I’m not very good with classic car pricing. Things seem to have gotten away from me of late with the surge in blue-chip classic values. But when I walked past this Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in a used car lot I was mighty surprised at the sticker. These things are usually around the AUD $20-30k range. So I went in asked about the car. The dealer was a nice guy and I didn’t feel too bad asking why the price was so low. He said the extra figure must have fallen off the windscreen.
Riiiiiight.
Sometimes my scepticism gets ahead of me.
It’s a Granada with a JC Whitney RR-nose job.
Rolls should’ve parodied the Granada launch ad campaign;
“What Looks Like A Used Ford But Is Priced Like A Used-Ford Owner’s House?”
Granada fix-up from back in the day–truth as strange as fiction:
(reverse of flyer:)
That’s one heck of a honker on that Granada.
Two words: wooden boat.
I found one of these at a self service U-pull-it junkyard a few summers ago, it was pretty stripped by the time I found it(grille of course was missing) but the major bits were there, so that initial price wouldn’t have surprised me. These looked exactly like a Lincoln Versailles with a much nicer interior and some Rube Goldberg engineering. Admittedly i never understood the appeal of Rolls Royce beyond the status symbol aspect, but at least the true classic ones looked distinctive.
Admittedly i never understood the appeal of Rolls Royce beyond the status symbol aspect,
that’s their only reason for existing. To show people you can afford one.
Still a Rolls, and has a certain amount of gravitas. However I’d much sooner have a Silver Shadow. There are a couple of these in my area of town and I keep meaning to photograph one or the other when I spot it, but never seem to get around to it… They do look better with these correct composite lamps, blocky though they may be. The quad sealed-beam units found in 80’s US-market cars add insult to injury.
There was an older Silver Shadow at one of our donation lots, priced initially at $18k. It was there for almost a year. I’m sure it sold for quite a bit less. It looked great, but who knows what was lurking underneath.
I saw that one when I had dinner with you when I was down in Eugene for work for a few days, a couple of years ago.
I periodically get tempted by these enough to spend a few hours/days digging around on the enthusiast forums to see how hard/expensive it is to repair the common problems with them (brakes, HVAC systems, etc.). And usually decide I’m better staying with my current fleet.
In the UK, you can pick up a running Silver Spirit or Bentley Mulsanne for less than £5000, and £20-30k for a great example. A mint Silver Shadow will cost £25 -£40k.
And there’s this “It looks in horrific condition but the reality isn’t so bad. The sills and all the main structural areas are good it is just cosmetic panels that need work”. Your for £1250.00
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-Rolls-Royce-silver-Spur-2-owners-needs-full-restoration-but-does-run/222800148694?hash=item33dfec78d6:g:a8kAAOSwmSdaX4NV
He says “deserves better than to break for spares” but the cost of bringing it to running order would be astronomical. It’s worth the money for spares but will never be back on the road. Shame to see it go banger racing though, there’s some worthwhile parts in there.
When I see an older Rolls Royce from Australia I think of the famous local replica models I read when I was a little boy ( in a pre-Internet world ) The authencity could be told from the number of slots on grill, but I can’t remember which number means it’s authentic.
https://www.streetmachine.com.au/features/1705/glammer-model-blowin-gaskets
That doesn’t look at all bad! What’s underneath all the plastic surgery? Fairlane? Commodore?
A 1980 to 84 WB Holden Statesman.
mmm, Just did a quick search, turns out it may have been based on an earlier shorter Kingswood/Premier,
Those kit cars look like fun. And if anything a car should be fun to own and drive. Isn’t that why we all love them so much? Now the only VW conversions I have a hard time liking is anything that’s obviously a front engine vehicle, with a rear engine VW. Like a fake 1930’s Mercedes, or an old MG style, Or the fake noses on super Beetles. Like that. But if the kit car is designed to be rear engine, go for it. And a Fake RR with Chevy V8? Why not. Easier and cheaper to work on than a real RR motor, I would think.
Sorry – couldn’t help myself!
I am just curious,Are Parts Like Crazy Expensive For Those Old Rolls Royce?
You could probably get used parts at “reasonable” prices. The hard part is knowing how to service one. I am told that if you took your $25K used Rolls dealership they will charge you like it was a new $500K Rolls.
I’ve heard that the low estimate for many common repairs STARTS at four figures.
The crash in old-Rolls pricing is quite amazing to me. VW Beetles and Microbuses frequently exceed the prices of similarly aged yet better condition Rolls cars.
I stopped driving my 240D because they charged Mercedes Benz parts cost the same as if it were a new $500k Benz, and I lost my non-Mercedes benz-priced mechanic to retirement. This was before the internets took over parts distribution.
In an odd turn of events, maybe you can find cheaper parts, but used 240Ds, 300Ds, and 300TDs are selling at prices as if they were used modern cars. So I ain’t going to be able to afford one again! And who wants a Rolls these days?
