Nope, it’s not a barn find. But it is extraordinary, and one of our readers thought it was worth sharing (and I agree). While most projects like this come from a “hold my beer” moment, the execution of this 1974 Rolls Royce street rod carried this project to a level well over the top of most vehicular extravagances! It’s for sale here on finn.no for 890,000 Norwegian Krone ($115,335) and is located at Hadelandsvegen 2113, 2740 Roa, Norway. Thanks to Barn Finds reader G.K. for sending us this outrageous find!
The fabrication and finish of this vehicle looks like the shop that customized it really knew what they were doing. You can read more in the ad if you read Norwegian, but thanks to Google Translate we can find that is a 462 cubic inch GM V8 under that supercharger, which is functional. I’m not sure whether the mechanism sticking out the rear of the car is for a parachute or for towing, but I’m thinking there’s enough power there for either — agreed?
Where this build really is set apart from other similar projects is the level of fit and finish of the interior. It really is a beautiful mix of safety roll cage, modern seating and old-world Rolls Royce wood and leather. Now, this may not be to your taste, but I think you’d agree that the level of craftsmanship is top notch.
I couldn’t quite make out the signature on the center console, but I’m assuming it’s the creator of this madness. Can anyone read it?
Naturally, being a Rolls Royce, the rear seat passengers’ needs are not forgotten. I’m envisioning the stereotypical Grey Poupon mustard splattered against the rear window after accelerating from a stoplight!
Those are two 1150 cm Holley Dominator carburetors sitting atop a 14-71 GMC supercharger. Oh my! Although there were 53 pictures in the ad, there were none shown under the hood. I did find a short video showing the car (there can’t be two of these, right?) actually driving down the street and the engine isn’t just for show! There’s also a 1/8 mile drag run that needless to say doesn’t take very long. If you can get past the “why” (think about it, a 1974 Silver Shadow isn’t that special or unique of a car) let’s hear your thoughts as to the execution of this project!
Sig on console is Gene Winfield, doubt if he built it….
Butch, that’s the name I thought I saw as well, and I agree with you.
Good eyes.If Winfield actually signed it, it may have been some sort of “yes, I endorse this madness” kind of thing. Such a wild build.. unfortunately not streetable here in PA – they frown on things in the driver’s line of sight…
I just met Gene at the World of Wheels in Rosemont, IL. Why wouldn’t he have built it? It’s ultra cool
Not his style at all, he’s a renouned body modifying expert, chopped tops being his specialty.
Do a Google image search, you’ll see……
This is built in Finland and sold to Norway
Is there 1/8 mile of flat ground in Norway?
Yes there is at least one track: http://ndrg.no/
I live in Finland and we have two tracks here :D
http://www.alastarocircuit.fi/
http://www.motopark.fi/
Wow. Thats a beautiful car. I cant imagine the money put into it. This is how Rolls should have made them from the factory. I would love to own this but more of a show car then a real driver, although it would be a fun to try. Lots of blind spots.
Money? This has been built by owner at the time in Finland, built – not bought
http://www.pjp.fi/
https://www.facebook.com/PJP.fi/
Isn’t that dreadful!
WOW!!! Just spectacular. Best use for one of those things I’ve ever seen. I can’t say I’d like to own it but I’d sure like to borrow it for a weekend.
Yeah, signature is Gene Winfield for sure.
Looks like the headlights, grill and bumpers are salvageable. Scrap the rest. Nothing redeemable there.
Some people will do anything, and that is fine. I would never ruin a car like this.
Not a drag racing fan, eh? That video gave me goosebumps,,and I got news for ya’, there was a lot more to that car. He didn’t even grab the other shifter.
Oh, don’t look so shocked. Just a matter of time before someone made a ProMod Rolls. ProMod are THE most wicked non-fuel drag cars out there. Incredibly hard to drive (hence the 1/8th mile). NHRA has a ProMod class now, 1/4 mile, and are fun to watch, if they make it the full pull, that is. Somebody really sunk a ton of money into this, and it’s really just a toy, and wouldn’t be very competitive, but certainly the classiest hot rod at the strip. I could see John Force driving around L.A. in this.
Something different and very well done. Nice.
Great quality, but for me- Too much time and money invested into something anyone would or could regularly enjoy driving. The powertrain was made to race, but my guess is this car will spend 99 percent of its time being polished. Too bad.
tea and crumpets smothered in Jackie Daniels
Name the Quote?
