SOLD

1971 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - Long Wheel Base ("LWB") - with DIVISION

This is a stunningly presenting and excellent condition Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base ("LWB") with factory Division. Finished in the very regal combination of black over burgundy with burgundy leather (with black piping) and matching carpets. It has craftsman hand-painted fine lines to the waistlines finished in a contrasting light grey. The colour combination is quintessentially Rolls-Royce and is very formal in its presentation.

Rolls-Royce made only a very limited number of "limousine" division cars and on special order. Less than 500 out of some 35,000 Silver Shadows built. The divisions were only fitted on Long Wheel Base cars providing electrically operated privacy glass between the front and rear compartment with a separate radio and entirely autonomous air conditioning system mounted in the boot that provided overwhelming climate control for its special VIP rear seat passengers. The division system includes a unique piece of burl walnut wood that traverses the width of the division and surrounds the radio and control section. The glass division can be operated independently by the driver or the rear seat passengers.

The car has been in the hands of the right owners most of its life having been caretaken in the last 20 years by a small car collector enthusiast who hardly used it and simply admired it. The car was extensively restored some 6 years ago and was done so "without compromise".

A complete back-to-bare-metal respray was done with the process documented (photos available)  to include windows  out and doors off. The exterior of the car was originally straight and clean with the underside without scale and tidy. A complete re-paint in the original factory colour was undertaken and is now truly flawless without a single mark or blemish. A high-end job at a cost of some $30,000 to include new window gaskets, moulding clips and body hardware. It is entirely consistent in colour, finish and lustre - truly lovely - and the combination simply OUTSTANDING. The exterior of the car presents absolutely beautifully with all finishes, rubbers, gaskets, glass, bright-work, lenses*, hub-caps and the chrome in excellent condition. As part of the reconditioning process all the bright-work was machined buffed to a high lustre. Inside door edges and jams are incredibly clean and tidy without unsightly overspray or any signs of restoration.

The fine lines on the car were applied in the same manner as Rolls-Royce did so to all its cars for many years; a trained craftsmen with a good eye and steady hand. With only the best squirrel hair brush the striping is applied entirely free-hand in one elegant stroke at a time.

The interior of the car was also completely redone. All new Connolly equivalent leather upholstery on every surface was perfomed; seats, door  panels, armrests, centre console, the division, wind-lacing around the door openings - a  monumental and well done upholstery exercise that would have easily cost in excess of $20,000. In addition, all new carpets and headlining in  correct broad-cloth wool imported from the UK. The final result presents beautifully, and shows in amazing condition.

All the interior wood was refinished with the correct Crewe method of many coats of clear lacquer wet-sanded between coats to get a flat glass-like finish. This includes the dash, centre console, division rear wood, door cappings and front and rear window finishers.  Early Silver Shadows  like this one used African burl walnut wood which is very rich in amber and ochre tones. The wood sports a elegant grain with a soft marbelling in the inner regions complemented by intricate rich knotty burl at the outer areas. Such is the beauty of natural wood that Mother Nature can bring us something so beautiful and with the bonus that it is unique to this one Silver Shadow Division. Only Rolls-Royce can deliver such elegance. The final product can only be best appreciated in real life.  

Interior chrome-work, gauges and instruments are all in very fine condition. The dash pad is perfect and the rear parcel shelf redone new with the headliner.

The trunk presents perfectly; clean and crisp like the rest of the car.

Being a Division, the car has front and rear compartment A/C units and heater serving both. An original jack and the operating manual come with the car.

This is one of those rare Rolls-Royce finds that has found its way to the right people. Like all cars restored and sold thru Park-Ward Motors, this Silver Shadow has been meticulously scrutinised mechanically and electrically with anything needed, attended to. All our cars are not just "tidied up" for sale but are subject to professional Rolls-Royce inspection and service to ensure it is in good operating condition. This includes important and expensive attention to the entire hydraulics and braking system to include; brake pumps, accumulators, hoses, lines, valves, calipers and pads. All our Rolls-Royces are then subject to a "pre-delivery commissioning" process after its sale and prior to shipment to ensure all features and functions are operating as they should. This professional attention to detail is not offered by any other classic Rolls-Royce on-seller in the country and, indeed, throughout the world.