﹒Just 35,900 miles

﹒Chauffeur driven 

﹒Fetching blue over blue trim

Designed by Fritz Feller to take over duties from the much loved Shadow, the Spirit and longer wheelbase Spur were to usher in a new level of luxury and refinement. A car to the wealthy, the famous and those who wanted luxury above all else, the Spur was exceptionally well-received by customers. The traditional ‘three-box’ design gave buyers familiarity with the Rolls models of old, while also bringing them into a new, more defined and angular design language. 

This 1985 model is an excellent example of the first generation of Silver Spur. Powered by a smooth V8 engine mated to a slick three-speed automatic transmission, this exceptionally low mileage car was first chauffeur driven before being hidden away in a private collection.

 

Supplied by Jack Barclay Ltd. of London, this 1985 Rolls Royce Silver Spur was first used as a chauffeur driven car for its wealthy owner. As such, it covered very few miles with its first owner - just 18,000 to be exact. After that, the car covered a further 14,000 miles over the next eight years. The car was then put into dry storage before being extracted and recommissioned in 2016 by Chelsea Workshops. 

In 2017, the car was acquired by the current owner who added the Silver Spur to his collection of luxury vehicles. As part of a collection, it has been used sparingly. Despite the occasional use, it has still been maintained by an independent specialist who has kept the car in excellent mechanical order.

We are informed by the owner that there is detailed history to come with this car, detailing the service history in full along with the significant recommissioning work carried out by Chelsea Workshops in 2016. The work, which included a full overhaul of the engine and brakes totalled over £12,000. 

There is an owner’s handbook present, the logbook, and also a current MOT certificate valid until February of this year. Furthermore, the factory build information and documentation from when the car was with Jack Barclay Ltd. is also present.

Swathes of high-grade blue leather and seemingly acres of wood await you inside this Silver Spur. The interior presents very well indeed, with only the slightest hint of wear to be observed on the driver’s seat. The leather all looks to be in excellent condition, with no untoward cracking or evidence of having dried out. But then, while it may be from 1985, this car has only covered 35,900 miles, so this level of interior condition is to be expected. 

The dash switch gear all seems to work as it should, and all the dials read correctly when pressed into action. The electric windows function as they should, and when the engine is running the power steering is feather light. The steering wheel itself is free from any significant wear. Some of the wood veneer has been ever so slightly chipped around some of the switches in the lower centre section, but not to the overall detriment of the panel.

The rich, deep interior carpets all present well and seem to be free from any damage or signs of neglect. The same can be said of the headlining and all of the door cards. However, it should be noted that some of the wood cappings atop the door cards have started to deteriorate due to age, and as such, the lamination has fractured. 

In the boot, it’s another case of well presented carpets, the factory-fit tools and little sign of any heavy use anywhere.

The metallic blue paint and matching blue vinyl roof all present well, and while possibly in need of a professional detail, show no signs of damage or mistreatment. The paint is uniform across the car and there is no evidence of any significant damage. There is one small scuff on a wheel arch that will need to be addressed, and there is the occasional stone chip, especially on the front valance, but nothing excessive for a car of this vintage. 

The chrome is all in good order, though there is some age-related and ever so slight pitting on some of the door handles. But again, this is commensurate with the age of the vehicle. The Spirit of Ecstacy still stands proud atop the grille. 

The wheels are all in good order, and all wear their original trims, which seem to be free of any damage or wear. The bumpers are in good condition, as are all the lights - though it should be noted there is some condensation creeping into the headlights as seen in the pictures. 

In terms of presentation, this Silver Spur is in good order. A professional detail and machine polish would indeed take it another level, but as the car stands, it is eminently presentable and something that any bidder would be proud to have sat on the driveway. Age, it seems, has done little to diminish this car’s presence.

As one would expect from a car with such low mileage, the mechanics are in excellent order. The V8 engine barks into life without hesitation and purrs along with the kind of restrained quietness you would expect from a Rolls Royce. There is no smoke from the engine, no rattles and no leaks that we could see. It settles into a happy idle and holds its temperature without issue. 

The three-speed transmission works as it should and is barely noticeable as it shifts through the gears. The steering is light and easy to operate, but not to the detriment of steering feel - you’re still kept in communication with the front wheels at all times. And finally, the brakes all work as they should, pulling the big Roller to halt in a straight line and without any juddering or hesitation.

With such low mileage, this Silver Spur has many, many years of motoring left in it. Furthermore, the excellent general condition could be so easily elevated to being perfect by the next owner. Sort those veneer imperfections out, cut and polish that deep blue paint and that’s all that you need to do. You’ll then be left with a Rolls Royce Silver Spur in exceptional condition, with enviably low mileage and with many years of motoring left ahead of it. This car is the perfect ‘first’. If you have been fancying a Roller for some time, this is the one on which to take the plunge.

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