Rolls-Royce Shadow II

The Silver Shadow was a major departure for Rolls-Royce, their first car with a monocoque body and one designed specifically for the owner driver. Hydraulic high pressure brakes and self levelling suspension were just two of the innovative elements incorporated to give as near perfect a ride for the occupants as humanly possible. Squat and purposeful on the outside but still aristocratically luxurious on the inside, it was perfectly timed to attract the nouveau gentry of the Swinging Sixties who were more likely to have made their money from business, pop or fashion than inheriting it from the ancestors. A whopping 37,000 examples were to leave the production line before it was replaced by the Silver Spirit. The Shadow II was launched in 1977, with more contemporary styling, better air conditioning, updated dashboard and modern rack and pinion steering.

This late model Shadow II was registered on 1st January 1980 and is believed to have covered just 70,000 miles from new. The odometer currently shows 11,000 miles, with the old unit accompanying the car and indicating a further 59,000 miles. Sold new by Appleyards of Leeds, they undertook the first 4 services, with the service book showing further stamps to 55,000 in 1994. 

When the current vendor purchased it the car had stood in covered storage for over 5 years. He has recommissioned it and used it sparingly. He reports that it drives very well on its excellent tyres, with everything functioning as it should including the air conditioning and it has a nice clean interior with no cracks to the wood veneer. It is taxed until December 2011 and MOTd until June 2012 and can be driven away from the sale for less than the price of a used hatchback.