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A Keeper... My 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spur LWB/Windsor Blue Metallic/Tan Connolly Hides/33 K Miles

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    Posted 2 years ago

    mikelv85
    (1232 items)

    Hello Everyone. Hope you all are well after the chaotic past two years. I had originally wanted a new car (a hybrid of some sort) but there was nothing but black and white cookie cutters on all the lots. No choice of colors and black interiors only...ugh! A Rolls was not even on my radar until I saw a few online and thought why buy a new all “plastic computer on wheels” when you can get a classic wood and leather Rolls for the same money. I read all the caveats about these cars. While cars of this vintage sell for not much more than a top of the line Accord, buy the best example you can afford and be prepared to spend more than the car is worth to keep it on the road during it's lifetime...OK (fingers crossed). They made a lot but a lot sit and that's the worst thing beyond seasonal storage. Service history is key. This car happened to tick all the boxes for me it's overall condition, the colors, even the old Motorola phone is still in the back seat arm rest but it was 2500 miles away in California. So I made sure I found a qualified local independent shop that could work on the car and service it if need be. These cars can be worked on by a competent DIY mechanic as the workshop manuals are readily available online. Most of the difficulty lies in the way it's put together and ease of access and the need for specific tools. Parts sometimes can be expensive and hard to find especially trim and interior fittings. The cost of refinishing the wood dash ,door sills or upholstery is insane. Thankfully mine are in pretty good shape, some slight hairline age cracks in the lacquer but not bad. As far as where these cars live,you don’t seem to find many worthy examples anywhere but the East /West coasts and South. Money and nice weather obviously. It took a couple months of searching before this one showed up. My car has some sorting to be done. The cruise is inoperable which is common. If yours is working consider yourself lucky. The tiny 30 plus year old ECU's fail and need rebuilt or replaced. The speedometer reads 10MPH slower than you are actually going. GPS on the phone helps avoid tickets...lol, as she does fly. Driver’s seat back/forward a bit hesitant,probably just old grease. Passenger seat was finally restored to full function. Had both of their ECU's rebuilt as battery acid leaking from the memory seat backup battery damages the circuit boards beyond 10 years. All engine and major mechanics are fine. Rust free body and under carriage. Nice paint/stripes with no dings. I had the car gone over. Serviced the mineral oil brake system (not to be neglected EVER), and all fluids and filters before it’s Winter nap. New tires are on the list for Spring as they’re almost five years old. These car’s are big and heavy. Extended storage tends to flat spot them easily. Time to wake her up for Spring. Winter storage wasn’t too prolonged as I managed to get her out once or twice a month with our somewhat mild winter here. Salt being the biggest enemy in Ohio. –Mike-

    A Bit Of History

    In mid 1987 Rolls Royce introduced the 20,000 series with a major redesign update from the previous models. To distinguish these updated cars and the serial number jumped from 15,000 to 20,000with this particular example being number 25,206. These models are referred to as the desirable 20,000 series as a result.
    In 1989 the Mark II model was introduced to the 'Silver Spirit/Spur' line up - the models remained named the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur but the refinements and improvements included a redesign of dash with more modern instruments which improved the interior look quite considerably with the old rectangular trip computer box being replaced with better looking round gauges. The road was illuminated by stylish one piece Euro styled head lamps while cars destined for the U.S. were required by law to use the quad sealed beams. The car's venerable 6.7 liter V8 and GM Turbo Hydromatic 400 transmission added an improved Bosch mechanical fuel injection system. A more robust cooling system and there were a number of design improvements to the brake system including ABS. The suspension was another innovation with the 'Automatic Ride Control' system adjusting the dampers in all four wheels in real time. There was also a new Japanese air conditioning system that replaced the old GM based system. Only 1,658 Silver Spurs were built over a five year period from 1989-93. The long wheel base Silver Spur model (4"longer than the Spirit) is becoming increasingly hard to find with approximately only 331 cars built per year.
    For those who are unfamiliar, Rolls Royce no longer exists as it had for over one hundred years - this 1989 Silver Spur is one of the last in the original line of cars built in the legendary Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with a quality and craftsmanship that far surpasses that of today's mass produced models with many BMW parts. Also, Connolly Leather has stopped production since 2002 and any stocks left of the leather they had produced has already been depleted. Today, upholstery shops uses a 'Connolly' substitute leather supplied by different European tannery's that uses reportedly use the same Vaumol, Autolux and Laxan graining processes that Connoly used and is about as close as you can get to the original factory leather, but as any enthusiast will tell you, there is no substitute for the smell and feel of the authentically original 'Connolly' leather interior.

