Lasting First Impression: Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph

By Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Rolls-Royce Motor Cars ::: Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph 1998-2002

SEEMS like yesterday. In point of fact, it was at least 11 years ago. The first time yours laid eyes on a spanking new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. Allow me to reflect – it was an early June day in New York. The sun shone on the spring green trees that tickle the townhouses lining 64th and Madison.

My perch, the sill of a tall French casement window on the fourth floor provided visibility of the street’s length. Suddenly, the light caught this chariot; shimmering in its movement. Majestic. The finish was so rich that I couldn’t initially make out the color – it was, in fact, silver that was reflecting a brilliant champagne from the sun’s rays.

Having read a Forbes review previously, I knew instantly  it was the new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph.

In the late 90s, the graceful Silver Seraph was something of a big deal for Royce aficionados. It ended the Silver Spur’s marvelous, if  interminable reign. The Seraph also marked the start of a beautiful relationship with BMW and featured a smarter 0-60 time of roughly seven seconds thanks to a new BMW sourced 5.4 L V12.

The Silver Seraph had the press’ attention only for brief spell before Bentley won hearts and minds with the nearly identical Arnage.

With the advent of VW buying Bentley in 1999 and managing both labels, for the first time in decades, marketing funds were lavished on Bentley at Rolls’ expense.

And without so much as an epitaph, the Silver Seraph faded into Rolls-Royce history. Little more than fifteen hundred units sold.

Some time later, perhaps the winter of 2005, I spied another Silver Seraph parked anonymously behind an old Accord somewhere along 6th near Bleecker . This car’s white coat and gold (gag!) Spirit of Ecstasy was covered in NY grit. A somber sight, to be sure.

But like so many other great cars that tarnish with time and neglect, it’s important never to let one poor example affect the golden cast of original memory. And so, it hasn’t.

Graceful chariots, Silver Seraphs.