Curious: Old Rolls-Royces?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Uh, these cars are built in England.

Their shiet is so needlessly complex.

I have semi restored a 77 Jag 12 cyl XJL.

Both EGR valves opened whenever the hell they wanted to. At idle included. Lucas.

$850 per if you could find them. And you could not find them.

You think RR had a different platform back then?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by speeder

Jay Leno was of course a RR/Bentley mechanic before making it in entertainment. He would be a fairly affluent guy even if he'd never succeeded in Hollywood, as long as he stayed in L.A. and bought a nice house back in the '70s.

Leno was a Lambo guy...

[wdfifteen]

Wow! I've been looking at a late 50s -early 60s Mopar boat, but at those prices I could have a nice Roller or Bentley. I'm adjusting my sights. Thanks for this heads up.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Wow! I've been looking at a late 50s -early 60s Mopar boat, but at those prices I could have a nice Roller or Bentley. I'm adjusting my sights. Thanks for this heads up.

The original question of this thread was "why are these cars so cheap?"

I guess that got lost, and it became a "aren't these cool cars for cheap" thread.

But the answer to the original question is " they are very expensive to keep running"
And "sedans just do not have the following of coupes or sports cars"
The entry into a RR might be the same as a 50s-60s mopar you are looking at but the running cost are not even in the same hemisphere.
So you might end up with garage art if you buy one not prepared to spend the purchase price to drive it.
And that cheap RR you bought will sell for the same cheap amount regardless of what you spent to maintain it.
But they are cool cars and will be fun for people who are aware and prepared for what it takes to make them reliable drivers.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by ficke

The original question of this thread was "why are these cars so cheap?"

I guess that got lost, and it became a "aren't these cool cars for cheap" thread.

But the answer to the original question is " they are very expensive to keep running"
And "sedans just do not have the following of coupes or sports cars"
The entry into a RR might be the same as a 50s-60s mopar you are looking at but the running cost are not even in the same hemisphere.
So you might end up with garage art if you buy one not prepared to spend the purchase price to drive it.
And that cheap RR you bought will sell for the same cheap amount regardless of what you spent to maintain it.
But they are cool cars and will be fun for people who are aware and prepared for what it takes to make them reliable drivers.

Sounds like you answered your own question.
I have no problem with dropping a GM 350/350 into a Rolls Royce with a bad ticker. I'm only a purist up to a point.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

This baffles me.

The two doors put a spot in my trousers.

Huge ass, ostentatious car that is quite simple (looking).

Are you sure it wasn't the "huge ass" that caused you to spot your pants?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Sounds like you answered your own question.
I have no problem with dropping a GM 350/350 into a Rolls Royce with a bad ticker. I'm only a purist up to a point.

This shows what you don't know. The brake load leveling system makes your dropping a 350 in a lot more difficult. That is why you don't hear about it being done like a jag.The brakes are not like a normal system.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Wow! I've been looking at a late 50s -early 60s Mopar boat, but at those prices I could have a nice Roller or Bentley. I'm adjusting my sights. Thanks for this heads up.

Here is where you want to start. Look at the inventory and prices of new Rolls Royce cars from this dealer that is a banner ad on my Pelican OT for some reason:

https://www.rollsroycebraman.com/VehicleSearchResults?model=Phantom&search=new&pageNumber=1&visitedVD=true

Then, look at the prices of used ones a few years old. Go back and forth a few times if necessary. You seem like a smart guy, this shouldn’t take long.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

Epbrown, was your 928 a manual or auto?

It was an auto. I tend to prefer manuals but everything I read on the 928 said the auto better suited its character, and I agree with that. I'd love another one, a black 928S4 with auto would be perfect.

As a side note: In Frank Miller's comic book mini-series Batman: Year One, about Bruce Wayne's first year as Batman, Bruce owned a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and a Porsche 928.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Sounds like you answered your own question.
I have no problem with dropping a GM 350/350 into a Rolls Royce with a bad ticker. I'm only a purist up to a point.

I did not ask a question, I pointed out this thread was started with a question, and then had good answers. I tried to give you the "Cliff notes" on it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by speeder

Then, look at the prices of used ones a few years old. Go back and forth a few times if necessary. You seem like a smart guy, this shouldn’t take long.

I wouldn’t want one “a few years old.” I’d want one from the 70s as mentioned in the OP.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Praise Jeebus. How pretty is that?

How about this one? I have a thing for fixed head coupes.

[sc_rufctr]

Old but still relevant video. Some thing don't change.

[tabs]

That vid makes me want to run out and get another...They reek of old world luxury.

A Volvo oxygen sensor was the same one used on a RR. 110 from Volvo, 60 from RR.

The little plastic bit on the end of the Shift Lever $50. New Grill for a SS 1700. Redo front brakes 750. Rebuild brake Collectors about a grand. Recore radiator 1100. Those are early 90's prices. Ask me how I know?

[tabs]

The drop head coupe or maybe fixed head is the only way to go. They were hand built cars vs semi production. Anything before 91 is a REAL RR.

The way RR used to restore the Connely upholstery hides was to soak them in milk. Figure it out.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by ficke

I did not ask a question, I pointed out this thread was started with a question, and then had good answers. I tried to give you the "Cliff notes" on it.

Thx for the Readers Digest version.

[McLovin]

Repair cost is one thing, for sure, but there are lots of other reasons they are so cheap.

The primary one being: Who would want to own one?

I think that pool is very small.

I think it would be fun to cruise around in one for a weekend for some laughs, but to actually OWN one, as in, taking up valuable garage space, paying insurance and registration costs, etc. etc. ?

I think I'm a pretty typical 40-50 yo gearhead car guy here, but I wouldn't want a 70s or 80s Rolls even if it were free. Space is limited, time is limited, and there's just way too many other cars that are far ahead on the list. Plus, I wouldn't really want to be seen driving around in that.

I think many or most are in the same boat. Low demand = low prices.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by CJFusco

I wonder what to account for the differences. Different models/years?

Maintainence.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Repair cost is one thing, for sure, but there are lots of other reasons they are so cheap.

The primary one being: Who would want to own one?

I think that pool is very small.

I think it would be fun to cruise around in one for a weekend for some laughs, but to actually OWN one, as in, taking up valuable garage space, paying insurance and registration costs, etc. etc. ?

I think I'm a pretty typical 40-50 yo gearhead car guy here, but I wouldn't want a 70s or 80s Rolls even if it were free. Space is limited, time is limited, and there's just way too many other cars that are far ahead on the list. Plus, I wouldn't really want to be seen driving around in that.

I think many or most are in the same boat. Low demand = low prices.

There is sufficient demand for them.

[Scott R]

I just redid the Connolly leather seats in my vintage Jag, there is a nice gentleman in Florida who purchased the remaining stock of the stuff when Connolly went out of business. As far as leather goes, and as Tom Cruise once said.. "there is no substitute."