ROLLS-ROYCE FLYING SPUR ESTATE

Year of manufacture 1995 Recorded mileage 25,365 Asking price £79,000 Vendor Desmond J Smail, Olney, Bucks; tel: 01234 240636; www.djsmail.co.uk

WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £148,545 Max power c350bhp Max torque 443lb ft 0-60mph 7 secs Top speed 140mph Mpg 15

This imposing wagon was crafted from a Flying Spur – basically a longwheelbase Silver Spirit III with Bentley Turbo R mechanicals – by West Coast Creations in California in 2011. It came home in 2014. Only 50 Spurs were planned and this is 42, though that number was used twice in different markets because 134 were built in all. And this is probably the only estate.

The alterations were done in aluminium, and the result could have come out of Crewe, with unique tailgate instead of a modified donor. Panel gaps are all good. It wears undinged bumpers from a 1998 ‘New’ Silver Spur and late Corniche alloys, but it all integrates well, the original BRG now topped with a lighter metallic. The tyres are well-treaded 2011 Avon CR227S.

It’s in splendid order, too, with no scratches or scrapes, and the interior is near-perfect. The first owner specced the lightest shade of walnut available and the exquisite veneers are still excellent. The driver’s seat outer bolster is lightly creased and cracked but that’s about it. The factory Rolls-royce umbrella is still clipped in place and even the sound system demo tape remains in the car. There are nine stamps in the service book, from supplying dealer Jack Barclay, from Graeme Hunt and the most recent from P&A Wood. It’s just been serviced again and given a fresh MOT, while older test certificates confirm the low mileage.

The motor is mostly hidden under beauty covers but the fluids are all new, and there seem to be no leaks from the steering rack. It starts nearsilently and simply ‘thfffts’ away. Changes in the four-speed 4L80E auto are smooth and it kicks down readily enough, though even when you’re being more gentle it surges forward on a wave of torque, the prow lifting like a torpedo boat. It’s great fun, bringing with it a slightly worrying sense of responsibility as you remember it weighs 21/2 tonnes. There’s nothing as vulgar as an econometer, but the oil-pressure gauge shows full deflection, temperature is at the low end of ‘Norm’ and it reads 14.5V. Everything works, including electric windows, seats, cruise control and manual gear holds. It will come with an MOT until February – but not, sadly, that number.

SUMMARY

EXTERIOR

∑ Straight; sharp; no blemishes

INTERIOR

∑ Sumptuous; almost perfect

MECHANICALS

∑ Drives faultlessly

VALUE ★★★★★★★✩✩✩

For Superbly done; superbly kept

Against It’s massive, with a likely massive thirst to go with it

SHOULD I BUY IT?

You’ll have the only one in the paddock for the same as a topcondition Rangie CSK. A Superior Automobile, recommended for those deep of pocket