Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
| Rolls Royce | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
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| Silver Spirit Silver Spur Silver Dawn Flying Spur Silver Spur Touring Limousine Park Ward |
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| Production period: | 1980-1998 |
| Class : | Upper class |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Otto engine : 6.75 liters |
| Length: | 5270-5982 mm |
| Width: | 1890 mm |
| Height: | 1480 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 3060-3772 mm |
| Empty weight : | 2250-2320 kg |
| Previous model | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow |
| successor | Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph |
The Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit (German: Silver Spirit ; spirit in the sense of soul) is a luxury vehicle from the British automobile manufacturer Rolls-Royce Motors . The Silver Spirit is the successor to the Silver Shadow . It was produced in different series (I to IV) and under different names from 1980 to 1998. The series, which is internally referred to as Rolls-Royce SZ , also includes the Silver Spur , Silver Dawn , Centenary , Park Ward and Touring Limousine models . The Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit is also identical to the Bentley Mulsanne . Some variants were available as both Rolls-Royce and Bentley, others only as Rolls-Royce or only as Bentley.
Model history
From 1965 to 1980 Rolls-Royce was represented in the luxury class with the Silver Shadow and the Silver Wraith and Bentley T derived from it . The series was the first from Rolls-Royce with a self-supporting body. With a total of 32,343 units (28,476 Rolls-Royce and 3,867 Bentley) it was the company's most successful model to date.
Work on a successor to the Silver Shadow began in the summer of 1972. Development was led by technical director John Hollings; the body was designed by the Austrian-born engineer Fritz Feller. The SZ was not completely redeveloped. The floor pan and the entire mechanics - with the exception of the rear wheel suspension - were taken over unchanged from the Silver Shadow, the same applies to the 6.75 liter eight-cylinder engine.
design
The body of the Silver Spirit was completely redesigned. Fritz Feller designed a body that was flatter and wider than that of the Silver Shadow. The car was characterized by horizontal lines: the front section had side by side double headlights that (with the exception of the version intended for the US market) were located behind a wide lens. The headlight unit also contained the turn signals and parking lights and protruded into the side of the fenders. The radiator grille was given new dimensions: It was 2.5 cm lower and 9 cm wider than the Silver Shadow. The rear section was also designed horizontally with wide rear lights that were partially integrated into the trunk lid. The waistline was lower than the Silver Shadow. Overall, Feller enlarged the glass surfaces by 30 percent compared to its predecessor. In an interview in 1980, Feller indicated that the layout of the Silver Spirit was based on the current Mercedes models (meaning the W116 series ).
A special feature of the Silver Spirit was the retractable hood ornament. This was a response to stricter security requirements. At an incline of more than 30 degrees and when external pressure was applied, the Spirit of Ecstasy disappeared in the housing of the radiator grille.
Fritz Feller's design remained almost unchanged until the Silver Spirit was discontinued. Outwardly, the individual series only differed in details such as the shape of the bumpers.
technology
An eight-cylinder V-engine with 6,750 cm³ displacement and an engine block and cylinder heads made of light metal served as the drive. It had contactless electronic ignition and was initially equipped with two SU carburettors. As part of the facelift, the engine in the following years was modified several times: in 1986, the gas plant was by a Bosch - K-Jetronic replaced from 1989 MK-Motronic was used. Later, the car was also a Garrett - turbocharger available. In the early 1970s, Rolls-Royce had developed a version of the engine that was enlarged to 7.2 liters. Of these, prototypes were used in the Camargue and in the first test vehicles of the Silver Spirit. Ultimately, however, in view of the oil crisis of the 1970s, the company decided to keep the well-known engine.
The Silver Spirit has rear wheel drive . The power was initially transmitted by a three-speed automatic, type TH 400 (GM ), and from 1994 (Series IV) a four-speed automatic, type 4L80E, also from the US manufacturer General Motors . The rear wheels were individually suspended from semi-trailing arms mounted on a subframe . The front wheels were guided on double wishbones . The rack and pinion steering was hydraulically servo-assisted .
The car was equipped with a Girling level control and gas-hydraulic shock absorbers , later with hydropneumatics .
From 1986 an anti-lock braking system was part of the standard equipment for several national markets.
The top speed increased during the production period from 193 km / h (Silver Spirit I with double carburetor engine, 1980) to 225 km / h (Silver Spur IV with injection engine from 1997). Rolls-Royce only indicated the performance with the word “sufficient”. In trade magazines, the outputs of 201 HP (148 kW) for Series I to 300 HP (221 kW) for Series IV are specified.
