I will have to agree with Stude for the most part.
I once considered buying a 1962 Rolls Royce for about $15,000. I was
in my 20's and I'm very capable of any type of mechanical work. I do
most auto repairs myself. The guy selling it really wanted to sell it
but he told it to me straight. If I was planning on using this car for
daily trans****tation - which I was - I'd better also have another back-
up car. Even in "perfect shape" they are finicky vehicles which
require specialized knowledge and equipment to work on. They need a
lot more pampering than the average driver is willing or capable of
providing.
After all, they are British cars. That means Lucas electrics, oddball
complicated mechanicals, and special tools - not American and not
Metric.
Unless you are capable of doing most things yourself, and have th e
tools, I would first locatre a RR service center in your area and
visit it. Talk to the head mechanic about your particular vehicle.
Check the internet like you're doing now with RR specific sites. It
will be invaluable.
I have a friend who is a Rolls Royce mechanic and I have a friend who
owns a limo service with one Rolls in the stable. The mechanic tells
me to stay away, the girl with the limo will never buy another one.
$60,000 is a lot of money to spend on a car that will not likely be as
servicable as on for half that amount.
Having said that, I love cars. I drive a `1956 Cadillac as my daily
driver. It's more work than a new one but I'm willing to put up with
some of the drawbacks simply because I absolutely love the car. If you
really want the Bentley and the inconviences and high costs don't
worry you, I say go for it. You only live once and you shouldn't look
back some day thinking "I wish I had bought that Bentley when I had
the chance or when I was young enough to enjoy it.
BTW, theRolls I was considering was about 25 years old at the time so
it wasn't a relic then. It was probably in similar condition to the
one you're looking at know.
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