Sir Bobby Robson’s Rolls-Royce is for sale

Star appeal

Yes, you read the heading right.

This 1998 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, owned and enjoyed by footballing legend Sir Bobby Robson for two years until his passing in 2009, is being sold this month.

It will go under the hammer with Historics Auctioneers at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on 18 April 2021. Let’s take a closer look.

Reflected glory

Of course, this is by no means the first classic car that’s been owned by a famous footballer to go to auction.

Just last month, on 3 March 2021, to be precise, this Porsche 911, delivered new to none other than Diego Maradona, crossed the block with Bonhams in Paris.

And it seemed that, in this case, its celebrity connection helped bidding. Its pre-sale estimate was €150-200,000 (£130-170,000), but the gavel fell at €483,000 – wow.

On point

Expectations for this V12-engined Rolls-Royce are rather more modest.

Historics is listing it with a pre-sale estimate of £23-28,000.

Man and machine

The former England player and manager bought this Silver Seraph in 2007 and is said to have loved the car, driving it regularly.

When Robson passed away in July 2009, his Rolls-Royce was sold back to the person from whom he bought it.

Resplendent in red

This example, chassis number SCALA61EXCH01118, is finished in silver with a rich, red-Connolly-leather-trimmed cabin.

Now that looks like a comfortable place to sit, whether you’re the driver or here, the front-seat passenger with generous legroom. 

The beating heart

And here’s the 5.4-litre, BMW-sourced V12 that ensures this Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph wafts its occupants from A to B in such an effortless manner.

The auction house says that this engine, number 60441677, ‘drives superbly’.

Perfect profile

When this Rolls was new 23 years ago, the base price for this model in the UK was a jaw-dropping £155,175, so for its sub-£30,000 pre-sale estimate today, the winning bidder is getting a lot of car for the money.

Handbuilt in Crewe, in the main the Silver Seraph was externally identical to the contemporary Bentley Arnage.

Distinctive details

Inside, the burr walnut veneer dashboard appears to retain a very smart, glossy finish.

Following Rolls-Royce tradition, there is no tachometer, while the Silver Seraph has a column-mounted gear selector.

The lap of luxury

No matter which seat you’re fortunate enough to travel in, you’re well catered for in this classic Rolls-Royce.

Super-supportive seats with a decent amount of space, a pull-down armrest and foldaway picnic tables mean you’re travelling in style – and we rather like the colour-matched seatbelts, too.

Ready for more

When it was consigned to this month’s Historics Auctioneers sale, this Rolls-Royce had 77,222 miles on its odometer.

It has definitely been enjoyed, then, but it still has a lot of life left in it, too.

Boot-iful

And it appears that wherever you’re likely to go, it can swallow all your luggage with ease.

Matching the interior, the red, carpeted boot seems to show little sign of wear.

Switch it on

Of course, being a Rolls-Royce, it isn’t just under the bonnet where the technology lies.

The front seats can be adjusted electrically, each with four memory positions, plus they're heated, too. Great for chilly mornings – best make sure all this works prior to purchase, though.

Leather-bound luxury

With its Connolly leather-upholstered dashboard, which sits so well with the burr walnut veneer, this example still looks smart.

The leather dash top helps to reduce reflections when driving, too.

Checking it over

While COVID protocols can make it more tricky to view cars in person prior to purchase, Historics has a video of the car and would be happy to answer any questions.

We’d be reassured to know that all the electronics work – and, as a guilty pleasure, we’d love to hear the V12 fired.

Paperwork prepped

Any prospective bidder will doubtless be pleased to learn that this Silver Seraph holds a current MoT certificate.

The auction house says that it ‘is in very good order throughout and drives superbly’.

Thin on the ground

It’s not just this Rolls-Royce’s (very) famous former owner that makes it stand out from the crowd. Quite simply, there weren’t too many Silver Seraphs built.

The model was launched in 1998 to replace the Silver Spur, which went out of production the year before.

Short-lived Seraph

Perhaps it was the German, BMW-built V12 under the bonnet, or maybe the fact that some of that marque’s switchgear also found its way into the luxury British conveyance.

And while there is good space in the back, was there as much as some customers desired?

Few and far between

Whatever the reason, only 1570 Silver Seraphs were built between 1998 and 2002, at which point the model was replaced in the Rolls-Royce line-up by the Phantom.

So the good news for any prospective bidder this month is that if you win, you’re unlikely to see many more on the road – it always has been exclusive transport.

The clock is ticking

If you’re a football fan, the prospect of owning a car that was for two years the property of Sir Bobby Robson has undeniable appeal.

And if you have no interest in sport, fear not – it’s still a fine example of a Rolls-Royce that is ageing gracefully and is loaded with presence.

It is being offered at Historics Auctioneers’ Ascot Racecourse sale on Sunday 18 April 2021 – get full details here.