Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

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 floorpan of the Silver Shadow as well as that car's 6.8 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.

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 onto the radiator shell if dislodged from its position.

Mark II
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.

Mark III
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.

Mark IV
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

 * 1980-1989 Silver Spirit: 8129
 * 1980-1989 Silver Spur: 6238
 * 1985 Silver Spur Centenary: 26
 * Silver Spur Limousines
 * 1984 Extended 14 in (356 mm): 1
 * 1982-1988 Extended 36 in (914 mm): 16
 * 1984-1988 Extended 42 in (1067 mm): 84
 * 1989-1993 Silver Spirit II: 1152
 * 1989-1993 Silver Spur II: 1658
 * 1993-1994 Silver Spirit III: 211
 * 1993-1994 Silver Spur III: 430
 * 1994-1995 Flying Spur: 134
 * 1995 Silver Spirit: 122
 * 1994-1998 Silver Dawn: 237
 * 1995-1998 Silver Spur: 507
 * 1995-1998 Park Ward: 44

Reliability

 * RECALL ALERT: On Nov. 11, 2008, Bentley issued a recall affecting all US-market Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, Silver Wraith II, Corniche, Silver Spirit and Silver Spurs, which was all built during Rolls-Royce's 67-year ownership of Bentley and, therefore, shared lots of componentry, due to a defective hose assembly which could lead to a fuel leak. Concerned owners can contact 1-617-488-8500 for more information.