Rolls-Royce’s L-Series V8 powered all Silver Shadows, though there were differences depending upon the model year. Check especially at the front of the sills and around the rear spring perches – while not as prone as the later cars, these are known trouble spots on the Shadow body. We wouldn’t be scared of cars that have had welding as long as it’s a good standard. If you’re spending strong money, you shouldn’t be finding filler in the same quantities as in a £7000 car – though as long as it’s well-done and not hiding rust it shouldn’t be the end of the world. It’s entirely possible that the arches will be full of filler on a cheap Shadow, so take your magnet with you. It’s all available from specialist breakers too, in case you have any issues with it – you should have no problem restoring a shabby car to its former glory, though it’s important to note that everything is more expensive than it would be for a more mainstream car purely by dint of the relative rarity of parts for hand-built cars. A good, deep, lustrous paint job that doesn’t look suspiciously new is what you want to see.Įxterior trim tends to be fairly durable – thick gauge steel for bumpers and well-built trim, plated with high quality chrome. Be wary of anything too new though, it might be hiding low quality repairs. Paint is crucial – flat paint can ruin a nice example, especially if it’s white. The other thing to consider is that a Shadow is a car like any other – there’s just more of it than most. Now we’ve got the wisecrack out of the way, the Shadow was Rolls-Royce’s first monocoque and there were a number of unintended rust traps. It simply fails to maintain structural integrity. 40,991 were built, and while solid examples are starting to appreciate, our recent feature on cheap Rolls-Royces shows that it’s still possible to get hold of a cheap Shadow. Many have been run on a budget, and buying one can be fraught with risks. The Shadow suffered from overproduction, and its fall from grace was harder than that of any prior Royce. These were enough to revitalize the Shadow and keep it fresh until the new Silver Spirit arrived in 1981. Under the surface, new components included a rack and pinion steering system and a thoroughly revised interior. Externally, the new Shadow II and T2 models gained a chin spoiler, rubber bumpers and shallower grilles. Rolls-Royce invested time and money into a thorough redevelopment the floorpan of which would continue into the Shadow’s replacement. The Silver Shadow two-door MPW cars were rebranded Corniche in 1971 – minor trim changes and a more powerful engine justifying a higher price, and saving the company from bankruptcy.īy 1977, the Shadow was looking a little old hat. These cars offered greater power and torque, necessitating the stronger albeit fewer-geared new ‘box. In 1970 the engine was replaced with a larger 6.75-litre derivative, the dashboard was redesigned and a three-speed automatic replaced the earlier four-speed. Initially called the Bentley T and subsequently known as the T1, production numbers were significantly lower than for the equivalent Rolls-Royce. These cars, identical barring the radiator grille, badges, and bonnet, retailed for £5375 in 1965 – £50 less than the Rolls Royce. Unsurprisingly, the Silver Shadow family followed in the footsteps of the Silver Cloud by offering Bentley branded versions. This was accompanied by a drophead convertible. Rolls-Royce’s in-house coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward was swift to respond with a two door Silver Shadow of its own, later rebranded the Corniche. It was destined to use the same engine and gearbox as the outgoing Silver Cloud, which meant a V8 of 6.2-litres coupled to a four-speed automatic gearbox.Īvailable from the factory initially only as a four-door saloon, some coachbuilders such as James Young took the opportunity to develop two door derivatives. The Silver Shadow was Rolls Royce’s first monocoque, using experience garnered from the initial Tibet project. Its replacement, the Spirit, has yet to capture the hearts and minds of classic car enthusiasts in quite the same way. Spawning everything the Crewe marque created until its purchase by BMW, the Shadow left its mark on over 30 years of Rolls-Royce and Bentley history. Launched in 1965, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow represented a sea change in the way Rolls-Royce approached car production, and reflected a gradual change in the type of people who bought them. Here’s what you need to know before buying Arguably the brand’s most important model to date, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow still represents excellent value.
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