SOLD

1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - II

You know when others talk about their car as being "immaculate", "flawless" and "perfect" and you end up rolling your eyes when you see it? ~ not with this car. She is literally as you would expect using these words. Lets pretend it is 1984, and this Silver Shadow II is sitting on the Rolls-Royce dealership floor. THIS is how "new" this Silver Shadow presents today. 

She is a spectacular vehicle that belongs in a museum as equally as it does in a private collection. 

As you would expect with the crazy low miles, the car really is spectacular. The interior is the absolute highlight in that it literally looks brand new in every respect. Just looking at the wood alone brings you back to 1979 - there is not a single mark, crack in the clear nor blemish. The true meaning of the word "flawless". Have a look at all the close-up photographs of the switches, knobs, chrome finishings; they look like factory photo shots. And the pièce de résistance is the smell of the interior which is truly as the car was new. I will never forget the smell of the inside of a Silver Shadow when they were new on the showroom floor.   

Delivered new in Los Angeles in 1979 by the then Rolls-Royce dealer; Peter Satiori, the car was driven very sparingly for the first 5 years. The car was then sold to its most recent owner who drove it very little since keeping the in climate control storage as part of a very large classic car collection that included a Mercedes Gullwing and a 330 Ferrari. Although used for special occasions in the 1980s and 1990s, the car then sat on blocks and always covered up when not being shown. When we received the car, the cosmetic condition was stunning. With the exception of some cleaning, polishing and finishing, we did nothing to the body, paint, bright-work, under-hood nor interior. This is how she came! Mechanically, of course, she will be brought  up to speed as would be the case with any Silver Shadow that has been left to sit for so long. This will include pretty much full refurbishment of all the hydraulics and brakes and any other mechanicals and operational features like windows, door-locks electric seats, air conditioning, heater etc. This will bring the car fully up to date on maintenance and service and to ensure EVERYTHING is operating as it should. Upon delivery, the cars will present in as perfect condition as you could possibly expect for a non-restored car, both operationally as well as aesthetically. 

Needless to say, the car is entirely straight, never accident damaged and 100% rust free. She was NEVER driven in inclement weather and always stored in climate control environment.

The interior of this Silver Shadow II is pretty much close to perfect. The beige Vaumol-Luxan Connolly hide leather is 100% original from the factory. It has never been re-dyed and is in absolutely outstanding condition with no tears nor fading and not a single sign of wear. It is super supple and soft – true to its Connolly characteristics. Perhaps these seats were covered and hence protected, because they are truly flawless (those that know me, appreciate I rarely ever use that word). Have a look at the photos where I include many close ups of the leather. My best description, is the leather looks like that of a 2-3 year old Silver Shadow II. In my 45 years with Rolls-Royce, with the exception of 1 other car in our stable, the last time I saw Silver Shadow leather this good was back when the cars were new or near new. 

A great welcome with true “original Luxan leather” which was available only through Connolly Bros. leather hides, is the colour characteristic. If you look at the pictures of the interior, there are some close-up shots that clearly show the colour is not just plain beige, but with a “burnished” tone to the leather. You can see the beige leather base and then in the fine natural grain and pores of the leather is a darker tone. This natural quasi “antique” leather look (like a Chesterfield couch) was achieved by the hand rubbing Vaumol-Luxan Connollising technique that made this leather so famous. The degree of burnish varies depending on the intensity of the grain. Leather that has been re-dyed by typical methods is “mono-toned” featuring only the 1 primary colour. As such, it lacks depth and richness that unrestored Connolly hide has to offer. This is a "prize" in itself. If you are the sort of person that looks at the interior of this car and it seems dirty to you then, perhaps you do not appreciate the uniqueness of what Luxan grain has to offer and I, respectfully, suggest maybe a new Lexas with production-line leather might suit you better! 

   

To enlighten those that do not know us here at Park-Ward, when we ready a car for sale, we not only "fix things" that don't work, but we do a mountain of preventative maintenance to the car as well to ensure it provides reliable and safe motoring for the new owner.  And when we do go thru each car, we don't just make the basic items work but attend to every single item, right down to the most insignificant light-bulb in the dash. And if this were not enough, when a car is sold, it then goes back into our workshop to undergo a "Pre-delivery Commissioning" process which is our way of double checking all our work and making sure the car is in top shape for its new owner. No one else selling classic Rolls-Royce dedicates this much attention to their cars. 

The car currently sports an original factory set of Michelin X whitewall tyres. To talk "authenticity", these are the actual factory set of tyres fitted to the car. They are not copies, they are not just period correct, they are THE tyres the car left the factory with. A fantastic finish to this immaculate car and great for museum display. Needless to say, the tyres are not very road worthy and so with the sale of this magnificent Silver Shadow is a brand new set of Avon whitewall tyres at no extra charge. 

Not more can be said about this amazing example of a low mileage Silver Shadow but to review the many photographs provided. She is without doubt in my mind, the closest thing to a "perfect" Silver Shadow. 

Because of its rarity, she is priced accordingly.
 

~~ This stately Rolls-Royce is perhaps the "Holy Grail" of Silver Shadows. We think she is the best original example you will find and would be the absolute high-light of any Rolls-Royce event.  ~~

International bidders are always welcome.