Cyrus Poonawalla, The Luxury Car Collector, and His Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Limousine

One of the biggest Rolls-Royce car collectors in India is the billionaire Poonawalla family.

In their garage, the family keeps a large number of Rolls-Royces and other high-end vehicles. The managing director of Serum Institute of India and patriarch of the Poonawalla family, Cyrus Poonawalla, has a strong affection for this British luxury carmaker. The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Limousine, which was one of the most significant cars in his collection, is something that was rarely seen.

A vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Spur limousine owned by Cyrus Poonawalla was posted on YouTube two years ago by Manav Shah. The video begins with a spotter following this beautiful stretched-out limousine through a gated community in Maharashtra. After turning on his right indicator, the driver of this sedan pulls to the right side in front of the owner’s mansion, turns left, and reverses into the main gate. A security guard is seen watching the vehicle and the road for oncoming traffic.

The car, as mentioned above and shown in the video, is not a standard Rolls-Royce Silver Spur. This model is an extended version of the standard car and was originally commissioned by the Poonawalla family 38 years ago. It is noticeable that the roof of this elongated sedan is finished in black, and the car is painted in a reddish-brown hue. The front grille and boot of the vehicle are adorned with Rolls-Royce logos.

Furthermore, this model receives chrome-plated wheel caps with accents in the body colour and Rolls-Royce logos in the centre. It is evident from the video that this sedan had only four doors, even though it was a limousine. In case you didn’t know, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur is essentially the sedan’s long-wheelbase version, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. Additionally, this limousine is even longer because it is based on the long wheelbase model.

Reportedly, this sedan was probably sold by the Poonawalla family. After conducting additional research, it was discovered that this sedan’s original registration date was 1986. The car is currently owned by a second owner, indicating that the Poonawalla family no longer owns it.

Regarding the powertrain, the standard Silver Spur of the past was fitted with a 6.75-litre V8 engine coupled to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The precise engine that powers this sedan is currently a mystery.

In addition to this sedan, Cyrus Poonawalla’s son owns a Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII. It is from the latest generation and is powered by a massive 6.75-litre V12 engine. This massive engine generates 563 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. Despite its massive size, it is considered one of the world’s most silent engines.