Trawling the classifieds often reveals a decent selection of surprisingly affordable Rolls-Royce (and Bentley) SZ and SY saloons. Here’s how to avoid a bad example

There’s been no shortage of attention-grabbing articles in the motoring press over the years proclaiming that a classic Rolls-Royce can be yours for the same price as a secondhand family hatchback. And it’s true that even with a smallish budget you’re likely to find the odd roadworthy Silver Spirit that’s just about within budget. Chances are, however, that such a car will require major work and expenditure at some point, which somewhat negates the idea of it being a ‘bargain’ Rolls-Royce. If you can stretch your budget, however, you’ll find there are far more impressive survivors available – the kind of cars that have been well-maintained and looked after by their previous owners.

There was a time when the most affordable Rolls-Royce was the Silver Shadow, which ten years ago was still available in less-than-perfect condition for seriously low prices. Values of the best examples have been on the rise for some time, however, and even average-condition cars are now no longer the ‘bargains’ they once were. And so it falls to the subsequent SZ generation to offer the best value on today’s market, with the Silver Spirit in particular (or a normally-aspirated Bentley, such as the entry-level Eight) being available in very good order from £10,000 or less, while a budget of up to £15,000 should secure a well-preserved Bentley Turbo R with a decent maintenance record.

You should, of course, be wary of any advert that suggests the car you can afford to buy “only requires tidying”, as professional repairs and restoration work can be eye-wateringly expensive – and there’s a lot that can go wrong with any SZ or SY saloon.

Bodywork

Whether you’re buying an SY or SZ car, the condition of its bodywork is crucial to your future successful ownership, as well as keeping your ongoing budget under control. You certainly need to thoroughly check the condition of the sills and around the wheelarches, which should provide a good initial overview of the car’s condition. And if an Everflex roof is fitted, gently poke around the base of the C-pillar for the tell-tale sound of crispy substructure underneath the covering where it meets the top of the rear wing.

According to marque guru Colin Ayres, of Cambridge-based Colbrook Specialists, a major weak point on Silver Spirits are the rear spring perches (or cups) where the coil spring sits. Although this issue can also affect the Silver Shadow, Colin says he sees this problem mostly on the later model, as the perches on these cars are smaller and tend to retain water.

While inspecting the bodywork for corrosion or signs of any poor repair work, pay particular attention to the condition of all the decorative chrome fittings. Brightwork repairs on a Rolls-Royce can be cripplingly expensive to carry out properly. You should also be particularly vigilant if the car you’re inspecting has recently been repainted or has had a previous colour change.

Flat, dull paintwork will be very difficult – probably impossible – to revive and this will make the car hard to sell on unless the problem is rectified. The same applies to those cars suffering from peeling lacquer, a common problem on neglected cars with metallic paintwork. A high-quality respray on a classic as large as a Rolls-Royce or Bentley is a very expensive business, while repairing various body defects will obviously bump up the cost. If possible, it’s always better to buy a car at the top end of the budget that’s still wearing its original, well cared for paintwork, even it means paying slightly more.

Engine and transmission

All SY and SZ cars were fitted with Rolls-Royce’s L-series V8, with early Silver Shadows being powered by the original 6230cc version, while the later units displaced 6750cc. A problem with these engines include corroded blocks if the correct concentration of coolant hasn’t been used. Worn tappets can also be an issue, which means you may need to budget for professional fitment of a new set. It’s possible to service these units on a DIY basis, but it’s far better to thumb through a sheaf of invoices from the history file showing how the work has been done in a properly-equipped workshop rather than on someone’s drive.

A pair of SU carburettors fuelled all SY cars, as well as the Silver Spirit up to 1987, while the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo utilised a Solex 4A1 (although parts for this carb are now becoming scarce). Post-1987 cars were fitted with what is essentially a Bosch K-Jetronic fuel-injection system, while SZs produced after 1993 featured a fully electronic Zytec injection system. Head gasket failure can be an issue on these later cars; if the head is overhauled, it’s recommended that the radiator is also replaced to prevent any future overheating issues.

Pre-1970 Silver Shadows used Hydramatic automatic transmission, subsequently replaced by a General Motors-sourced Turbo Hydramatic 400 unit. Both of these gearboxes are heavy-duty bits of kit, although a worn gearbox will slip and jerk when swapping ratios. Check the condition of the fluid by removing the dipstick for the gearbox, which should be located at the rear of the engine bay; if the fluid is black, has bits in it or smells burnt, the gearbox will require overhauling.

