The legendary Rolls-Royce “Silver Series” would be incomplete without the elegant Silver Spirit. Despite many difficulties, crises, and postponements, it was released, declaring once again that hardships do not distract the luxury brand but make it even stronger.

Source: Barrett-Jackson

The noble character and unique style of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars models had always been the hallmark of the famous brand, which was and is a standard of luxury and class in the global automotive industry for over a hundred years. The brand’s vehicles had always been more than a car: they were their owners’ identity emphasizing their financial and social statuses․ Always ready to accept the challenge and create a truly unique masterpiece embodying the desires of its client, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars established its position as the world’s leading luxury brand. And such legendary automobiles as the Silver Down, Silver Cloud, Silver Ghost, Silver Shadow, and others forever remained in history as a symbiosis of style, luxury, and unsurpassed technical advancement.

The clients of the legendary British brand were and are the most ambitious and influential people, always striving to emphasize their belonging to the upper class and the elite.

The origins

Source: Classic Driver

Once perfection is created, surpassing it becomes a difficult, if not impossible, task. Introduced in 1980, the Silver Spirit replaced the legendary Silver Shadow, the best-selling model in the brand’s history. The legacy of the Silver Shadow was undeniable: it was built in far greater numbers than any previous Rolls-Royce vehicle and was highly successful. The team had a difficult task – to create at least a similar successful model and, if they were lucky, to surpass the Shadow’s fame. The new automobile was entrusted to Austrian-born Fritz Feller, who was not new in the company and previously had experience working on the Silver Shadow. He aimed to create a masterpiece of which he would not be ashamed. Well, it seemed like he succeeded. The first Spirit had all the qualities inherent in the luxury automobiles of its time – large front and rear lights, linear style, and sharp edges, which were especially popular in the 80s. However, the conservatism inherent in the British brand still took up, and the automobile turned out to be restrained and classic.

Nevertheless, many thought that it was even a bit simple, while others thought it was timeless, as many of the solutions that found a place in the new model began to be massively applied a few years later. The first generation Spirit was 5.27 m long and 1.89 m wide and weighed 2.2 tons, which made it impressively large but not in any way bulky or ugly. Like its predecessors, the new Rolls was exquisitely beautiful: the Connolly leather interior, the most expensive and rare wood instrument panel, and the installed cutting-edge technologies made it a feast on wheels! 

The 1985 model year

Source: Pinterest

The 1985 model belonged to the first generation of Spirit, which was thoughtfully updated only in 1989. In the early days, the first cars had no leather steering wheels. However, this was reasonably practical, especially in terms of keeping them clean. In keeping with company tradition, engine power was not specified. Still, the 6.75-liter unit was productive enough: according to the tests, it accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.4 seconds, reaching the top speed of 186 km/h (115 mph). Like all Rolls, Spirit drove smoothly, almost silently, so its ride was often compared to sailing a cruiser through the waves. Jokingly or seriously, the brand’s fans liked to say that the loudest thing in the brand’s vehicles was the clock ticking, which was digital in the 1985 Spirit. Inside, everything was done for the comfort of passengers. It was even said that the 1985 car had the best air conditioning system in the world at the time. This car was advanced for its time, as changing increasingly stringent environmental and safety standards have accompanied technical requirements. Although it was based on its predecessor, the Silver Shadow, the new automobile was much better in every way and represented progress in the truest sense of the word. Through various model updates, the Silver Spirit eventually outlasted its predecessor, the Silver Shadow. It remained in production for 18 years – until 1998, when Silver Seraph replaced it.

Did you know?

Source: www.exoticmotorsportsok

The 1985 release was featured in such movies as “Naked,” “Eureka Street,” “The Echo”, “Com’è dura l’avventura,” “If You See God,” “Tell Him,” “A Foreign Field,” etc.

Technical specifications

Engine V 8

Engine Location Front

Drive Type RWD

Weight 5175 lbs | 2347.341 kg

Transmission 3-speed automatic

Front/ Rear brakes Disc

Contact us if you have this or another classic car to sell.

Silver Spirit was released in 1980 as a replacement for Silver Shadow. The development works on the model were even suspended in 1972. However, they resumed production later against all odds: the energy crisis could not stop the release of the brand’s new luxury car.

Source: Drom

The development of Silver Spirit began in the early 70s but was suspended due to financial difficulties and the global fuel crisis. The work was delayed until 1977, while the “new and exclusive” Camargue (the company’s marketing ploy) was produced in parallel with the Silver Shadow. However, the serial production of the new model resumed in 1980. The conservatism of the British luxury automaker was legendary: Rolls-Royce rarely changed the generations of its cars. For example, the new model’s direct ancestor – the Spirit Shadow, was produced for 15 years and enjoyed popularity. Therefore, it was decided to borrow almost everything from it. Thus, the new automobile appeared, was built, and modernized four times lasting nineteen years.

The origins

Source: Historics Auctioneers

The new automobile, which succeeded Silver Shadow in 1980, was created in the  “image and likeness” of its predecessor. Introduced at the Paris auto show, it featured the same forms of the classic sedan as its predecessor, with the added gloss created by the Austrian design engineer Fritz Feller. The monumental front in the style of the exclusive Camargue was trendy. The car became longer and wider, the glazing area increased by 30%, and the ride and such features as stability, and security, were significantly improved, despite the new body being a little more spacious and heavier. The exterior was stylish and trendy for its time, emphasizing its owner’s status and financial state.

Interestingly, changes in the safety law made the company redesign the famous “Spirit of Ecstasy” figure so that, upon impact, it could hide in the radiator case. Interior trim was made in the best traditions of the brand – luxurious in every detail. Expensive leather seats provided incomparable comfort and the feeling of exclusivity. Later, the company introduced the ABS and the Bosch injection system into the model’s engine, which had previously been installed only on copies supplied to the USA. Despite the difficult situation of Rolls-Royce and the British economy in general in the early 80s, sales were going well. From 1980 to 1989, 8129 copies of the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit of the first series were produced.

The first Spirit

Source: Supercars.net

Released in 1980, the model was introduced under the internal index SZ, including the Silver Spur sedan and their counterparts Bentley Mulsanne and Eight. All these cars featured a typical design that reflected the main trends of the early 80s, which was highly influenced by then-famous American automobiles of the luxury class. Despite its conservatism, the company allowed Fritz Feller to abandon the outdated exterior elements entirely and leave only the massive radiator grille. The double-round headlights were replaced by one-piece rectangular blocks, although the American modification was fitted with two pairs of rectangular headlights following legal requirements. The aluminum overhead valve V8 engine with a volume of 6750 cm3, with one lower camshaft and two SU carburetors, developed a “sufficient” power in the 200-250 hp range.

Did you know?

Source: IMCDb.org

According to the IMCDB, the first Silver Spirit of 1980 release was desirable in the 80s. This particular model has ten pages on the website! The Chinese especially loved it and shot this model in countless of their action films with unpronounceable names. The well-known films where the first model was shot were “The Jewel of the Nile” – the sequel to “Romancing the Stone”- the 1985 classic movie starring Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito.

Contact us if you have this or another classic vehicle to sell.