$16,132
Introduced in 1980 as the first of a new generation of company models, the Silver Spur is the long wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit. The car was built from 1980 to 2000, and it was the first Rolls Royce to feature a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, a feature that has since become key to the brand’s DNA. A total of 692 units were produced not including coach-built editions.
Introduced in 1980 as the first of a new generation of company models, the Silver Spur is the long wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit. The car was built from 1980 to 2000, and it was the first Rolls Royce to feature a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, a feature that has since become key to the brand’s DNA. A total of 692 units were produced not including coach-built editions.
This Spur is one of the coach-built models. This is a 1993 Rolls-Royce Hooper Emperor State Limousine. Hooper, the coach-building company, were an outfit based in the United Kingdom originally operating from 1805 to 1959 primarily known for their work in designing and constructing beautifully intricate horse drawn carriages. In World War I, they shifted to aircraft, constructing the Sopwith Camel at a rate of three per day. With peace, they returned to coach building, and were ultimately acquired by Daimler in 1940. In 1958, Hooper was given exclusive information from Rolls Royce that Rolls intended to cease production of separate-chassis cars and shift to monocoque construction instead. This private announcement led Hooper management to shut down their coach-building operations and essentially put the company into hibernation. Daimler relinquished ownership of Hooper in 1959 and the business was given to a new entity called Hooper (Motor Services) Ltd. where they acted as a sales and service company. In 1970 they became a Rolls Royce distributor, and by 1988 they briefly resumed coach-building activities.
The Silver Spur III was introduced in 1993 and featured several upgrades. The intake manifolds and cylinder heads were redesigned, resulting in increased power output, and the suspension setup received an important upgrade. Series I and II Spur suspensions would default to “hard” ride mode once worn out, so the Series III’s suspension was modified to default to “soft” ride mode once worn out. Dual airbags and independent adjusting rear seats also made their debut in the luxury car as well.
This Emperor’s exterior is painted a shade known as Dark Oyster. While the car looks great in this shade, there are some imperfections in the paint. There are chicken feet scratches in the hood, chips at the end of the driver’s door, and small chunks missing from some of the rubber seals. There does seem to be some bubbling and cracks in the paint along the roof which could potentially indicate corrosion beneath the paint. The Rolls-Royce hubcaps are clean, but the driver’s rear wheel arch looks slightly warped. Overall, the exterior of the car is clean, and the paint looks absolutely wonderful.
The inside of this behemoth is filled to the brim with tan leather and Burr Walnut wooden inlays. A shag insert covers the driver’s floor mat, but the floor mats in front of every other seat are exposed and appear to have worn down over the years. The walnut inlay at the bottom of the driver’s door has deteriorated, but the rest of the door panels are in excellent shape. The front seats are only lightly creased, and only one crease in the driver’s seat has led to some slight discoloration. There do appear to be some slight perforations in the passenger seat, but they are highly difficult to notice in person. In the back seat, the folding fourth and fifth seats look wonderful when folded up and opened. The center console housing the Panasonic TV is the roughest part of the backseat, the burr walnut has taken a beating there. The dual Simpson Lawrence clocks are in great condition although it is unclear if they are still operating as intended.
This Hooper’s underside is clean. There is some discoloration along the exhaust, but the frame is intact. All of the suspension components are clean as well.
We have found some wonderful documents about the car. Hooper received the order for the car on October 8th, 1990, began building the car 8 days later, and the car was finished on March 31st, 1991. Modifications to the car were as follows: extension by 550mm, roof heightened by 40mm, Hooper coach built rear window with wood veneer surrounds, solar protected glass for the passenger compartment, stainless steel sills, stainless steel thin wheel arch trim, stainless steel taillight surrounds, color matching bumpers with stainless steel infills, black wiper arms, twin fine lines thin on top thick on bottom, comfort tuned suspension, ‘leathermagnolia’ headlining, electrically operated division, Panasonic color television with radio, cassette, and CD unit, two individual fold down seats backing up to the division on either side of the center console, an alternate cocktail cabinet fitted to the righthand side of the center console, a top section containing 4 large and 4 small glass drinking tumblers, an illuminated mirror with fold down picnic table with a leather face set in burr walnut revealed when in the down position, a fridge fitted to the rear armrest, independent front and rear heating and A/C systems, front and rear Hooper intercoms, electrically operated curtains, and hi-fi speakers. Furthermore, all of the following is done in Burr Walnut: door capping, dado rails, rear door, center panels, area over the division, housing clock, barometer, vertical side posts, rail across the division, center console side inset panel, face & opening top lid, mirror to underside, surround to rear window, and tissue box. It was delivered to the first owner located in Tokyo, Japan. From the documents available to us, we gather that the seller acquired this car in July of 2013.
This Hooper Emperor state limousine is an extremely obscure Rolls. The Hooper history is one worthy of preserving and this is an excellent car to showcase their brilliant work even though it comes 30 years after the company’s peak. Furthermore, built to ship to Japan only adds to this car’s rich history as an individual automobile. There is work to be done on this car surely, all the way down to the electrically operated window curtains, but the lucky winner who takes on this challenge will come out the other side with a truly fantastic limousine.
The Market by Bonhams is thrilled to offer this Hooper Emperor state limousine for online auction with no reserve and an estimate between $15,000 and $25,000.
It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.
We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.
Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS
As soon as The Market by Bonhams will receive your payment, The Market by Bonhams accounts service will inform the manager of the storage where your car(s) is stored: a release note will be sent to THEM.
Storage fees will kick in 48 hours after the auction end. Storage is $39 per day.
Purchases will only be released when cleared funds are received. All vehicles must be collected after the payment of funds. All storage charges must be paid in full prior to the vehicle’s collection or onward transportation.
Storage charges payment must be arranged with the storage company. Collection is strictly by appointment only.
Photographic ID will be required at time of collection.
Direct contact @ CARS for enquiries as follows:
CARS USA
Robin Grove
+1 (310) 695 6403
STORAGE CHARGES
$39 per car per day from 48 hours after auction end.
Seller
Private: undefinedViewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.
