Vehicle 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!