Who buys 20-30 year old Rolls Royces that

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rjgmjs, Jan 25, 11:46pm
will need expensive mechanical work doing on them in time. Interesting!
There's a few listed for sale $15-$20 grand, and i'm really interested to know what the new owners do with these vehicles. 1/.Park them up in the car shed, to show off to there neighbours and friends! (bit of an elitist thing, to say you own a Roller ain't it) 2/. Maintain them as required! (No probs if your a Doctor/Lawyer etc and can afford to)
3/. Do they get re-powered say with a big block V8! Rolls Royce's DO break down, i recently met a nice ole fella, (an old school mechanic) who has worked on various R-R models, some had brake issues and could catch fire (like the one mounted up on a crane at the wreckers near Hamilton). Just curious to know given the options, if you had $20,000 to spend on a used car, why you pick a money pit, when there is so may other reliable modern options.

littlebob7, Jan 25, 11:59pm
Had a mate that was going to buy one & use it to do Wedding carhirethat sort of thing

pollymay, Jan 26, 12:05am
Cause everyone wants to drive an 06 camry right!

Cars are a hobby, people put money into hobbies. It's just the same as someone that spends 20k buying a boat or something. People actually enjoy fixing cars sometimes, I would of gone mad if I didn't owning some older sports cars that have had a rough life.

bigjerry, Jan 26, 12:06am
i would say its a passion thing. I dont think RR owners care much about fuel economy, reliability etc. I think they are blinded by the passion. Like me and my passion for hillman superminx's, old shit but i love them.

phillip.weston, Jan 26, 12:26am
You don't buy an RR for a daily driver, it certainly wouldn't be a primary means of transport anyhow. It would more than likely be a second (or third or fourth.) car and would generally be an on-going project. An older classic RR would most likely hold its value or increase its value over time, whereas a few year old $20,000 shitbox plastic fantastic used car is just going to depreciate massively over the next coming years, and after 5-10 years would require maintenance anyway - and on top of that it probably wouldn't put anywhere near as big of a smile on your face as a RR would.

hotrodtodd1, Jan 26, 12:53am
I always thought the mid 60s-mid 70s style would make a great ute

vtecintegra, Jan 26, 12:56am
There is an older dude who I used to see driving a Maroon 80s or 90s Rolls Royce sedan around the Wellington CBD every day.

elenor, Jan 26, 12:59am
seen one with a 350 chev in wellington

vtecintegra, Jan 26, 2:31am
Because they're cheap and parts are readily available.I do agree though, it'd change the character of the car.

elect70, Jan 26, 2:48am
mate boughta silver cloud back from Uk . decided to replace all disc pads -over $1000from agents so had them relined by ferrodo in ch Ch for $350 (to RR spec )thena head jobtop end gasket set $2000+ luckily he was a deisel mech by trade so did the work himself .You need a fat cheque book to own 1. As for the repaint, only few in NZ do them to RR standard,done by AThol Ross inWiarapamega $

socram, Jan 26, 2:55am
Having been an occasional (1968) Rolls Royce Silver Shadow driver, back in 1973/74, until you have actually driven one, you have no idea as to how it makes you feel as a driver.I can't think of any other car that has that effect.

They are put together extremely well and most have been well maintained when new. If you look after them and do not do a high mileage, well worth a $20k gamble, but the older unitary construction ones (- especially ex UK) can rot.Remember Top Gear acquired a crap one for JC to drive into a swimming pool.The major problems seemed to be bodyshell related.

sifty, Jan 26, 3:02am
because they get reasonable power and parts cost about $2.50, same reason V12 jag motors are binned for a US V8.

Interestingly I heard RR tried to make a version of the venerable Turbo trans, but it was made to such perfection it didn't work. Apparently it needed the roughness of normal Detroit manufacture to operate.

gsimpson, Jan 26, 3:07am
Don't assume the Rollers parts are expensive. I have an old Lotus and uses quite a few GM parts. It is usually cheaper to have genuine parts sent from England than go to the local GM dealer for equivalent Holden part.

zephyrheaven, Jan 26, 6:00am
Me too!
Always wanted to do one, but put the noisiest & smelliest diesel engine in it ever conceived - would be so great

marcos1, Jan 26, 6:05am
I'm thinking Lady Penelope and Parker.

quickstitch, Jan 26, 6:12am
Clark Proctor, ex stockcar driver and NZ V8 driver had one many years ago. I believe he pulled the rr motor out straight away and sold it to someone in need of one, and repowered his with a 460 Big block ford. personalized plates, ROLLUP.and i think he towed his stockcar around with it

andrew499, Jan 26, 6:21am
I understand Rolls Royce vehicles never break down.They simply fail to proceed.
Cheers

woody1946, Jan 26, 6:21am

franc123, Jan 26, 6:26am
LMAO, how about one of those Chev 6.2 V8's like they use in the C series trucks, Silverados etc.If memory serves the RR uses a TH400 trans anyway, might not be as hard as you think.

craig04, Jan 26, 6:43am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Silver_Shadow
Because 189HP isn't enough in a car that weighs 2100kg's

carkitter, Jan 26, 7:14am
It's in poor taste to discuss horsepower and RR in the same sentence. RR owners don't care to know. You'll never see a RR on the side of the road with the bonnet up because RR doesn't give owners access to the engine bay.

zephyrheaven, Jan 26, 7:34am
I was thinking one of those very motors franc! Ha ha, I have a customer with a near buggered (but supercharged) version in a heap of shit chev pickup hmmmmm - monster garage!

pollymay, Jan 26, 8:10am
I see rolls royce doing burnouts all the time.

rotormotor7, Jan 26, 8:33am
still around,always wearing a fawn coloured wool jacket.only seem to see him driving along the terrace tho.

elect70, Jan 27, 12:06am
Urban mythIn uk unless you are in RR club they couldnt give a fig . Mate who bought his back here ,Old 74 ) as UK ownerleft it on side of the road & was sold at impound auction .