All this car needs is a trailer hitch. Wait… it has one!
More videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_FIo00WUc4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dehd6rUG5Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzTQZBsziG8
Note the post date of Jamie’s linked video is 2014, these are from 2013. The last one from Finland? This has been around a while, not a fresh build. So the concern is whether the engine might need a refresh.
Personally, if I’d just have won the lotto, this would be in a container, on a ship to the US, and my new “warehouse for toys”. I can’t imagine there being a much more attention-getting car at the 2018 Woodward Dream Cruise!
Oh… I might change the steering wheel. Not a fan of the skinny old one, no matter how appropriate it looks in the car vintage-wise.
At this point I don’t think it would matter.
One thing that I could pretty well guarantee with this: If you entered it in a car show there’s no danger that the organisers are going to put your car next to an identical one!
You sure Gene Winfield built this? Looks more like something Richard
Rawlings would put together. After seeing him on Pickler & Ben this after-
noon, I’m more convinced than ever after a comment he made concerning
how he came to create the cars he builds just by drinking a beer and looking
at the car in front him. Hope thr car was built from a junker and not a solid
running car. What’s next? a souped up Lomborghini?
I don’t remember building, let alone signing it . . .
It’s ok but it’s a 4 door. Just doesn’t really cut it. Still, maybe with some Grey Poupon …
Just because it’s a bad idea doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.
This would be perfect if only it had some alpaca seat covers…
the rolls Royce red one thats been customized I only saw that on another web page last week now the fellas going to sell it ,oh well people weird things wouldnt mind it but where would I put it bet its an eye opener ,
I was pretty impressed with the fit and finish until…..
noticing the steering wheel is off by 1/4 turn.
Spokes should be horizontal when going straight.
(Sorry, my anal-ness is showing……)
Now there’s something you don’t see everyday. I think it would be a real hoot to make at least 1 pass.
It’s a work of art. But a on the trailer, off the trailer at the car show kind of vehicle and a short engine start kind of car.
criminal & disgusting!
Love this beautiful and brutal car! Nicely done! Oh yeah, I’m of the opinion that not every car has to be restored back to original. Most of us probably started modifying our cars, trucks, boats, and motorcycles pretty soon after we got them.
It’s really hard and expensive to keep an older car completely original. I own a 64 Buick Riviera that I bought 7 years ago. It had 27000 original miles on it, since then I’ve added another 1500 miles. I bought it from the nephew of the original owners, who bought it new in Gardena, California. Since I’ve owned it I’ve tried to keep it as original as possible. But I have had to replace some parts, I got some parts from a man in California who deals in used parts from scrapped Rivs. Some NOS parts from OPGI, such as brake parts. My point is its not a crime to modify these old cars to the owners taste. Just love your car, love the hobby.
I’d just like to park it in my driveway for one day.
no the 3rd stick is 4 reverse…
Sven you show this to your car buddies, it will be good for Olaf. But I agree, the Finnish is good…how Swede it is!!
Just the car for the August Woodward Cruise in Michigan! If you’re gonna go, go in style!!! A picture under the hood would have been great, though!
Why include such a blasphemous vehicle like this on such a fine web site ?
Some years ago, a friend who happened to deal in older Rolls-Royce products made this comment, “A Shadow is worth about a dollar a pound; the good thing is that it’s a heavy car”. These cars a very common and unfortunately many of them have been treated badly and/or neglected. However you look at this car, it is one that has survived. The level of craftsmanship is exemplary and it will make some people smile and others shake their heads.
Awesome build. Why would anyone cry for losing an original ’74 Rolls to the torch of a top end cutomizer? It’s not like someone cut up a Porsche Speedster or Silver Ghost. I think I saw this car at SEMA years ago (or one very similar). I was drooling over it then and it still has the same effect on me.
Just….NO.
How to ruin a roles just leave the stock engine in it and cruse around town
You demonstrate one other part of the process – disconnect spell check first!
Do you have “Gray-poop on”?😎
The signature is real, Gene Winfield haven’t build this car but he loved it so much that he wanted to sign it.
Here is a picture of the car’s frame
That looks plenty stiff to me, nice job. There is obviously a lot of highly skilled work in the car.