Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I LWB

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You know the world has gone off-kilter when one of the finest cars ever made on these shores, a leather, walnut and lambskin-lined sanctuary, propelled by a silent giant and hand-crafted by men in overalls, that once cost as much as a row of terraced houses and was strictly for the landed gentry only, is now available to any Tom, Dick or Harry for less than the cost of a tin and plastic shopping car.

Launched in 1965, the Silver Shadow was not only the first 'modern' Rolls-Royce with a monocoque body, aluminium doors, boot and bonnet and no separate chassis, it was also the closest thing yet to a stately home on wheels. Even today, to slip behind the wheel of a well-kept Shadow is to enter a different world where every journey is an occasion and the feelgood factor is off the scale. Beautifully crafted, technically advanced and good to drive, it sold like no Rolls-Royce before or since with 37,000 examples rolling from the Crewe production line before it was replaced by the Silver Spirit in 1980.

This stately old Shadow I retains the elegant slim-line chrome bumpers that were replaced with bulky rubber items from 1977 on the Shadow II to comply with stricter pedestrian safety legislation. A relatively rare LWB version, it has been in the same family ownership since 1993, the vendor’s late father buying it from a friend who had owned it since 1986.

Proprietors of a local garage, the vendors have always maintained it themselves with numerous job sheets showing work carried out over the years, including a brake overhaul when the car was drafted in as bridal transport for a family wedding fairly recently, a role at which it excels thanks to the spacious rear accomodation. A good file of invoices document other upkeep right back to the early 1980s.

Regularly waxoiled and repainted to a high standard about 10 years ago, the car looks very smart indeed and has a nicely mellowed interior. Said to run and drive as you would hope, it certainly fired up instantly and ran very nicely as we moved it around for these photos. Due to have a fresh MOT in time for the sale, it also comes with 19 past MOTs and the original owner’s handbook and wallet.

Please note that the private plate shown is not included and will be replaced by an age-related number prior to the sale.