Don’t know how expensive RR parts are.But worked part time at a nationally know auto parts store last year. Bored one day and started looking up parts. No RR parts, No Bentley parts, no Aston Martin..etc.. AND if you really want a shock. Call any auto parts store and ask the price of an alternator for an Audi S8. With core charge, just a bit over…gasp!..$3000!! No kidding!
Saw one of these over the Xmas holidays. They have a lot of presence, but overall they’re just too boxy. I’ll have that Granada without the big chrome grille, thank you very much. Though at that price, they might just find a sucker to buy this thing. Nothing is more expensive than a cheap Rolls.
I take a toke… and all my cares..go up in smoke…
I like how when the extra 9 was added to the price in the second picture, the “Gates of Denial” all of a sudden were drawn as well….Probably for the better.
Doing some carpentry work in a very exclusive area back in the mid 80s, I heard tires squealing and looked up to see a couple of 17ish year old guys burning the tires off of dad’s then 6 figure Rolls, that looked like this one but in blue. Had they not been there the day would now be long forgotten.
That’s hilarious. I thought I could guess where it was (a little car yard on Union Rd Surrey Hills), but it’s not. Not the second guess either (Barkly St, St Kilda).
orangechallenger posted a link about the Holden-based Glammer replicas – I’m sure I saw one of these being used in a promo spot for one of the dating/wedding type tv shows in the last couple of weeks.
The Celica-based “Ferrino” done by the same company is pretty hilarious too.
On the depreciation and cost of ownership side of things, I used to work with a guy whose brother had bought one of the later Bentley Turbo R special editions. I think he paid $50-60k against the new price that was in the order of $800k. Before too long something ‘wasn’t right’ with the engine and after an initial quote that was a large portion of the purchase price, he was trying to find someone who would actually work on the engine. Last I heard it was a driveway ornament.
John, the yard in the picture is in Swan St, across the road from the Richmond station.
It is not the first time I have seen an expensive car in there.
Is that one parked across the road from Richmond station? I pass it most mornings on the train. From memory, they had a navy one there a few years ago, so there must be some demand.
That’s it! I knew the photos rang a bell.
Another thought too – maybe the price should be $2499.90?
yep.
Aaaand… beat me to it.
There´s nothing more tragic in the automotive world than seeing a beat up, worn out and used up luxury car with the magnitude of a majestic Rolls Royce.
“The dealer was a nice guy..”
No, Don, he was not.
This is a so-called rent-to-buy yard. They’ll have got that thing through the trade at, who knows, possibly even $2499, certainly not much. The trade hates cars like this, rolling money pits at every level.
They’ll sign up some hopeless dreamer, say some kid who thinks he’ll do weddings in it, at $24,990 (plus charges), and charge an interest rate of, at minimum, about 18%. They won’t break the law, as they’ll have checked on his ability to repay (just). As you’ll see below, it doesn’t take much. They’ll have a legit credit licence (a licence you need to be a finance provider, however done).
But here’s the kicker. They don’t have to have any sort of roadworthy certificate because they are an LMCT (licensed motor car trader). Otherwise, you need that to change owners here, as in many places. Remember rent-to-buy? Well, they are NOT selling the car to dreamer; it is being rented with the option to buy at the end, that’s all. But under the agreement, dreamer is liable for all repairs and servicing. Now, dreamer MIGHT be lucky, survive the 5 years of payments; but even at the end, he has to get the roadworthy certificate to transfer title to him from them. Oh, and the contract requires him to insure it fully.
So in reality, the guy gets nothing more than a rent-a-car, for which he is liable for the running costs, which has no safety check or requirement, paying extortionate interest costs, on a car that was sold vastly beyond trade value from the beginning, which is taken back as soon as a “rental” payment is missed (they fit them with trackers and remote immobilisers and keep spare keys, it’s their property), on which he has to get a roadworthy to own it when it’s finally worn right out at the end. (On a worn Roller, that’d be, what, $12,000+?).
They sell the deal on the basis of the daily cost, which is of course theoretical because the agreement is at least weekly, and on my (unreliable) maths, that Roller at that price at 15% over five years is just $24 a day. Hey hey! That’s about $43,000 return to the dealer on a car that cost ’em my theoretical $2490. And no law has been broken.
In reality, this stuff is aimed at screwing the poor or the hopeless, the long-term unemployed and the mentally unwell, the ex-con, the young and naive person who’s got a crap family, the elderly on a pension who need the car to move at all. The people that a decent society is meant to look after.
I know this is a US site, and some might reply “So? Tough shit”, and, depending on how you want to have a society, that’s actually legitimate: arguably, America’s success relies on that absolute liberty of the subject, many would say so. But in Aus, by US standards, we’ve long had a relatively socialistic arrangement (it was called the Workers Paradise in the 1890’s!), and this stuff being quite legal clangs with the idea of Land of The fair Go. And we are creeping further and further away from that in recent years.
So if I’d walked in there, I’d have demanded the guy sell it to me at that $2499 price, or threatened have him charged with attempted fraud. Just to make up for the fraud he can’t be charged with.