Suspension, steering and brakes

Although the self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension and braking system on the SZ and SY appears complex, it will be known territory to anyone who’s familiar with a Citroën-type sphere set-up. When maintained well, the system is highly effective and durable, but you should be on the look-out for potential problems.

Take a look at the car’s profile. If it’s sitting low at the back when the engine is running, that’s a sure sign of issues with the self-levelling system. Very early Silver Shadows had self-levelling front and rear suspension, although the front set-up was deleted quite early on, as the rear did most of the work. Any problems with this system won’t be cheap to fix, so again we’d advise walking away and viewing the next car on the list. If any knocks come from the front end when driving over rough ground, the cause is likely to be worn ball-joints – another well-known weakness.

The 1977-on Silver Shadow II introduced rack and pinion steering, as well as modifications to the front suspension to improve handling. Facelift Silver Spirits and their Bentley equivalents produced after 1989 were equipped with an Active Ride system, using computers to vary the firmness of the dampers to control body roll; lights on the dashboard will indicate an issue with this system, with any required repairs likely to prove costly.

Some owners have converted their car’s Active Ride system to the earlier set-up, as the cost of doing this can equal the same for just a single replacement Active Ride damper. Swapping over doesn’t make that much difference to how the car handles and a converted car probably wouldn’t be valued any lower than an example featuring a fully working Active Ride system.

The SZ and SY utilise a triple braking set-up, and overhauling the brakes is a job best left to the experts. Any knocking when the brakes are applied means the hydraulic pump could be giving notice. Our advice would be to move on from any cars that have green LHM fluid seeping from the pump or its associated valves and fittings. A full professional brake overhaul can cost £3000-plus; as the fluid also operates the suspension as well as the brakes under high pressure, costs can quickly mount up when stripping the system.

A good clue to the general overall condition of the car is to inspect the tyres. An example fitted with a decent set of matching rubber – hopefully the correct-spec Avons – will probably have been looked after a lot better than a car sitting on a set of mismatched or cheap tyres. That’s obviously only a general guide, but it’s far more likely the car will have had the correct level of care if there are regular invoices in the history file for decent-quality tyres.

Interior, trim and electrics

Before inspecting any SZ or SY cabin, make sure all the doors shut with a solid thud and that the gaps are even all round. These cars were built to a very high standard and any uneven panel gaps could suggest that either a door has been replaced with one from another car or the original has been badly repaired.

When checking out the interior, the first area to inspect is the wood-veneer dashboard and trim. Silver Shadows and Silver Spirits – plus their Bentley equivalents – have an abundance of fine woodwork, and any flaky lacquer and/or splits in the surface could indicate issues with damp getting inside the cabin. Damage from the sun is also common.

Check under the carpets for any signs of wet or damp insulation, as the floors have been known to rot from the outside on neglected cars. If water is entering the car through a faulty screen seal, there’s a good chance that the surround has corroded; to effect a permanent repair, the screen and dash-pad will have to removed, and it’s a complex job to let new metal into the corroded area. If there is any sign of water ingress under the carpets, our advice is to walk away and view another car.

For our target maximum sum, we’d hope to find a car with a decent interior, as any serious repairs in this department will definitely break the bank. However, marque specialists like Flying Spares are able to supply a good selection of secondhand interior parts if required.

Rolls-Royce SZ & SY: our verdict

A good rule of thumb when viewing a relatively low-value SZ or SY Rolls-Royce or Bentley is to ignore the mileage and concentrate on the overall condition of the car. As long as the history file shows the engine has been serviced correctly, the big hand-built V8 powering these cars can be good for well over 200,000 miles before it starts to become troublesome. Despite the original high selling price, the big enemy with these cars is rust and poorly carried out repairs.

There are numerous horror stories about what can go wrong with a ‘budget’ Rolls-Royce or Bentley. But if you apply some basic checks when viewing suitable examples, the right car is almost certainly out there. While it may be stretching things a bit to pick up a smart looking Silver Shadow or Silver Spirit for the kind of bargain-basement prices that the motoring press loves to quote in order to grab the attention of would-be owners, it’s certainly true to say that a budget of £10,000–15,000 in the UK will be sufficient to buy a well-cared for survivor in the kind of condition that should ensure reasonable running costs and longevity.

It might not be the exact spec that you want (a cherished Bentley Eight will be a far more sensible buy than an uncared-for and unkempt looking Turbo R for similar money), but that’s not necessarily a bad thing; buying with your head rather than your heart will help to avoid both expense and disappointment further down the line.