Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

For the cruise ship see MS Silver Spirit

Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Manufacturer Rolls-Royce Motors
Also called Silver Spur
Flying Spur
Silver Dawn
Production 1980–1998
Assembly Crewe, England
Predecessor Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II
Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II
Successor Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Class Full-size luxury car
Body style 2-door saloon
4-door saloon
Layout FR layout
Related Bentley Eight
Bentley Mulsanne
Designer Fritz Feller

The Silver Spirit is a British saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in England. It was launched in 1980.

The Silver Spur was a long-wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit, produced at the same time. The Spirit was the first car to feature the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy. The spring-loaded Mascot sank into the radiator shell if dislodged from its position.

Contents

Mark I

Mark I
Also called Silver Spirit
Silver Spur
Production 1980–1989

The Silver Spirit, introduced by Rolls-Royce in 1980, was the first of a new generation of models for the company. It formed the basis for the Flying Spur, Silver Dawn, Touring Limousine, and Park Ward. The same chassis was also used by sister company, Bentley for their new Mulsanne/Eight series. The entire line was replaced with the BMW-powered Silver Seraph and the Bentley Arnage in 1998.

The new car was not entirely new — it shared the basic floor pan of the Silver Shadow as well as that car's 6.75 L (6750 cc/411 in³) V8 engine. The Spur continued with the high degree of ride quality and self-leveling suspension from the Shadow, this time using a Girling automatic hydraulic ride height control system and gas-charged shock absorbers.

Mark II

Mark II
Also called Silver Spirit II
Silver Spur II
Production 1989–1993
Engine 6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 120.5 in (3,061 mm) (Silver Spirit)
124.5 in (3,162 mm) (Silver Spur)
Length 207.8 in (5,278 mm) (Silver Spirit)
211.8 in (5,380 mm) (Silver Spur)
Width 74.3 in (1,887 mm)
Height 58.5 in (1,486 mm)

The Silver Spirit II and Silver Spur II were introduced at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show. Again, the suspension was the main innovation, with a fully automatic system adjusting dampers at all four wheels in real time. Other main innovations were the adoption of ABS and fuel injection as standard for all models, and two additional bull's eyes ventilation outlets on the dashboard.

Mark III

Mark III
Also called Silver Spirit III
Silver Spur III
Flying Spur
Production 1993–1994
Engine 6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 124.5 in (3,162 mm) (Silver/Flying Spur)
148.5 in (3,772 mm) (Silver Spur Touring Limousine)
Length 211.4 in (5,370 mm) (Flying Spur)
211.8 in (5,380 mm) (Silver Spur)
235.4 in (5,979 mm) (Silver Spur Touring Limousine)
Width 79.1 in (2,009 mm) (Silver Spur)
79.0 in (2,007 mm) (Flying Spur)
Height 58.5 in (1,486 mm) (Silver/Flying Spur)
60.4 in (1,534 mm) (Silver Spur Touring Limousine)

The Silver Spirit III and Silver Spur III, introduced in 1993, relied on improvements to the traditional V8 engine as their differentiator. A new intake manifold and cylinder heads upped power output, which was still stated simply as "adequate" in company literature. Dual airbags were another new feature, and the rear seats now adjusted independently.

Flying Spur

The 1994–1995 Flying Spur was a turbocharged version of the Silver Spur III. Only 134 units of this car were produced. In the 1995 model year, the more powerful Turbo S was produced with a higher powered engine.

The Official Stretch Limos

Different Stretch Limo versions were built during the production time by Rolls-Royce in cooperation with the coach builder Mulliner Park Ward in London. Robert Jankel was responsible for the design.

The first Silver Spur Limousine was produced in 1982. 16 cars had the 36-inch stretch, 84 cars with 42-inch stretch were produced in 1984 and later. One car had 14-inch stretch.

From 1991 on, 99 units of the Touring Limousine with 24-inch stretch were produced.

The Park Ward Limousine was the last one to be officially stretched (24 inches) with 70-unit production commencing in 1996 and concluding in 1999.

Mark IV

Mark IV
Also called Silver Dawn
Silver Spirit IV
Silver Spur IV
Park Ward
Production 1994–1998
Engine 6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase 124.5 in (3,162 mm)
148.5 in (3,772 mm) (Silver Spur Touring Limousine)
Length 212.4 in (5,395 mm) (Silver Spur)
211.4 in (5,370 mm) (Silver Dawn)
Width 83.1 in (2,111 mm) (Silver Spur)
79 in (2,007 mm) (Silver Dawn)
Height 58.5 in (1,486 mm)

The final revision of the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur was introduced late in 1995, but a new Silver Dawn appeared a year earlier in the American market. Another new name was also added, the Park Ward limousine, just as the Silver Spirit name was abandoned. As of 1997, the long wheelbase was standard on all models, with the limousine models offering the extra-long only. Another major change that year was the introduction of a Garrett turbocharger on all models.

Production

External links

1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
Independent Vickers plc VW Group BMW
Standard 10 hp
15 hp		 V-8
20 hp		 Twenty 20/25 25/30
Wraith		 WWII Silver Dawn Silver Cloud Silver Shadow/Silver Wraith II Silver Spirit/Spur/Dawn Ghost
Premium 30 hp 40/50 hp (Silver Ghost) Phantom I/II/III Silver Wraith Camargue Silver Seraph Phantom
Phantom IV/V/VI
Convertible Corniche/II/III/IV Corniche V Phantom Drophead
Coupé Phantom Coupé