Based on its advert, immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Silver Shadow has been in storage since 1993. Let’s see if the value makes it definitely worth the effort to get up Rip Van Rolls.
The principle downside with yesterday’s 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 was that its pre-production press automotive standing didn’t make all of it that distinctive or totally different from the usual sequence manufacturing mannequin. Sure, the cachet is attention-grabbing, however ultimately, it’s extra of a footnote to the automotive’s historical past moderately than a gap paragraph. As such, the Mustang’s $42,500 asking proved lower than “boss” ensuing within the automotive dropping in a 78 % No Cube loss.
So, a present of palms — who right here thinks it’s bizarre that three of the most important names in British motoring manufacturing are owned outright by German automotive firms, whereas a fourth counts on a German sugar daddy to maintain it afloat? What’s it about these British marques — Rolls-Royce, Mini, Bentley, and Aston Martin — that the Germans love sufficient to take care of as ongoing considerations, generally seemingly to the detriment of their very own house manufacturers?
In the present day’s 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II comes from an earlier period when the corporate was wholly British-owned. And, in fantastic British custom, its proprietor performed sizzling potato with the car-business facet, shedding it from the mum or dad aero-engine firm and ultimately promoting the priority to Vickers plc. Nearly 20 years later, Vickers would promote it to Germany’s Volkswagen, which after contentious preventing over the rights, handed Rolls to BMW whereas preserving Bentley to itself.
Oddly sufficient for having a mum or dad experiencing a lot drama, this Silver Shadow II presents with a relaxed demeanor. Rolled out in 1965, the Silver Shadow was the primary Rolls automotive to characteristic a unibody structure, and whereas considerably smaller in footprint from the roly-poly fendered Silver Cloud it changed, it provided extra inside room, higher visibility, and an considerable air of modernity.
The Shadow was additionally the primary Rolls with impartial suspension throughout, and the primary to characteristic Citroën’s hydropneumatic suspension making for a pillowy experience. With the mannequin’s second iteration, clearly denoted the II and launched in 1977, Rolls added extra firsts within the type of rack and pinion steering and alloy bumpers amongst different updates. The mannequin was changed in 1980 by the bigger and, arguably much less elegant, Silver Spirit.
This Silver Shadow comes, appropriately sufficient, in gold metallic over a biscuit leather-based and burlwood inside. Based on the advert, the odometer exhibits 43,000 miles however with solely 5 barrels that’s solely a part of the story because it has apparently rolled over. The precise quantity might be 143K. That’s a powerful quantity spectacular nonetheless, contemplating that the automotive has apparently not been on the street since 1993.
Clearly, for the reason that automotive hasn’t been exercised in so lengthy, there are some points that want attending. Per the advert, these embody a rebuild of the dual SU carbs, a full tune-up, new valve cowl gaskets, and a brake overhaul. On the plus facet, the 6750 cc Rolls V8 is claimed to nonetheless run and the automotive to drive. That means that the GM-sourced three-speed computerized is in working order too. One piece of the mechanicals that may show finicky is that hydropneumatic suspension. Fortunately, that’s solely on the rear of this mannequin, and the images don’t present any sag within the again so it might be simply fantastic. It ought to be checked for leaks and blown accumulators regardless.
Visually, this Rolls seems to be in top-notch form. The paint seems glorious and all of the brightwork shines because it ought to. The lengthy slumber hasn’t affected issues just like the plastic bumper fillers and whereas the tires are most likely previous their prime and therefore unsafe, they do appear to be holding air and will serve simply fantastic till their replacements might be referred to as to obligation.
The inside is equally as much as snuff, seemingly needing little greater than an excellent vacuuming of its Wilton Wool carpets and a few leather-based moisturizer massaged into its seats. Nothing appears lacking or amiss in right here and it even comes with a period-correct Alpine AM/FM/cassette head unit that does sport a laughably pretend woodgrain on its bezel.
The automotive comes with a clear title, however, based mostly on the tags, outdated registration. We are able to assume that it has been on “Non-Op” standing and therefore gained’t require any again registration charges with the title switch. For these wishing to take action and hold the automotive in Californian (the place it’s presently plated), there’s nonetheless the problem of it passing an emissions take a look at and that can doubtless have to attend on the tune-up and the carbs getting cleaned up.
Total, this looks as if a stable basic Rolls from an period when that meant British metal and every part else (save for the French suspension items and the American transmission). Contemplating the work it wants, will it show to be an excellent purchase at its $9,500 asking worth? What’s required is wrenching and that’s quite a bit simpler to do than paint, bodywork, or stitching up errant stitching within the seats, so possibly it’s going to.
What do you suppose, is that this Rolls priced in accordance to its situation? Or does that $9,500 imply this Shadow’s vendor doesn’t stand a ghost of an opportunity?
You determine!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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