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    Comments

    1. dav2no1 dav2no1, 2 years ago
      Wow. Interesting where they put the ignition switch. Bet that back seat is more comfortable than the front. Pretty fancy ride!
    2. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks dav2no1 for the "love" and comment. Well yes and I don't drive it everywhere. Any damage would break your heart and your wallet...lol. I threw a wheel emblem going over railroad tracks at speed and they're 100 bucks a piece for that RR black plastic disc. Luckily I found some NOS in a shop going out of business and he sold me four for the price of one. Lesson learned creep over tracks. The older cars are not the "cloud ride" you think. Yes, the back seat is cavernous.
    3. dav2no1 dav2no1, 2 years ago
      Ha ha..yeah..everything about classic vehicles cost money. And all these TV shows make it look like they fixed them up in an hour, when in reality it's more like 2 years they've shown you and thousands of dollars.

      I like my old trucks...heres my summer fun..

      https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/298435-1964-c-10-and-1977-shortbox-chevy-trucks
    4. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      You got that right..that's why my daily driver is a little red 06' HHR. No worries if something happens to that. It takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' best used car I ever bought.
    5. vetraio50 vetraio50, 2 years ago
      YEAH !!!!
    6. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi Kevin and thanks.... I take it you approve.. lol
    7. fortapache fortapache, 2 years ago
      Probably cheaper than buying a new car plus it will turn heads.
    8. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi fortapache thanks for the comment. I've had the car since last September so it wasn't driven too much before winter arrived. I can honestly say I've only had one or two people comment on it while at the gas station. I think people really don't know what it is. Roll's boxy late 80's Euro styling isn't the stand out body wise like the 60's 70's which are more what people expect. If it wasn't for the iconic grill it's just another big sedan...lol.
    9. kivatinitz kivatinitz, 2 years ago
      I do not drive but I am so happy of knewing your are doing well.
    10. mp.kunst mp.kunst, 2 years ago
      You lucky loony. You are absolutely right if you can afford to buy this RR.
      Have fun in the future and if it gets too expensive and you have to sell your Rolls you can look back on a great time with this beauty.
      I bet you not many people on CW will ever experience this.
      Let us know from time to time how much fun it is.
    11. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi kivatinitz.. Thank you, yes I'm well . The past year has been a bit sad though. My mom and dad both passed last Spring about this time in April and May. So lots of business to attend to in the last year. Still settling some estate odds and ends but life goes on.
    12. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks so much mp.kunst.. so far so good. I drove her yesterday and freshened up the gas. Yes it was a lucky find but a bit tense in the beginning because I wasn't able to actually inspect the car before I bought it. It was on the road for a week in enclosed shipping from California to get it to Ohio where I live.
    13. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks for the"love" watchsearcher
    14. Trey Trey, 2 years ago
      Very nice example of the style and sophistication and beauty :)
    15. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi Trey..thanks for the "love" and the comment. Yes,this was the last year for the true hand built cars from the Crewe factory.
    16. Falcon61, 2 years ago
      Rolls Royce has always prided itself on building the best, extremely luxurious, and most comfortable vehicles. This example is no exception. :)
      Have Fun!!
    17. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thank you Falcon61 for the "love" and comment. Even after all these years the interior still has that elegant perfume of wood and leather.
    18. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks for the "loves" kwqd and vcal.
    19. PHEOBE1980 PHEOBE1980, 2 years ago
      Wonderful Classic! They just don't make them like they used too. And you are right about plastic, ugh. I drive a Subaru Outback for safety. Claims the engine will drop down instead of smashing you in a head on.Hope to never find out! I miss my 1970 Cadillac Coupe de Ville! My Husbands favorite ride, would polish the chrome for hours. Chrome? What's that ?
      Anyway, I love the beauty and "prestige" of your RR. Great investment!
    20. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks so much for the "love" and comment PHEOBE1980. I've always loved a Cadillac. The 70's where the best decade before downsizing for fuel economy. I had an 85' Eldorado and a 91' Deville, and a 2012 SRX which I sold to help fund the Rolls. I liked them all. Considered a really nice 67' Eldorado and then I came across the Rolls. I guess if your going to trump a Caddy a Rolls is the only alternative. :)
    21. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks for the "love" sherrilou. :)
    22. Manikin Manikin, 2 years ago
      Nice ride ! I drive a 89 olds . When cars did not all look a like .
    23. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi Mani...thanks for the "love" and comment. I had a 72' Cutlass and An 83' Delta 88 both great cars, A shame they quit making Oldsmobile. I don't understand the SUV craze nothing is unique anymore. All black, silver and white/black interior clones.
    24. jscott0363 jscott0363, 2 years ago
      Welcome back old friend!! She is a true BEAUTY!! A very impressive care indeed!
    25. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Hi Scott..so nice to hear from you my friend and thanks for the"love" and comment.
      Yes she is. I was very fortunate to say the least buying a car without first inspecting it. A few things to attend to but nothing that keeps me from driving it. Needs new tires shortly look new but they're five years old.
    26. mikelv85 mikelv85, 2 years ago
      Thanks for the"love" Newfld and yougottahavestuff :)

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