I don’t know about you guys, but when I spy a modern Rolls-Royce, it looks like a brick with a grille, accentuated with commercial freezer-style door handles. This 1968 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, however, is what my mind conjures when I think of this storied brand. Sure, we could go back to the days of a prominent stand-up grille and running boards – the classic Rolls-Royce, but I’m thinking about something more contemporary. This magazine star, more on that later, is located in Gardena, California, and is available here on eBay for a BIN price of $18,000.
Produced in Crewe, England, between 1965 and 1980, the Silver Shadow was available as a two-door hardtop and convertible, as well as the more commonly encountered four-door sedan. Manufactured in both left and right-hand drive configurations, total production exceeded 30K units. The listing tells us, “Featured in Harper’s Bazaar Magazine Pretty Woman Advertisement February 1992…$20,000 in body work and paint, work performed by Rolls-Royce mechanic with 30 years experience and connections to source authentic quality parts.” OK, so this west coaster found its fifteen minutes of fame, but its good looks and regal bearing have long transcended its brief flash of celebrityhood. I have to admit it, the black finish is nothing short of spectacular – it’s a mile deep.
I’ll often pass on reviewing a car that is imageless in the engine department, but I decided to make an exception in this case. What we should have here is a 200 HP, 6.2-liter “L410” V8 engine, lashed up to a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400, three-speed automatic transmission. Owing to this Rolls connection with Bentley back in this era, the engine was known to power both marques. The seller makes no mention of the running or driving characteristics of this 92 K-mile sedan, simply stating, “Rebuilt carburetor, rebuilt brake pump…new brake fluid reservoir, new water pump, new power steering hose.”
The interior is standard Rolls’ fare all the way. The environment is stated as being original, with only the Burl wood door trim having been refurbished. The “Connolly Hide” leather upholstery is in fine shape and appears to have been well maintained over the last 57 years. The dashcap is perfect, as is the all-business instrument panel with excellent wood inlays and clear, legible gauges. The only item that stands out is the steering wheel, It’s in excellent nick, it just seems rather pedestrian for such an exalted automobile.
I’m not familiar with Rolls-Royce market values, but considering this car’s pristine condition, the $18K asking price (it’s negotiable) seems reasonable. I’m not exactly sure what I’d do with this baby, but I genuinely appreciate it; how about you?
Jim, I totally second what you said about the body and paint work. The amount of hours spent to do this high a quality of work must have been through the roof. Its a beautiful Rolls. The only thing I never ever understood was the steering wheel design. Ot just looks like its out of a truck. But maybe thats just me.
Proper thin steering wheel here Gentlemen. I suppose in lieu of plain black, a little more burl wood 🪵 is desired 😌
I’d consider placing some kind of RR badge on the horn button, and wrapping the rim with a leather steering wheel cover – et voilà!
I am not a Rolls person, but the condition and the classiness of this car for $18K is a bargain. What can you get for 18K in todays modern cars? A 3 year old Subaru, maybe… and then what is it worth in few more years? It’s nice to see an old one in great condition… the Rolls , that is!!!
Joey, I think you have a point there. The only downside is that if you daily drive it, you’ll be driving in the winter, and it’s almost a crime to do that to a nice car…
I would think a ’68 would be a good vintage. No emission BS just good honest RR. I would rather lease a car like this than own it. Would not want to be responsible for maintenance and repairs.
The rear seat in picture 16 is in poor condition. Seems odd to me, with the rest of the interior/exterior presenting so well.
Well, my presumption, given that the driver’s seat has similar usage patterns, is that the owners rode in the back whilst the chauffeur did the wheeling and dealing.
Also, this is obviously for the American owner given that the gauge says ‘fuel’ rather than ‘petrol’ :-)
Most likely it was chauffer driven most of it’s life.
I like the steering wheel. To me, it evokes the look of the wheel you’d have found in a Rolls from the 20s and 30s, which I think is a very cool idea if that was the goal. I mean, who needs another “faux fine” wheel like that in a 1990s Crown Vic? It’s a gorgeous car. And yeah, I HATE the styling of Rolls for the last ten years or so. Brick – yes. Just awful. Tasteless. I think they were going for the “mass as presence” notion. It doesn’t work. But as we know, money doesn’t buy taste.
Love this, would check it out if closer. I don’t know a lot about these, is this a LWB?
Somewhere, I have the Dinky toy version of this… 🙄 All I need, for now.
I personally would love to own this — IF I could afford the fussy maintenance required and the amount of petrol needed to run it. But, given its finish and condition, I’d be almost afraid to drive it. Might have to re-do the upholstery, though, to get the interior as nice as the rest. Wonder if it was ever smoked in?? (HOPE not!!).
LOL, Mr. O Donnell hit the nail on the head, re: the new RR’s. They are just so in-your-face..”Look at me and my money”.
The older, real Rolls Royce’s were understated and quietly exuded class.
I can tell you from experience, (2007 Bentley Arnage, was on my bucket list) these are not inexpensive labor wise nor parts wise. I had to use the Bentley dealer for service and, well, ouch. No generic parts exist, not even windshield wiper blades! Dealer charged $221. A new key fob, $860 plus programming, so a tad over $1K. Just make sure your checkbook is slightly over stuffed with a little extra mad money. The other problem? The Rolls Royce and Bentley mechanics that were trained on these British automobiles are retiring and that could be your major problem in owning one of these. The knowledge base is shrinking fast.
Still, they are beautiful handmade automobiles from a bygone era..