1989 ROLLS-ROYCE Silver Spirit II 6.75L V8 3AT (210 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Spirit in 1980 and, after nine years on the market, the British carmaker made a decisive step and improved the car.

The British carmaker introduced the Silver Spirit in 1980 and left it untouched for almost a decade. It didn’t care too much about fashion or design trends. It was a class of its own, and the only true competitor was its sibling brand, Bentley. But, as time go by, Rolls-Royce had to upgrade the car and comply with emission regulations. Along with the engine upgrade, it refreshed the exterior as well.

Rolls-Royce’s massive silver grille that resembled the Greek Parthenon was still vertical and flat, and the rectangular headlights sported corner-mounted turn signals. The wrapped-around bumper was thicker and sported an apron bellow to decrease the ground effect at higher speeds.

Inside, the car received a new, smaller, two-spoke steering wheel and minor updates for the audio system. Like its predecessor, it featured a wood grain on the dashboard, but the customers could have chosen almost any other materials. It was the most expensive car in the world without a tachometer, but Rolls-Royce drivers never really needed it. On the upper side of the dash panel, the carmaker installed a leather-wrapped cover, which drops some shade over the instrument cluster. The owner could have chosen a bench or two individual seats with a mini-bar between them.

The most important update was under the skin. Rolls-Royce installed a Bosch-Motronic fuel injection system, replacing the older carburetors. Until the 1991 winter, the Silver Spirit II featured a three-speed automatic transmission. Starting with 1992, all models received a four-speed automatic. It also got a real-time self-leveling suspension. Last but not least, Rolls-Royce introduced the ABS as a standard feature.