Body shapes
Factory offer
The Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit was only offered at the factory as a four-door sedan. Unlike its predecessor, the factory did not have a convertible or coupé version; this market segment continued to be served in the 1980s by the Corniche derived from the Silver Shadow . However, Rolls-Royce offered vehicles with extended wheelbases, which were marketed under the names Silver Spur, Touring Limousine and Park Ward.
As with the predecessor, the buyer of the Silver Spirit could choose between the model with a normal wheelbase (3,061 mm) and a model extended by 10 cm to 3,161 mm (Silver Spur). The longer wheelbase benefited the footwell of the rear passengers.
In addition, other models with further enlarged wheelbases were offered throughout the production period: Silver Spur III Touring Sedan (Series III) and Silver Spur Park Ward (Series IV), each with a 3772 mm wheelbase. In addition, individual vehicles were also lengthened: one car by 14 inches = 35.56 cm, 16 cars by 36 inches = 91.44 cm and 84 cars by 42 inches = 106.68 cm. The latter vehicles were available with six doors on request.
All models with a wheelbase longer than 3,061 mm were optionally available with a retractable partition behind the front seats.
Individual bodies
In individual cases, customers also had a modified body manufactured by a special company. They included Hooper , who made a number of two-door versions of the Silver Spirit and its sister model, the Bentley Mulsanne, and the Jankel Group , a company founded by Robert Jankel that turned the Silver Spirit into a five-door station wagon. Since the body of the car was self-supporting, customers could no longer easily order a Rolls-Royce with a completely freely designed body. An exception were the Coupés of the Hooper Empress II series with largely independent body, which were based on the Bentley Mulsanne.
Rolls-Royce also offered various model variants of the Silver Spirit as a special protection vehicle .
Most of the models in the Silver Spirit series were used as self-propelled vehicles.
Series
The series of the Silver Spirit is divided into four sections due to several development stages.
Series I (1980–1989)
The first series of the Silver Spirit was developed with safety, emissions regulations and consumption standards in mind, especially with regard to the strict regulations in the United States , especially in California .
For the United States and Japan , the Silver Spirit was available with a catalytic converter from the very first presentation , which meant that this technical equipment could be offered for the German market - initially as an optional extra - immediately after the introduction of lead-free petrol in Germany in 1984.
The first series was available in the variants Silver Spirit with a normal wheelbase and Silver Spur with a longer wheelbase.
In 1985, a special model limited to 25 cars and an additional one for Rolls-Royce itself, a total of 26 cars, was offered under the name Centenary. This special model was provided with additional special equipment. The publication was planned for 1984 for the eightieth anniversary of the Rolls-Royce company founded in 1904; for an unknown reason - the frequent strikes in Great Britain in the 1980s are mentioned - the presentation was delayed by a year.
Series II (1990–1993)
The Bosch K-Motronic was used as the injection and ignition system.
The rear wheels were suspended hydropneumatically . ABS was now standard, as was electronic chassis control.
The second series, like the first, was available in different lengths, Silver Spirit II and Silver Spur II. For the first time, more vehicles with a long than with a normal wheelbase were sold. In addition, from 1991 onwards, a model longer than the Silver Spirit by 711 mm (28 inches) was offered under the name Silver Spur II Touring Sedan. In 1991, production of the Rolls-Royce Phantom VI prestige limousine was discontinued and the extra-long Silver Spur Touring limousine was introduced.
Minor external changes (e.g. different hubcaps) allow the Series II to be distinguished from its predecessor only to a limited extent.
The models of the generations Series I and Series II were provided with double headlights for the American market because of the approval regulations applicable there. With the abolition of these regulations in 1993, vehicles around the world were equipped with the previously common standard headlights.
Series III (1994–1995)
Outwardly, Series III differs from Series II only in the third (middle) brake light in the rear window. For US models, however, the middle brake light was mandatory from 1986.
Like Series II, the third series was offered in the variants Silver Spirit III, Silver Spur III and Silver Spur III Touring Sedan.
The changes between the second and third series are primarily in the engine and the expanded equipment options.
The engine performed more with redesigned cylinder heads, retuned intake ports and new exhaust manifolds; the power was available over a larger speed range. The top speed increased to 209 km / h.
The optional individual rear seats on the Silver Spur could be individually adjusted electronically; for the front seats, this was standard from the previous Silver Shadow model, as was the case with all Silver Spirit generations.
The third series made it possible to incorporate the very latest technology at the time, such as video recorders with liquid crystal screens in the back of the front seat headrests, office technology with computers and satellite communication facilities. Since the latter two items of equipment in particular still took up considerable space in the mid-1990s, these optional extras were essentially limited to the extra-long Silver Spur Touring sedan.
