New RR SSII owner

[A GTS]

I have just aquired a gorgeous '78 Shadow II, it's in beautiful condition but does need a set of new carpets. Can anyone tell me where to find such a set in a dark red colour, please? As I'm new to RR ownership, I'd appreciate any info on which club to join. Thanks.

[atomicpunk]

Congratulations on the new purchase and welcome to the club!

For carpets, I would try Flying Spares - http://www.flyingspares.com/ - or Montague - http://www.bentleyparts.com

If you need lambswool overrugs, then I would also recommend Morlands - http://www.morlandssheepskin.co.uk

[pennrolls]

or you could try someone like Mike Abbas Classic Cars, who can make you a new set, or Coverdale http://www.carcarpets.co.uk/epages/Store_Shop835.s... another place to get overrugs from is http://www.easirider.com/lambswool_overugs.htm

[A GTS]

Many thanks for the varm welcome and all the usefull info. Carpets on the way, and so is bits from Flying Spares. Very nice and helpful service, so many thanks for posting. Here's a few pics of my new pride'n joy:

[atomicpunk]

That, sir, is beautiful!

[A GTS]

Thanks, yes she is a beauty, I'm pretty smitten.

Other than forums here, which is the best RR club to join for the older models please?

Does anyone know if its OK to run on unleaded without any 4-star replacement additive? The previous owner said it was OK! Don't want any valve seat damage or such!

Are the chassis galvanised, as there's an area it the engine bay that looks like it could be?

[Balmoral Green]

'tis rather nice that, is it Garnet?

[atomicpunk]

A GTS said:

Thanks, yes she is a beauty, I'm pretty smitten.

Other than forums here, which is the best RR club to join for the older models please?

Does anyone know if its OK to run on unleaded without any 4-star replacement additive? The previous owner said it was OK! Don't want any valve seat damage or such!

Are the chassis galvanised, as there's an area it the engine bay that looks like it could be?

I'm a member of the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts' Club. You get a good magazine and there's a fair amount of members only content on the website. There are also a good number of national and local events.

Another resource I've found is http://www.rrbew.co.uk/ - some excellent articles that I found extremely helpful when I bought my Silver Spirit.

[atomicpunk]

On the subject of Silver Shadows (and their Bentley counterparts), I think these two articles really say it all! One from Martin Buckley and the other from the one and only Mr. May.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/di/road+test/driving+...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/274...

[Balmoral Green]

"It's got a fairy on the bonnet" she said, "and she's showing her nipples!"

[atomicpunk]

Balmoral Green said:

"It's got a fairy on the bonnet" she said, "and she's showing her nipples!"

I particularly like the description of the two-tone bodywork as 'butter over sh*t'

[A GTS]

Thanks again for all the brilliant and amusing info, RR ownership is certainly not going to be dull! My Shadow's colors are according to my handbook: "Cardinal Red(FTA)Rinshed Mason L68-RV006 Acrylic Garnet(FTA)L67-RV-006 Inmont STD Layout". In other words, a two-tone red.

[2woody]

welcome to the wonderful world of Rolls Royce ownership.

I have a '78 Shadow II and an '83 Mulsanne Turbo, and can vouch that neither are galvanised. The area under the bonnet that looks like it is is the inner wheelarch liner, which is riveted on from memory.

have you found the workshop manuals and parts lists on the Rolls Royce Club of Australia web-site ? hours of entertainment there.

[A GTS]

Thanks 2Woody, very helpful indeed. The Oz RR Club is excellent, very useful with the workshop manuals available online.

[pennrolls]

lovely car. Mine is dark blue. I can only confirm what the other people have said, RREC, RRBEW and Oz sites are all very good. Don't let your pooch scratch the interior- mine has to sit on my lap whilst my wife drives!

[A GTS]

Thanks for advice re pooches! I've got 5 of them,2 Greyhounds, a Mastiff, a Rottweiler and the Belgian Shepheard in the pic. So had to buy them their own car, a '68 Volvo Amazon Estate. They are not comming anywhere near the Rolls!

Edited by A GTS on Wednesday 15th April 15:34

[2woody]

Bought my two Spaniels a Discovery !

[Bluebottle911]

A GTS said:

Thanks, yes she is a beauty, I'm pretty smitten.

Does anyone know if its OK to run on unleaded without any 4-star replacement additive? The previous owner said it was OK! Don't want any valve seat damage or such!

My recollection is that all V8s have alloy heads with steel valve seats, so that almost certainly means hardened valve seats. And if I am wrong, you are unlikely to rev it hard enough to cause VSR, so if I were you I'd just bang in the cheap stuff and not worry about it.

Nice looking motor. I had an '80 SS2 about 15 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of ownership. Her Indoors used to enjoy going to the supermarket in it, too!

[A GTS]

Thank you, Bluebottle, for that reassuring advice on the fuel. I had a look at your website, and your 1936 Bentley is truly outstandingly stunning. I am seriously tempted to exchange a few of my other cars to achieve someting like that. Please let me know if you are comming to Bath with your car sometime, I'd love to see it up close. Also like your bike very much. You are obviously a man of impaccable taste, as I'm sure your wife will vouch for!

[williamp]

I remember when unleaded came in, and the whole discussion about leaded fule happened. Most people were of the opinion that the head has to come off to fit hardended valve seats...and the head has to come off to replace the weakened valve seats.So moist simply used unleaded fuel (very old with additives) until the vale seats went, then spent the money then.

Great car, by the way!