1969 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

Rolls-Royce

Silver Shadow

1969

Stunning Condition – Completed 10 year restoration!

This is a truly magnificent example Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. It was completely restored by Park-Ward motors and presents as a top condition example of the marque. Finished in Claret red with grey Connolly hide interior. Hand painted fine-lines using the traditional dying art of brush-painted pin-striping to the waist-rails and hubcap beauty rings.

The restoration was undertaken over a 10 year period as an on-going and behind the scenes project by us. She was completed about a year ago and the car used for presentation purposes. She is now being offered for sale.

What we did:

Body & Paint – When bought by us the car was very straight and sported its original paint, albeit faded and beginning to peel. The car was entirely stripped to a rolling shell. Engine and drive-train was removed. No chrome, no fittings, no glass, no rubbers. The main paint was stripped back to bare metal using chemical stripping and then hand-sanded to its fundamental metal finish. Inside door edges were sand blasted to bare metal and finished accordingly. Photos show her in her bare state and you can see she was entirely rust free. The only bit of bodywork on the car was a small previous repair on the left front wing. The remainder was dent free and completely straight. When repainted, it was done so in Dulux 2 stage clear over base with no less than 4 coats of clear. The colour is “Claret” which in the sunlight photos appears to be red but is in fact a deep burgundy (look at shade pix). When the car was reassembled, all new window rubbers, door rubbers, moulding rubbers, new lights, lenses were used and most clips, fasteners and screws replaced for factory new ones.

Interior – The interior was completely replaced with leather seats and door panels in good condition from a donor car. They were simply put through our hand-finishing re-Connollising process. Everything else inside the car was renewed or refurbished. The carpets are new. Hand-made utilising genuine imported English Wilton wool, with original specification Connolly leather edge binding, individually hand operated machine-stitched in accordance with original factory Rolls-Royce standards. The headlining is a factory Ambla headlining from the same donor car the seats were taken from. The door wood and vanity mirrors were stripped and refinished with no less than 20 coats of clear lacquer, each hand-rubbed between coats to provide a final finish like glass. The refinish included the front and rear window surrounds in addition to the 4 doors and rear vanity mirrors. They are simply perfect. Surprisingly, the original dash wood remained and is in excellent condition. Every single switch, gauge, button and feature was disassembled, cleaned, polished and refitted.

The trunk carpet was completely replaced for new. There was none of the typical rust scaling in the trunk so minimal refinishing underneath was required.

Mechanically – Not a single stone left un-turned. Upon commencement, the engine was removed and quasi rebuilt. Crank and bearings were good but pistons replaced, bores honed and heads engineered with valves and seals.

Brakes & hydraulics – The system is quite literally, completely overhauled. Both brake pumps, pressure valves rebuilt and fitted new accumulators with original “Safety Tags”. Various steel brake lines replaced and all high pressure hydraulic hoses replaced for factory Crewe hoses. The reservoir drained, cleaned, new screens and final finish. All brake rotors replaced and all 6 calipers totally rebuilt with new pads (including emergency brake) and repainted to factory finish. Every single hydraulic suspension part was rebuilt; T-valves, restrictors, height control valves and solenoid. 

Carburettors were overhauled and tuned, new filters hoses fitted. The fuel pump was replaced.

Exhaust – A brand new Flying Spares composite steel factory exhaust with all correct mufflers (“triangle” and “hat-box”) were fitted.

Many other things to include hoses, belts, lines were replaced.

Features & functions – Every single feature and function has been inspected, repaired and serviced as required. Sometimes so, without a need but maintained nonetheless. This includes A/C, heater, air distribution and fans, all electric windows, seats. Every gauge has been inspected with each individually opened and cleaned. The speedometer has its original mileage as when we received her but new cable fitted. All interior lights work as they should including every most insignificant dash light.

Final finishes – Every piece of stainless; grille, headlight brows, hubcaps were machine polished as Rolls-Royce did when new and present “like-for-like” as new. The bumpers are brand new stainless steel and blemish free.

It is almost impossible for me to list everything we did to the car, but here is a summary of cost:

1) Body and paint – $35,000

2) Interior – $20,000

3) Mechanical and feature and function refurbishment: $25,000

4) Overall, under hood and general finishers – $10,000

***The photo link in this listing contains many photos of the restoration, including body, paint and all mechanicals.

This whole exercise was done out of love and passion by Park-Ward staff so what you are seeing is the “full Monty”. Every single thing works and the car drives like she’s some 10 years old.

Please remember, the project endured over 10 years so engine was rebuilt about that many years ago as was the repaint process. There are a couple of little nicks since then but very minor. Interior was done about 4 years ago. Hydraulics & brakes, remaining mechanicals and operational features & functions were completed about 2 years ago. Rest assured, everything has been correctly maintained since. Nonetheless, the car will go through our renown “Predelivery Commissioning” prior to delivery.

Because this was a project over 10 years I simply cannot say she is perfect but I can comfortably claim her as a very, very, very lovely and all together example.

~~ This fully refurbished Silver Shadow looks, drives and feels magnificent in every respect. A “real” truly sorted example ready to be enjoyed. ~~

International bidders are always welcome.

For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos include restoration pictures during the paint process and mechanical restoration. They are of super high resolution so if you right click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.

Click HERE to see additional photos!

Click HERE to see additional photos!