Rolls Royce, PH ?
Discussion
I used to bumble around in a 1973 Silver Shadow and if it is old skool effortless wafting you are after, then there is no better way to do it. The price of good early Shadows is now on the rise as they are now shedding their sheepskin coat image and maturing into the fine old classics they should be. The later Sprits and Spurs (known as the 'SZ cars') are still exceptionally good value.
The Silver Shadow is faster than you might think and handles reasonably well too, if you can cope with the body roll; but effortless wafting is really what it is all about. You drive a Royce with your fingertips. Expect 12 MPG on super unleaded.
My experience of the RREC is very different to what has been mentioned above, in that all I met were more than happy to see my 'humble' Shadow. Indeed, IMO,there was a lot less stuffiness than I encountered in the Jaguar Drivers' Club. Do join the RREC if you are looking for a car and attend a few club events. Various Shadow owners let me sit in their cars, look under the bonnet and gave me some sound advice. Find a good independent RR specialist to maintain the car. I bought mine form Phantom Motors in Crondall, who are very well regarded and had it maintained more locally at DEW Services, near Oxford. I would recommend both. Mine was a good one and it still cost a four figure sum most years for servicing and MOT work, so be prepared for big bills. If you are not sure what to look for, get advice from the RREC. The main areas of potential bankruptcy are the sophisticated hydraulics and braking/suspension systems and the heating and air conditioning system. The engines and transmissions are relatively bombproof. A tatty interior is to be avoided, since that would detract from the Gentlemans' Club on wheels experience and render the whole exercise relatively pointless. Mine was garaged most of the time, but spent one winter outside when the bodywork and interior deteriorated greatly. They do like to be kept inside, not least because the door seals tend to loose their effectiveness.
All in all I miss my old Silver Shadow greatly and would have another one in a heartbeat, if space and time allowed. Good luck with your search.
Gratuitous pictures of my old Shadow:
The Silver Shadow is faster than you might think and handles reasonably well too, if you can cope with the body roll; but effortless wafting is really what it is all about. You drive a Royce with your fingertips. Expect 12 MPG on super unleaded.
My experience of the RREC is very different to what has been mentioned above, in that all I met were more than happy to see my 'humble' Shadow. Indeed, IMO,there was a lot less stuffiness than I encountered in the Jaguar Drivers' Club. Do join the RREC if you are looking for a car and attend a few club events. Various Shadow owners let me sit in their cars, look under the bonnet and gave me some sound advice. Find a good independent RR specialist to maintain the car. I bought mine form Phantom Motors in Crondall, who are very well regarded and had it maintained more locally at DEW Services, near Oxford. I would recommend both. Mine was a good one and it still cost a four figure sum most years for servicing and MOT work, so be prepared for big bills. If you are not sure what to look for, get advice from the RREC. The main areas of potential bankruptcy are the sophisticated hydraulics and braking/suspension systems and the heating and air conditioning system. The engines and transmissions are relatively bombproof. A tatty interior is to be avoided, since that would detract from the Gentlemans' Club on wheels experience and render the whole exercise relatively pointless. Mine was garaged most of the time, but spent one winter outside when the bodywork and interior deteriorated greatly. They do like to be kept inside, not least because the door seals tend to loose their effectiveness.
All in all I miss my old Silver Shadow greatly and would have another one in a heartbeat, if space and time allowed. Good luck with your search.
Gratuitous pictures of my old Shadow:
J4CKO said:
Very rarely see a mention of Rollers on here....
I've owned a '76 Corniche Saloon for a couple of years now. It's primarily a summer car and I love wafting along in it. It's been fine on long journeys and motorways (I've covered over 600 miles in five days with my wife and toddler) and the only real drawbacks have been the 10-16 MPG...probably about 12 MPG on average...and car parks where spaces are often a squeeze.Servicing has been about GBP 6-700 a time with a respected independent, but I have spent circa another GBP 2,000 per year on bringing the car to the condition I want....even the best cars will need some money spending on minor niggles.
Wonderful cars.
Andy
I've been fortunate enough to drive almost all of the Models Rolls Royce Produced from the Silver Ghost right up to the Seraph, Initially I though Shadow's were absolutely terrible cars but Over time and after driving a few very low milage examples in very orignal condition they grew to be one of my favourite cars.
One memory that'll always stick in my mind was driving a Late Shadow I from London to Just south of Munich in one go in the Middle of winter, as I got further south into Germany the weather got worse and worse and the road conditions became somewhat treacherous but the Shadow didn't miss a beat and performed flawlessly. The interior cannot be described as anything other than Utter luxury, I completed the Journey and barely felt as if I'd done it which is quite a feat for a 800ish Mile Journey in one go.
I think Shadow's have been overlooked and undervalued for too long and the market is starting to turn so that good examples are starting to fetch a fair bit of money now.
I also drove a number of Corniche DHC's from one of the very early models from the late 60's right up to one of the last of the line from the late 80's.
One summer I had to deliver a Garish Two tone blue Corniche, I dropped the roof and set off down the M25 early one morning, the windscreen and windows eliminate virtually any wind buffeting and it was almost like driving with the roof up except for the noise!
One day I'd like to own a Corniche but the nice examples are fetching far too much money for my liking nowadays!
One memory that'll always stick in my mind was driving a Late Shadow I from London to Just south of Munich in one go in the Middle of winter, as I got further south into Germany the weather got worse and worse and the road conditions became somewhat treacherous but the Shadow didn't miss a beat and performed flawlessly. The interior cannot be described as anything other than Utter luxury, I completed the Journey and barely felt as if I'd done it which is quite a feat for a 800ish Mile Journey in one go.
I think Shadow's have been overlooked and undervalued for too long and the market is starting to turn so that good examples are starting to fetch a fair bit of money now.
I also drove a number of Corniche DHC's from one of the very early models from the late 60's right up to one of the last of the line from the late 80's.
One summer I had to deliver a Garish Two tone blue Corniche, I dropped the roof and set off down the M25 early one morning, the windscreen and windows eliminate virtually any wind buffeting and it was almost like driving with the roof up except for the noise!
One day I'd like to own a Corniche but the nice examples are fetching far too much money for my liking nowadays!
http://www.pa-wood.co.uk/
I've had a nosey through their windows (when they were closed), very nice indeed.
I've had a nosey through their windows (when they were closed), very nice indeed.
Saw an ad for a Shadow in one of the classic mags today. Advertised as solid but no chrome or hubcaps, or flying lady. Part of me was thinking having one in such a state and just running it like that, steel wheels showing and all! Mad Max/shabby chic! I know the purists would have a fit but if I saw such I thing i'd smile!
LongLiveTazio said:
Would love to drive a Silver Ghost. Always a few for sale and they're invariably wonderful, as well as PA Wood I like browsing the Frank Dale website.
I've driven two of them, both later models with quite different bodies, if you ever get the chance to take one out do, they really are wonderful machines.2902326 said:
I've driven two of them, both later models with quite different bodies, if you ever get the chance to take one out do, they really are wonderful machines.
Don't think I'll ever get the chance, sadly! I'm still hoping someone will let me drive an F40 for a bit, let alone a RR costing anywhere up to twice as much!...Incidentally, I find some of the most interesting Rollers the 'fancy' ones, which are like a snapshot of their time period, a piece of social history. They usually have fascinating backstories and it always piques my interest to read about the original commissioning process and the rationale behind a car's usage, especially as a lot of them are 'special' or of personal significance.
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