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, when many owners expected to undertake their own servicing and mechanical adjustments to keep their cars on the road, one doesn’t want to go to that sort of trouble with a Rolls-Royce. Fortunately, with this Seraph, one shouldn’t have to. It is testament to just how good car engineering was by the 1990s that it not only runs and drives as well as if it had just been driven out of the factory, but also feels far more sophisticated and refined than many brand-new cars.

In truth, it is unlike anything else. It glides along in almost total silence, and feels ever so smooth. The Seraph name is apt, moving as it does with a celestial grace.

Of course, with annual servicing up to 2006 and further services at appropriate intervals since, it has always been well cared-for and maintained. In recent years it has had especially light use, having covered only 330 miles since 2018.

In July 2021, ATTN:2 gave the car a brake overhaul totalling over £1000. The work included stripping and rebuilding the brakes with new pads, and replacement of the rear suspension bushes. More recently, in February 2022, the vendor gave the Seraph a comprehensive service which came to a total of £3500, not including VAT.

The car’s MoT record is impressive, and reveals that everything is as good as it ought to be. Although the most recent MoT expired in October 2022, it was issued without a single advisory point, and with such light use since we don’t think there should be any cause for concern.

The Summary

The Silver Seraph was the last Rolls-Royce to maintain links to the classic era of Silver Clouds and Shadows, and some might say the last of the traditional Rolls-Royces, designed to look more at home on the driveway of a country manor than at a glittery awards gala. On account of that, and the fact that only 1,570 were made, it is a veritable collector’s piece and modern classic.

We maintain that this is one of the best you’ll find on the market and its immaculate condition and impeccable road manners, obliging and quietly deferential like an old and valued member of the household staff, have really impressed us. Its modern counterpart, the Rolls-Royce Ghost, has a base price of £233,000. Considering that this Seraph is almost like new, surely you’re better off buying a classic model for a fraction of the price?

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