A Rolls-Royce was always a symbol of both wealth and good taste, though some would argue that the cars now emanating from the Goodwood factory are perhaps a tad showy.

We have BMW to thank for the company’s continued existence, for without support we doubt they could have continued under their own steam.

Turn the clock back to 1980, the long in the tooth Silver Shadow underwent a metamorphosis and the Silver Spirit was born.

The underpinnings remained the same with the monocoque bodyshell reworked with wider, lower, and decidedly more aerodynamic styling.

A long-wheelbase Silver Spur soon arrived on the scene too.

The engine was the tried and tested all-alloy V8, tweaked for more power and torque.

And that power was shall we say plentiful, enough to waft this undoubtedly heavy beast forward with consummate ease, while the hydropneumatics self-levelling suspension kept inhabitants cosseted from matters as trivial as defective asphalt.

Like all its forbears it was engineered to wi...