LUXURY OF CHOICE

The SZ-series of Rolls-Royce and Bentley models can rightly be seen as an evolution rather than revolution of their predecessors. Nonetheless, they are significant. They have proved to be the last in the line not only of the traditional Rolls-Royce but of an independent Rolls-Royce. For Bentley, the SZ was even more significant, being the basis of its identity revival. For the small Crewe-based company, product development was tethered to restricted budgets and research capacity, and so it wasn’t much of a surprise that the new SZ platform for the Mulsanne and Silver Spirit was only lightly modified from its duty under the T-series and Silver Shadow as the SY platform.

Important changes were made to the suspension; including a new rear subframe, shorter and softer springs, and semi-trailing arms with revised pivot angles from 16 to 21 degrees. Exterior and interior dimensions increased but only slightly, with much of the interior architecture remaining the same. The sheet metal was entirely new though, made at Pressed Steel in both short and long wheelbase forms with both offering a greater glass area and rounded square lines. The initial offering was the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit or