Description
The Spirit of Ecstasy is gilded Gold from the factory.
This car has had both of its fuel pumps and fuel lines replaced, and the carburettors vapour blasted, all oils and fluids were replaced before being parked up.
The second last garage that took in this car disassembled the interior to have it re-upholstered, but they didn't really know what they were doing, left it halfway and also lost its keys.
It requires restoration; both interior and bodywork. But it was in driving condition when I acquired it a few years back from Belfast and drove it to Kildare.
It has literally spent all of its time lying up parked in my driveway, as all I have managed to do is to have it moved from one garage to the next and not actually getting things done or things made worse. At this stage, I would still be interested in having this car restored or resto-modded, but it would be better being sold-off to someone that can get it built sooner. Apparently, some lady in Birmingham ordered it brand new in 1982. A full report can be acquired for £70 from Rolls-Royce Goodwood.
The 6. 75 litre V8 L410 engine doesn't make it too obvious with just 180hp, but has all the torque to move the 2. 5 tonne Silver Spirit effortlessly. A few mods like electronic fuel injection, long-tube-headers etc. could potentially un-restrict some of that 6. 75 litre V8 power. Regardless, it makes some really beautiful V8 noise.
Currently it's just its standard 3-speed Z. F. THM400 gearbox, but it could do better with more gears considering that there are gearboxes like the 8-speed Z. F. 8HP and likewise 9-speed and 10-speed automatic gearboxes.
One would really feel inspired by the way these cars are built, everything is heavy and wholesome, and no materials used in these cars were alternative or makeshift choices.
As these cars are so generously proportioned, there's plenty of room for newer technology and refinements to equipped in such cars. Needless to say that every newer Rolls-Royce and Bentley at the time was progressively upgraded with features that the previous generation didn't have. And the original L410 V8 engine last featured in the new Bentley Mulsanne in its most upgraded form.
A great platform for resto-modding or E. V. conversion.