1994 Rolls-royce Flying Spur £24,500
With full service history and rarity, this turbocharged Rolls is quite a catch, says Mike Renaut
This Silver Spur is one of 133 to be fitted with Bentley’s turbocharged V8. A dashboard plaque labels it as number five of the Flying Spurs built and it’s one of very few finished in Wildberry paint that varies between dark red to almost purple depending on the light. It was sold new by the Jack Barclay franchise in London, and the service book bears that dealer’s stamps right up until 2008. The current vendor has serviced the car ever since. It now has 34 stamps in the book covering its 90,924 miles.
The stack of past bills strongly suggests that whatever the car required was done, alongside yearly oil and filter changes regardless of the annual mileage. In April 2018 the car had new brake pads and suspension spheres along with a new oil cooler and associated pipework costing £1500 in parts alone. The month before, new front camber bushes, exhaust work and a gearbox mount saw another £1300 spent and in February 2018 a reconditioned steering rack was fitted at a cost of over £1400. In 2016 a new radiator was fitted. A running fault in 2014 saw new ECUS, sensors and hoses put in – well over £4000 of work. Add on the £3600 in 2012 for a new gearbox and the asking price can’t be far off what has been spent on maintenance.
Other bills show damage repair to the offside rear door in 2012, but the work was carried out flawlessly with a perfect paint match. There are a few scratches on the body if you look closely, notably a series of small scuffs on the front nearside corner. The passenger side mirror has had a scrape resulting in scratches to its chrome body. Happily the bumpers, grille, headlights and wheels all appear flawless. Under the bonnet the V8 is extremely clean with no signs of fluid leaks in the engine bay.
The old adage is true – these cars are virtually silent on the move. Gearchanges from the four-speed auto are imperceptible and engaging kickdown brings about impressive acceleration but no change in volume. All gauges and dials offered no cause for alarm despite a lengthy test on a very hot day. The brakes work perfectly too, stopping this weighty car very well.
The colour-matched steering wheel, carpets and dashboard top may be an acquired taste but there’s little to fault in the cabin, especially concerning those flawless Sandstone leather seats with their Wildberry piping. The rear picnic tables, footstools and lamb’s wool over-rugs are all equally unmarked. The cream headlining remains pristine and the abundant polished wood appears factory fresh.
Push any button and you’ll discover it all works immediately and silently. The full factory toolkit is hidden away in the immaculate, carpeted boot along with the fully functioning six-cd multichanger.
Aside from the noted external marks, this Spur is in very presentable condition and its rarity makes it even more special. If you’re looking for high performance and luxury along with a healthy dash of exclusivity, without spending a fortune, this car should be a strong contender.