Quote:
Originally Posted by Laird Scooby
You dodged a bullet there Alan! If memory serves, these use the same steering, brakes and suspension as used on the Citroen DS/CX (maybe "boeufed" up to cope with the extra weight of the RR) and you know what those are like if the steering and brakes have a problem! Take your wallet, aim it at the nearest black hole and wave a tearful goodbye to the contents of your bank accounts! 
A slightly later one would be a much better bet for a number of reasons, one RR dumped the Citroen Liquide Hydraulique Minerale systems in favour of "dry" systems and normal PAS and servo assistance, two they upgraded/updated the box to a 4-speed vastly improving economy (i've heard of jumps from single digits to ~20mpg) and third (not last, i just can't think of more at the moment!) it's likely that the car won't yet be eligible for tax/MoT exemption and we all know what that does to the selling price! 
Buy a later one with the 4-speed auto, none of that foreign muck contaminating the steering, suspension and brakes and a lower price tag until you've owned it past its 40th birthday. Something in the back of my mind says later cars had Boge Nivomats instead of the Citroen system, again be careful if so as they are £OUCH if you can even get them. 
I'm sure our resident RR expert can confirm/adjust any info i'm a bit adrift on but i think i'm fairly close on it. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by ITSv40
Yes, all Shadow and the derivatives used a Citroen suspension under licence. Spirits and the Bentley equivalent also used the Citroen suspension - not sure when it was abandoned for a more conventional system as my passion for R-R models ended in 1965 when the monocoque Shadow was introduced - although a nice Corniche Drophead would be nice parked on the gravel drive.
There is a reason they are worth pennies and one reason alone - they cost unlimited funds to keep on the road - not restored, but roadworthy.
The example in the ebay ad shows a Caribbean Blue car in the photo, yet the description states black. Also Irish plates devalues and makes folks question 'what the hell they are bidding on'.
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Thank you chaps, those were some excellent points.
One must consider my context in being curious about owning a RR/Bentley once in my lifetime. As we discussed somewhere above, I have fond childhood memories of my uncle Eric's 1970's RR (the one Gary still owns) - that is about my only link, but I can't help thinking it might be a nice experience to run a motor car like that for a while before it (rightly) retires to a specialist breaker to support a generation of collector's cars through vital organ donations.
I'm attracted by the very low prices. I can see that nice examples can be had for £25,000, but there is no guarantee one of those won't also cost 'unlimited funds to keep on the road'. Although I could afford it, I'm not sure I'd want to have £25,000 tied up in a curiosity I might use once or twice per week and do 1,000 miles/year. On the other hand having £5,000 committed to one closer to the bottom of the pile but qualified as an historic vehicle would be almost no risk - knowing it would always be worth most of that sum with a specialist breaker.
So, that is my line of thought: I'm tempted to dip my toe in to the RR/Bentley market for an interesting experience, that is all.
I knew the bit about Citroen suspension components - but there is an inevitability about a niche market manufacturer without a range of mainstream cars to call upon having to outsource the design and supply of many parts. That is something one would have to accept with any small, niche manufacturer (Lotus, Morgan and Reliant all come to mind in this context - and are all worthy and interesting).
The point about the NI registration plate is an interesting one. In the older (but not pre-suffix) market many folk would see investing a few hundred pounds in a slightly unusual number plate as being an advantage. It is interesting that the RR scene might prefer to see an original 1970s/1980s suffix plate instead. I'm not sure I'd be fussed either way: I certainly wouldn't buy a NI plate for a motorcar, but then I don't think I'd ever bother to have DVLA swap back to the original either. I rather suspect someone put the NI plate on to make the RR look younger some years ago, but now it is qualified as an historic vehicle that seems irrelevant.
Just the ramblings of a chap with a beard before Bobwalkin time on Easter Sunday.
Addendum: This one is interesting: the seller admits it needs a bout a grand's worth of spares to finish:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395295061....c101465.m3507
... maybe it actually needs much more? I suppose this is where '
they cost unlimited funds to keep on the road - not restored, but roadworthy' has kicked in.