Series IV (1996–1997 / 2000)
Numerous innovations have been made in the fourth generation of the Silver Spirit. Due to the emerging collaboration between Rolls-Royce and the takeover by BMW , the due construction of a successor series was postponed, so that the Silver Spirit became one of the longest produced series in the company's history.
Externally, the fourth generation models can be recognized by the exterior mirrors now mounted in the mirror triangle and the new bumpers. With the introduction of the Series IV, the models were given new names. The Silver Spirit III became the New Silver Spirit in 1996, and the Silver Spur III became the New Silver Spur.
The fourth generation of the extra-long version was initially offered under the name New Silver Spur Touring Sedan, and from 1995 again under the Silver Spur Touring Sedan (without numbering). In addition, a long version was also offered under the name Park Ward (see the paragraph below).
From 1996 onwards, all vehicles in the series were equipped with a viscous locking differential . In 1997 the engines of the Silver Spur (IV) model were equipped with an exhaust gas turbocharger. This increased the top speed of these vehicles to 225 km / h and the output to 221 kW (300 hp).
While the last Silver Spirit was produced in 1997, the long version was available until 2000 due to high demand. The cooperation with BMW began in 1998 with the introduction of the successor model, the Silver Seraph .
Model Park Ward
The Park Ward is an extra long version of the Silver Spur / Spirit IV model. The model has a longer wheelbase and a higher roof. The Park Ward replaced the Silver Spur / Spirit Touring sedan. While a mostly doorless intermediate piece is inserted between the front and rear doors of the Touring Sedan, the extension of the body of the Park Ward model lies between the rear door and the C-pillar. The engines of this model were also equipped with an exhaust gas turbocharger from 1997, which increased the top speed of the vehicles to 225 km / h.
The full name of this model was Rolls-Royce Park Ward Limousine . In the middle of the 1998 model year, the name was changed to Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Park Ward . The name plate on the trunk is limited to the name Park Ward .
Production numbers
| generation | Years of production | Silver Spirit | Silver Spur including touring sedan | 14/36/42 inch ext. | Centenary | Flying Spur | Park Ward | Silver Dawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series I. | 1980-1989 | 8129 | 6238 | 101 | 26th | |||
| Series II | 1990-1993 | 1152 | 1658 | |||||
| Series III | 1994-1995 | 211 | 430 | 134 | ||||
| Series IV | 1996-1998 | 122 | 507 | 44 | 237 |
A total of 18,989 vehicles of this series were produced.
Model overview
| Rolls-Royce automobiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | ||||||||||||||||
| independently | Vickers plc | VW AG | BMW Group | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Standard range |
10HP 15HP |
20HP | 20HP | 20 / 25HP |
25 / 30HP Wraith |
Second World War | Silver Dawn | Silver Cloud |
Silver Shadow Silver Wraith II |
Silver Spirit Silver Spur |
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| Premium range | 30HP |
40 / 50HP (Silver Ghost) |
Phantom I II III | Silver Wraith | Camargue | Silver Seraph |
Phantom & EWB |
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| Phantom IV V VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cabriolet | Corniche II III IV | Corniche | Drophead Coupe | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupe | Phantom Coupe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
literature
- Jonathan Wood: Rolls-Royce & Bentley. The story of a legendary brand . Heel Verlag 2003. ISBN 3-89880-106-3 .
- Malcom Bobbitt: Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit & Silver Spur - Bentley Mulsanne, Eight, Continental, Brooklands & Azure. Veloce Publishing Plc 2000. ISBN 978-1904788751
- The Spirit - Official magazine of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club SZ Register ( website )
Web links
- Marinus Rijkers website with general and technical information on the Rolls-Royce SZ series
- First sales brochure for Silver Spirit (1981)
- Technical information about the Silver Spirit
- Detailed information and photos of all Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles
Individual evidence
- ^ Wood: Rolls-Royce and Bentley, p. 116.
- ^ Peter Mansfeld: Rolls-Royce . Introduction and brand history as well as an interview with Rolls-Royce designer Fritz Feller. In: Geo . Issue 9/1980, p. 112 ff.
- ↑ On the whole: Wood: Rolls-Royce & Bentley, p. 116.
- ^ Wood: Rolls-Royce & Bentley, p. 122.
- ↑ http://rrtechnical.info/sz/sz80/h.pdf Workshop manual for the Rolls-Royce SZ models
- ↑ Illustration of the Hooper Empress .
- ↑ Marinus Rijkers: Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit 1996-1997. Retrieved May 20, 2017 .
- ↑ Marinus Rijkers: Rolls-Royce Silver Spur 1996-2000. Retrieved May 20, 2017 .
