1990 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II

Description

In the early '90s, this 1991 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II was the ultimate in motoring luxury and excess. Bigger than just about anything else on the road, and powered by Rolls' superlative six-and-a-half litre V8, it was the last of the hand-built icons that created the automotive industry in the early years.

The special long-wheelbase Silver Spur II was the top-of-the-line for what is unquestionably the top-of-the-line automobile manufacturer. Stretching nearly 20 feet long, it's understated yet imposing, like The Rock in a pinstripe business suit. Fit and finish are, of course, exemplary despite it being nearly 30 years old, and nothing in the automotive world feels like one of these big, heavily-insulated doors slamming closed. All automotive paint is shiny, but the deep hand-rubbed finish on a Rolls-Royce is something else entirely, as if it was conjured out of thin air right onto the surface. Sure, it's got a few signs of age, but on a car that originally cost the equivalent of a quarter-million bucks, you definitely got your money's worth on the paint job. There are some minor touch-ups and some crazing that's common on these multi-layer hand-rubbed finishes, but nothing that an experienced Rolls-Royce enthusiast won't expect. Then there's the chrome, which is so deep and rich that it almost feels cold to the touch, and nothing clears traffic like that big Rolls-Royce grille and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. "Impressive" isn't an impressive enough word for what this car is.

You know where a lot of the money went when you climb inside. The seats feel like nothing you've ever experienced, at once soft and supportive and wrapped in fragrant leather hides that were bred for royalty. There's a bit of wear on the driver's seat, but the rest of the buttery-soft leather with contrasting red piping is still fit for show. Dark tan Wilton Wool carpets are insanely plush and yes, that's real wood on the dash and door panels, hand-crafted by a guy who's been doing it his entire life. It received all the proper accoutrements for the periods, including A/C, cruise control, power windows and locks, power seats, and fingertip-light power steering. And as a full-sized luxury car, rear seat space rivals a New York City apartment; it's impossible to not feel like royalty sitting back there. Even the "boot" is beautifully outfitted in matching tan carpet that's as beautifully stitched as you've ever seen.

Rolls-Royce never gave horsepower figures on their engines, but the big 6.75-liter V8 pulls like a steam locomotive and delivers astounding smoothness. Bosch fuel injection makes it reliable, too, and while saving one without proper service can be expensive, keeping it in top shape is quite reasonable if you have a good tech by your side. This one only has 33,497 miles on it, so it shouldn't come as a shock to learn that everything works and it drives superbly and we do have recent service records. Fuel economy stinks, of course, but this is a Rolls-Royce and you shouldn't care about such things anyway. GM supplied the TH400 3-speed automatic gearbox, and the fully independent suspension rides like a hovercraft over broken pavement. Even the 4-wheel disc brakes are race-car sized and deliver impressive performance that's never abrupt. Recent whitewall radials on the original wheels maintain the subtle look and you'll note that even the hubcaps are pinstriped to match the interior.

For the price of a 2-year-old Honda Accord, you could be driving a Rolls-Royce. Don't be afraid of the maintenance, and just imagine what the neighbors will think when they see you driving this to work every day. Call now!