1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

This is a very late chassis number Series One Silver Spirit with many facelift Spirit II features. It’s covered the almost unbelievably low mileage of just over 23,000. Unbelievable, that is, until you check the huge history folder which comprehensively corroborates this figure. 

Finished in Windsor blue with light blue hide piped in dark blue, and with dark blue carpets which are protected by lambswool over-rugs, the rear compartment is furnished with picnic tables and vanity mirrors. The car was ordered new with Silver Spur wheel trims which are still present with the car. 

The seller reports that the car drives without fault, is very taught and responsive with everything working just as it should, and is an absolute joy to be behind the wheel of. 

It’s our duty to alert potential buyers to any faults we see, but that is not an easy job here. It’s an absolutely stunning looking classic Rolls Royce. The only imperfections to speak of are a few small paint chips - on the top of the nearside rear wing, and on the naturally vulnerable edges of the doors.

The rich blue paintwork shines with the special kind of deep lustre that only a hand built and finished car has. The shutlines and panel gaps are all excellent, the wheels beautiful. The brightwork is gorgeous. 

Just as importantly, the car sits on the tarmac just as it should, which indicates that the self levelling suspension system is working properly. It’s an arrangement which can give issues on cars that haven’t been properly maintained. No such problems with this car. 

You can usually spot the merest hint of wear on classic cars on the driver’s seat bolster. Not in this one. It’s beautiful in here, and in incredible, time-warp condition.

The blue leather with dark blue piping is in stunning condition. Obviously with only 23,000 miles on the clock the car has been used extremely sparingly, but it’s also very clearly been exceptionally well cared for – none of this is a surprise, bearing in mind the huge history file that comes with the car

The hide used in this vintage of Rolls Royce isn’t like modern leather. It’s thicker, plusher and generally far more luxurious than the version you get in, say, a modern Mercedes or similar prestige make of car. Come and sit in it – you won’t want to get out. 

On top of this wonderful hide is the woodwork, which like the rest of the Silver Spirit, is in beautiful condition. Book matched veneers, lovingly put together by master craftsmen – this is what a proper Rolls Royce should be like, rather than something put together from boxes of 7-Series BMW parts.

In the glovebox the car still has the test cassette tape provided by Rolls Royce to demonstrate the quality of the stereo system fitted.

The Rolls Royce L Series V8 is something of a motoring marvel, with a production span that lasted an incredible 61 years between 1959 and 2020. In Silver Spirit guise it would normally breathe through twin SU carburettors, but this car was factory built with Silver Spirit II spec Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injection – a highly reliable system that provides both a power and economy increase over the older induction system.

Bearing in mind that this engine, with the addition of forced induction, made in excess of 500bhp in later cars, by comparison the naturally aspirated version in this car has an easy time of things, and at this mileage has an awful lot of life left in it.

The engine bay is very clean and complete, with only very minor marks here and there. Peering under the large body we could see no signs of any corrosion at all, which with this car, really doesn’t surprise us at all.

The car is complete with two A4 box folders full of service history extending to over 300 pages, all with Rolls Royce specialists Jack Barclay. It’s an oft repeated cliché to say that a classic car has been maintained regardless of cost, but in the case of this Rolls Royce it’s entirely accurate. 

It was serviced and MoT’d every year from 1992 onwards at Jack Barclays – and sometimes the only mileage the car covered in that year was to and from that workshop appointment. These services are recorded at the following mileages: 

7052 miles 

10,500 miles

12,750 miles 

12,863 miles 

12,925 miles

13,196 miles

13,209 miles

13,618 miles

15,102 miles

16,222 miles

16,887 miles

17,087 miles

17,364 miles

19,103 miles

19,245 miles

19,329 miles

19,720 miles

19,793 miles

19,907 miles

20,054 miles

20,266 miles

20,329 miles

20,508 miles

20,632 miles

20,671 miles

20,800 miles

20,819 miles

20,851 miles

20,908 miles

20,934 miles

20,962 miles

Many other invoices detailing further repairs and maintenance as well (please have a look at the Documents section of the gallery).

The current enthusiast owner loves Silver Spirits, finding them very easy to live with. He says they’re not expensive to run as long as you buy a good one – ‘I always try and buy the best example I can find of any car, and this was it. I recently bought a Silver Dawn, so with this one and my other cars as well, the Spirit is just not getting used.

‘The car was owned by a wealthy foreign national who kept it in his London garage. Jack Barclay collected the car every year and drove it to his workshops, where it was serviced and MoT'd. These were often the only miles it did.’

He reports that he’s had to do absolutely nothing to the car during his ownership because it’s in such good condition. He says everything works as it should, with no known faults.

‘The level of documented servicing makes this a great car that will give somebody many trouble free years. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced Spirit with great service history that needs nothing and will give many years of trouble free pleasure, this is the one.’

The nicest Silver Spirit we can remember seeing. An absolutely beautiful example of what many consider to be the last real, hand-built Rolls Royce, with hardly more than delivery mileage, and a history file the British Museum would be proud of. 

A very rare opportunity to own a stunning example of a piece of the very best of classic British motoring history. 

We estimate that this car will sell for £16,000-£18,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.