In 1980 British defence company, Vickers plc bought Rolls-Royce Motors Limited and continued to produce Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. By 1985 the company name changed to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited and was floated on the stock exchange.

Meanwhile a Rolls-Royce powered car once again went on to break the land-speed record. On 4 October 1983, Richard Noble broke the record at Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA. Powered by a single Rolls-Royce Avon 302 his Thrust 2 reached a speed of 633.468 mph.

The Silver Spirit took the Silver Shadow floor pan as its starting point, but clothed it in a body that was both more modern and more elegant.

The Silver Spur added four inches to the Spirit wheelbase. 25 Silver Spur Centenary models were built in 1985, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the motor car in Great Britain. The Silver Spur was also built in limousine form, stretched by up to 42 inches.