Muscle cars are getting very expensive, as is clear by looking at ads. What used to be a few thousand dollars has turned into five, then ten, and now twenty thousand bucks. So why not try a hard re-set and spend your ten grand on a car not everyone at the local cruise will have? You can find this in the 1977 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith II seen here on craigslist for a listed price of $11,999. It’s in Attleboro, MA, ready for you to pick it up.
That hard re-set comes with some questions: Is a four door not a bad thing when the car is a Rolls, like it is (I know, not to everyone) with an American muscle car? What about that two-tone paint? And brown? Is color preference something to consider, or to think about changing, or should you just love this one as is? This car has some very 1970s drawbacks, including ungainly but mandated bumpers and the need, if you live in a smog state, for it to pass inspection every two years. How does it run and drive? You’ll have to call the current owner to find that out. The ad says nothing. Is it naïve to assume the best, as such a minimalist presentation suggests you do? Should you just call and make an offer?
The Silver Wraith II was revived for the 1976 model year and carried on until 1980. It was the long wheelbase version of the Silver Shadow II. But this begs the question: Who’s riding up front and who’s going to be lodged in the larger rear seating area? Is it still possible to hire a chauffer to drive and maintain your car for you?
The car in question looks like it’s been a bit loved. The driver’s seat shows wear. However, things look better than driver quality under the hood, especially for a car with some use under its wheels. However, we don’t know a lot about the fitness for use, because the description says little beyond that it’s one-owner, with low miles, and garage kept by an adult owner. If the odo is accurate, it’s a 66,000-mile car, and that engine that is likely the original 410-CID with plenty of oomph. But you’ll want to know the basics: Is the paint factory? Has it ever been rusty or hit? Where’s the car been all these years? Then, you’d be smart to look at what else is out there, because there are plenty of these waiting for new homes. Ten grand is cheap for a car so interesting, but not if there’s competition even more keenly priced. Whichever Wraith or Shadow you buy, though, should pay you back in smooth and comfortable miles, provided the car has not been neglected.
Cheap to buy, expensive to own.
I have owned a number of 70s and 80s Rollers oner the last 40 years. I bought a ’79 Silver Wraith II several months ago. The car had been relatively well maintained , but parked about 2 years. I have recently finished re-commissioning the car, and it runs and drives beautifully. My car also features two-tone paint with the same walnut as the primary colour. All Wraiths came with the Everflex roof treatment.
The Shadow/Wraith II cars offer a number of refinements over earlier models, including rack and pinion steering, which significantly improves handling.
The car for sale here looks quite decent. Nice veneer and leather. The engine area appears clean, and looks like the A/C was updated.
If the undercarriage(and hydraulic system) is as nice as the rest of the car, it may be a good value. It is important to note that these cars DO cost more to maintain than many other classics. The hydraulic braking/ride control system is complex and can easily cost several thousand dollars in parts alone.
I enjoy working on these models, and there are a number of reliable sources for new/used parts, and workshop manuals etc. The RR Owners Club is also welcoming and supportive, with many experienced members ready to provide maintenance/repair tips and guidance.
If you have to pay someone else to do the maintenance, these can be (big) money pits, and maybe not such a good value.
Isn’t this the car Sheriff Roscoe P Coltrane drove when he became an overnight millionaire in “10 million dollar sheriff”?
I don’t know anything about the RR other than watching Hoovies garage pour money into one only to have it fall again. I would love to drive one for a little while just for the experience but I don’t want to own it because I can just buy a Toyota Camry with the repair cost.
If you haven’t seen the Ring Brothers SEMA show build Roller, you need to. It’s called “Paramount”. A 1961 Silver Cloud. This thing is slick.
The car is located in Massachusetts (MA), not Mississippi (MS).
Correct and, FWIW, has New York plates…..
Beautiful car. Way beyond a Snickers Bar, but colors match and I’m guessing this one Rolls as sweetly on the road as the nougat in the snickers bar. If I could, this one would be in my driveway tomorrow….