The ownership of a Rolls-Royce is a significant milestone in one's life. Suddenly, you are in charge of a fine example of automotive art and craftsmanship from arguably the best luxury manufacturer in the world (Bentley aficionados will challenge that, mind you). That's why cars like this 1988 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit grow more desirable with age. What's even more alluring is that this example comes with just 24,000 miles on the clock. Read on to find out why the Silver Spirit is special and why this one deserves a place in your home and your heart.

Exterior and Interior

The Silver Spirit's debut in 1980 marked more than just a new model for Rolls-Royce. It was the start of the new generation of models from the Crewe-based automaker and laid the foundations for the Flying Spur, Silver Dawn, Park Ward, and more. This 1988 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit wears a two-tone paint job of silver and black, a popular thing in the Eighties. Four individual headlamps (US regulation mandated), amber turn signals, and that iconic Rolls-Royce grille all greet onlookers with equal parts of sophistication and class. The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot sits atop the radiator grille, and the Silver Spirit marked the first time that the mascot would be protected from souvenir hunters and petty thieves. If meddled with, a spring-loaded action jerked it into the grille and out of harm's way. We also note the original Rolls-Royce hubcaps, and while some may consider the rear design to be a bit conventional, the Rolls-Royce badge in the center of the boot lid is enough differentiation. The single tailpipe further belies any performance aspirations, although, as we shall discover, this car's engine is far from insignificant. The red interior embodies the spirit of Eighties British luxury and class, as it's more of a red wine-esque shade than a loud, bright hue. Being a Rolls-Royce, you got every conceivable luxury feature of the period, including bi-zone climate control with air conditioning, cruise control, electrically adjustable front seats with memory functionality, power windows, power door locks, and lambswool floor mats. There's also the original radio cassette player with five-band equalizer. Rear passengers receive ample legroom, chromed ashtrays, and footrests.

Engine

The long-serving Rolls-Royce-Bentley L410 V8 serves up adequate but not excessive power and torque beneath the stately hood of this 1988 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. Displacing 6.75L, the engine was said to put out around 200hp, although the automaker was famously coy about power figures in those times and never really stated an official figure. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a GM-sourced THM400 three-speed automatic gearbox. Ride quality was unparalleled at the time, thanks to the hydro pneumatic self-leveling suspension.