1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
In this edition of Living, we feature the 1985 RollsRoyce Silver Spirit owned by Dr. Harsha Cabral. Manufactured between 1980 and 1989, the Silver Spirit is still considered one of the swankiest classics around. Despite being based on its predecessor the Silver Shadow, the Silver Spirit was far superior – and it is as an embodiment of progress and innovation.
One couldn’t quite encompass the luxury of floating around in a luxurious bubble on hydropneumatic suspension with what was considered the best air conditioning system in the world while listening to tunes on a stereo made with Blaupunkt and Pioneer components.
Featuring a 6750cc V8 engine, this member of the Classic Car Club of Ceylon is no sedentary senior and has the capacity to surprise. With a top speed of 193 kmph, the Silver Spirit is capable of accelerating from 0-100 kmph in around 11 seconds. Not that there’s any need for such a mad dash when a Rolls-Royce is more of a chariot for stately occasion rather than a machine for impertinent speed.
This magnificent vehicle came into Cabral’s possession about five years ago and is in fine fettle barring a few minor repairs. As an avid collector of classics, its owner believes that the Silver Spirit is the crowning glory of its iconic brand and the flagship of his collection.
The Silver Spirit is the first Rolls-Royce to feature the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy, which in its own right was a marvel of design and engineering at the time. This eminently recognisable bonnet ornament is still very much in demand by enthusiasts of classic cars across the globe, which is as much a testament to British manufacturers as it is to its designer Fritz Feller.