Lot 201: 1972 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Saloon

Almost a quarter of a century after the last example left the Crewe factory, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - one of this illustrious British company’s most successful models ever - remains an imposing and highly desirable motor car. Introduced in 1965, the Silver Shadow (and Bentley T1) represented a complete break with tradition, being the first of the Crewe factory's models to employ unitary construction. The latter freed the body designers from the constraints of a separate chassis and permitted a reduction in overall height and weight without loss of either rigidity or capacity. All-round independent suspension was another new introduction, and production cars boasted a roof line 4" lower than that of the preceding Silver Cloud. This new styling appealed to the younger generation of Rolls-Royce owners more prevalent from the mid-1960s onwards and enabled the company to keep abreast of fashion. Its engine - the well-tried 90-degree V8 introduced on the Silver Cloud II - was one of the first aspects of the Silver Shadow to undergo significant alteration, being enlarged to 6,750cc in 1970. The Corniche’s introduction and commencement of the Camargue project slackened the pace of Shadow development briefly, the next significant up-grade not occurring until mid-1972 when the ‘compliant suspension’ package of modifications was introduced, significantly improving the car’s handling.
Forming part of a small private collection, this Silver Shadow has been laid up in garage storage for a number of years as a result of the encroaching infirmity and subsequent death of the enthusiast owner. ‘SCK 509L’ has been neither licensed nor MoT tested during this period; the battery has been removed and there is evidence of vermin damage to the interior. Presented in light blue metallic livery and displaying a total of 85,910 miles on the odometer, the car would benefit from cosmetic refurbishment and will definitely require mechanical re-commissioning before returning to the road. It nevertheless represents a worthwhile project and is priced accordingly. Offered with Swansea V5.