Oh dear, I have been on an inappropriate rant, sorry CCers. (And apologies to Don – I blame john875, he made me Google the yard location!!) It’s the eve of Australia Day here, and it just got to me that this sort of behaviour is not what made this country a decent place.
The dealer was a nice guy, Justy. No hard sell, he even took me out the back to look at an E24 just for the conversation. I’ve worked with predator dealers, and I’ve worked with other predator sales categories the worst being ‘last resort’ mortgage brokers. I know the type to a T and I know the scheme you’re describing. This guy was nice to me. I can’t speak for anyone else’s experience at this yard. Caveat emptor.
My apologies again Don, I’m more than happy if my comment is removed. Wrong place for it, and it has the effect of being rude to you. Obviously, it set off a bee under my bonnet, which you did not put there. Poor form.
All good Justy. You’ve outlined a scheme that is truly predatory with perhaps a tad too much passion but you didn’t sink to partisan politics so what the hey. Not everyone is aware of these schemes and CC is about getting to the truth. Comment stands.
Yeah, buy one of these type of cars cheap, and it’ll cost 50K to fix it!
Just buy a Chevy…
These have always been a dream car of mine; I swear one day I’ll own one. I could buy the car easily, but I want to drive it, and have an idea what they cost to run.
The the tactile quality of the things speaks to me, and my obsession with materials and feel.
I owned one of these Rollers, when I first bought it I took it to my mechanic who told me it would cost $1,000 a month to keep it going. He was right. Proper w/w tires $500 each shipped from England. 2 steering racks in 2 years at $2,500 each. Lots of little things like exhaust gaskets, electrical relays & the A/C dripping water on the passenger’s feet. The straw that broke the camels back was the $6,200 estimate for a brake job, so I sold it on eBay. It was fun while it lasted, but I didn’t want to break the bank.
I owned one of these Rollers, when I first bought it I took it to my mechanic who told me it would cost $1,000 a month to keep it going. He was right. Proper w/w tires $500 each shipped from England. 2 steering racks in 2 years at $2,500 each. Lots of little things like exhaust gaskets, electrical relays & the A/C dripping water on the passenger’s feet. The straw that broke the camels back was the $6,200 estimate for a brake job, so I sold it on eBay. Just for grins, Google the brakes system for this car to see why it cost so much to redo the brakes. It was fun while it lasted, but I didn’t want to break the bank.
Beautiful, but costly.
Although close to American car size, sit in a Chevy, Cadillac or Lincoln and sit in a Rolls and you will see they are totally different animals and Gml’s comments are correct
A Rolls has a feel and character all of its own, a V12 Jag was dynamically a far better car but the Rolls feels special, far more so that a similar year Mercedes which feels mass produced and characterless in comparison
As for servicing, a simple V8, American autobox, older Silver Spirits usually have carbs, and minimal computers so that side of things is very straight forward. The level ride is the most unusual feature that requires some knowledge, but not beyond a competent mechanic, and it is a mechanic you need, not a software engineer as per modern luxo barges
Try servicing a Mercedes, an eye watering sum will leave your wallet
When I hear people talk about servicing on this site and worry about it I wonder at the level of skill of the mechanics they encounter.
You do not have to justify why you like a Rolls, it is purely subjective, there is no real need to spend such a huge sum of money on Rolls, Mercedes etc as there are so many perfectly acceptable machines at 1/3 of the price, but its your money to spend
I would lie to own a Rolls at some point because I love the tactile qualities mentioned before and love beautifully made things; but I do have a problem with its image and have no time for status symbols , Its not a British class thing as the Americans were just as snobbish about their Cadillacs.
My love of beautifully made automotive things is widening to include British made brass footpumps (affordable hobby), best in the world, prove me wrong, if you have a Rolls you must have a Kismet footpump in the boot
If you have a Rolls you must have a Kismet footpump in the boot.
This is the funniest-sounding sentence I’ve read in AGES!
Well I do keep a brass Dunlop Major footpump in my Rover,
If you look at vintage sites you see Kismet footpumps advertised to go with your 1930s Rolls
Airlines used to be free in garages, dammed if I am going to spend 50p each time to pump the tyres up.
Found it impossible to buy a decent footpump, that’s why I looked at vintage brass ones, the quality and engineering is simply outstanding and I became hooked
I know a lot of people collect old automotive tools, and they come in useful
There’s a well-known independent Rolls Royce/Bentley shop in Front Royal, VA that Maggie and I stop by everytime we’re coming back to Ashland via US522. From time to time they’ve had some very interesting, reasonably priced cars that I’ve found sorely tempting.
About five years ago, they had a to-die-for 1998 Bentley Mulsanne there being offered by the second owners for somewhere between $25-30,000. Provenance included, original owner: Billy Joel. Also had a ’74 Rolls-Royce that looked in rather nice condition, for $14,000, although at that price I was wondering what deferred maintenance was there waiting to bite you in certain tender places.
I keep dreaming. I do love those cars.
The Rolls-Royce Foundation is based in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
http://rollsroycefoundation.org/index.html
to my eyes probably one of the most ugly rolls royce model.