Cheap Roller: Rolls Royce Silver Spirit
In the annals of bad ideas could there be a worse idea than that of buying a cheap Rolls Royce? Here’s your chance to find out with one here on Craigslist in Greensboro, North Carolina for $5,000.00. Thanks for the tip, Jamie P!
Ah, Rolls Royce, that legendary British maker of fine motor cars crafted this example sometime between 1980 and 1999 when production of the Silver Spirit ceased. The seller does not provide a model year for the car he is offering but the photo posted of the serial number lets us do a quick Internet search and it would appear that it is a 1982 model. There is no mention of the presence of a title, either.
The photo provided of the exterior of the shows it that way we like our barn finds: dusty and musty. Someone has likely helped themselves to the iconic Rolls Royce radiator grille and Spirt of Ecstasy mascot that resides on it at some point and it may be the center piece of someone’s garage art gallery. The two tone paint could be the factory-applied paint and the original owner declined the vinyl top option. The tires are inflated and the back portion of the passenger seat is lying on the hood.
A photo of the interior covers just the steering wheel and dashboard area so we can’t assess the condition of the rest of the interior. The keys may in the car and I think you can just see it and a dealer key tag hanging at the left of the dashboard. Speaking of the dashboard, the wood slab is beautiful even covered in dust. It looks like a “car phone” may still be in residence on the transmission hump just below the center of the dash. Trying to restore a car like this will break your spirit as well as your bank account, but maybe a high class rat rod like this one could be a winner?
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Comments
A green ’82 Rolls with no grille, and no title. Hey, cut me off a slice of that!
Awesome post. I bet that grill is hanging in some dork’s garage…
Or, more likely, on that dork’s Mazda 323
Awesome post. I bet that grill is hanging in some dork’s garage…
Or on the front of a VW Beetle.
Perfect candidate for LeMons racer!! If I can just work it down to the $500 limit….
The only thing to do with this is park it in a visible space in your driveway and keep it waxed to a high shine.
…and hope somebody steals it?
Well, I hate to be the 1st to say this but this would be perfect for an LS-6, 6 Speed swap out… Have the elegance of British Royalty with the muscle of an American Street racer… What could go wrong??? LOL
Vortec 454 and a blower or go home!
The engine and transmission are nearly bullet proof. It’s the brakes, suspension and electrics you worry about. Whenever I hear someone suggest an engine swap, I know they’ve never owned one nor know what they’re talking about.
No such thing as a “cheap Rolls”. Either you pay now or you pay later.
What is that broken up crap on the floor ?
Remains of the Grille ?
Great movie.
What is on the hood ?
A Mafia toilet seat ?
It is an early version of the tailgate seats for the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
A possible purchaser would be:
http://www.flyingspares.com/dismantling-archive.html
The crap on the floor is excrement dumped by the RR. What else could it be?
I too say restomod it. Too hard to get RR
parts in this part of Florida anyway. The
454 big block sounds good, but in my
case, an automatic would suit my needs
as my MIL and SIL can’t drive a stick.
Not too many folks know that these cars
were running GM Hydramatics for years.
These trannies were mated to whatever
engine Rolls Royce was using at that time. I also wouldn’t buy it unless I
could get the carcass for $500 or less.
Hopefully, someone will buy this car
and keep it out of the scrapyard.
Maybe Icon motors will buy it. They
already have an LS powered Silver Cloud
that is awesome indeed. Sad end for this
car…very sad indeed.
No real need to emphasize any grey poupon connection unless the emphasis is on the first syllable of poupon Run Forest Run, Run
Such a shame to see a once grand automobile fallen on such tough times. Whomever takes this on on is better be ready for one helluva heartache.
Bentley’s, & Rollers required meticulous, constant maintenance to keep the cars running as intended. Any faltering on that schedule, and your bankroll is toast.
An engine swap would ease the maintenance bills somewhat, but the problems stemming from the other mechanical, & electrical systems wont ever let up.
Perhaps this one is best suited as a donor
Would the body fit on a Suburban frame??? Then comes the obligatory lift kit…
The grill is what makes it a Rolls….man,
this is heart breaking to see,but who in the $%&#
orders a green Rolls..?It could be free,but I would still
be afraid the cost to make a driver,would bankrupt
a small country,unless you were to go with a sbc,
or some affordable power plant/running gear.
Very cool car,with a lot of possibilities….4×4 Roycemino pickup….?..LOL.
I had a ride in one of these bargain basement Rolls a decade ago. I found the seats uncomfortable, the knobs and switches looked like cheap plastic, and the worst part was a bumpy ride that felt no better than a mid sized Buick. I was utterly disappointed. I thought my 1975 Cadillac Coupe de Ville that I had numerous years prior to that ride was a much better built car.
All I can advise is…RUN.RUN.RUN fast and away from any RR unless you have tons of money to burn.