[Video] What was Rolls Royce like in 1996 before BMW’s influence?

BMW did not always own Rolls Royce. Back in the day, it was known for being a very prestigious vehicle and has been in existence for over 100 years. However, they encountered financial troubles and was bought by BMW. Before BMW acquired Rolls Royce though, it was actually combined with Bentley, another famous British luxury brand. Here’s what it looked like in 1996:

In 1996, when Rolls Royce was still with Bentley, the Silver Spur was one of the brand’s most prestigious cars and was known to represent luxury in the automotive world. It has the ’80/’90s boxy luxury car styling and it is also massive! Some of the design elements we still see in the Rolls Royce cars of today. The grille, Spirit of Ecstasy, and even the wheels are similar to today’s models.

The interior though is a different story. The Silver Spur’s cabin did not age well mostly because of the wood materials used. The leather and the metals put in the car are solid and even the windows operate so quickly and with force. To prove the high quality, this is a 21 year old car still has working window regulators and is even faster than some of the modern cars we know today.

The legroom and headroom are both superb. There are even little tray tables on the front seatbacks and little foot rests that are stored in the map pockets, just to make the passengers extra comfortable. It is not as luxurious as the Rolls Rolls today but it surely provided the same feeling to the customers in 1996. Driving the car revealed that it is incredibly supple but superbly stable. The shocks have not been changes for 21 years and are still working fine!

BMW came at the right place and the right time. It took over Rolls Royce and propelled it to greatness. Though we liked Rolls Royce before they were acquired by BMW, it is so much better today.