Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

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Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit

Manufacturer	Rolls-Royce Motors
Parent company	Vickers plc
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(s)	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 onto the radiator shell if dislodged from its position.

Contents 1 Mark I 2 Mark II 3 Mark III 4 Flying Spur 5 Silver Spur Touring 6 Mark IV 7 Production 8 External links

[edit] 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.

1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur (North America)

1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit (North America)

1982 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur (Europe)

[edit] Mark II

Mark II

Also called	Silver Spirit II Silver Spur II
Production	1989–1993
Engine(s)	6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission(s)	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.

[edit] Mark III

Mark III

Also called	Silver Spirit III Silver Spur III Flying Spur
Production	1993–1994
Engine(s)	6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission(s)	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.

[edit] Flying Spur

The 1994–1995 Flying Spur was a turbocharged version of the Silver Spur III. Only 134 units of this car were produced.

[edit] Silver Spur Touring

The Silver Spur Touring was the Stretch Limo version built by Rolls-Royce in cooperation with Mulliner Park Ward.

1994 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur III Armoured Touring Limousine

[edit] Mark IV

Mark IV

Also called	Silver Dawn Silver Spirit IV Silver Spur IV Park Ward
Production	1994–1998
Engine(s)	6.75 L Rolls-Royce V8
Transmission(s)	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.

[edit] Production

^{[citation needed]}

• 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
• 1995-1999 Park Ward: 44

[edit] External links

• Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Touring

v • d • e Rolls-Royce Motor Cars road car timeline
	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
Coupe																									Phantom Coupé