1974 Shadow 1 Advice Please
Discussion
Hi There,
I have the opportunity to buy a 1974 Shadow 1, the car has been in the ownership of one family from new and has covered 42000 miles.
I have seen the Shadow briefly, it is finished in a dark metallic brown, and it does not seem too bad. There are a few minor dings and scratches, there is a small amount of blistering on the sills and there is also some micro blistering on the OS doors, I suspect they may have been painted at some time. There is also a little corrosion blistering on the top of these doors next to the window seal, but again this is not too bad. Overall the car is quite presentable and appears very sound structurally with good chrome.
The interior is better with, as far as I could tell on my brief inspection, no marks at all. The wood veneer also apears to by in very good condition.
My plan is to make an offer on this car early next week which would then be subject to driving. I have not heard the Shadow running yet as the battery is flat.
I am wondering if there are any specific issues I need to look for on this car? I get the impression the Shadow has had very little use for several years and although it has been stored carefully I'm pretty sure there may be some problems! In addition I will need to MOT the Shadow as it expires in a month.
I do like the Shadow and I am quite keen to own it, but I really would like to ensure that my weakness for old cars does not result in GBH of my bank account yet again!
Any help would be greatly apprceciated.
I have the opportunity to buy a 1974 Shadow 1, the car has been in the ownership of one family from new and has covered 42000 miles.
I have seen the Shadow briefly, it is finished in a dark metallic brown, and it does not seem too bad. There are a few minor dings and scratches, there is a small amount of blistering on the sills and there is also some micro blistering on the OS doors, I suspect they may have been painted at some time. There is also a little corrosion blistering on the top of these doors next to the window seal, but again this is not too bad. Overall the car is quite presentable and appears very sound structurally with good chrome.
The interior is better with, as far as I could tell on my brief inspection, no marks at all. The wood veneer also apears to by in very good condition.
My plan is to make an offer on this car early next week which would then be subject to driving. I have not heard the Shadow running yet as the battery is flat.
I am wondering if there are any specific issues I need to look for on this car? I get the impression the Shadow has had very little use for several years and although it has been stored carefully I'm pretty sure there may be some problems! In addition I will need to MOT the Shadow as it expires in a month.
I do like the Shadow and I am quite keen to own it, but I really would like to ensure that my weakness for old cars does not result in GBH of my bank account yet again!
Any help would be greatly apprceciated.
Burty124 said:
but I really would like to ensure that my weakness for old cars does not result in GBH of my bank account yet again!
Unless you are going to run it with the intention of neglecting it as far as routine servicing and maintenance is concerned, it will give you GBH of the wallet.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtGXe1QimA&fea...
Nonetheless, get it bought!
If you haven't driven one of these you are in for a treat, but if I were you I would get it looked over by a marque expert, of whom there are a few about. Just so you know what you are in for.
And by the way, don't believe what May says on that feature, he has got to say something to entertain the great unwashed - if you take it easy it won't drink an unreasonable amount of fuel, it handles and goes just as well as it needs to or you would want it to. And he only parted with that one once he had found a '72 Corniche FHC that he wanted.
This is testing my memory a bit now, but I think that the '74 model had ventilated wheel trims and compliant suspension. I would always be impressed with a nicely cared for interior with no dampness, and woodwork in good order suggests that it has been looked after. Check any service history you can find. Look under it for R.O.T.
And get some pics up here pronto.
And by the way, don't believe what May says on that feature, he has got to say something to entertain the great unwashed - if you take it easy it won't drink an unreasonable amount of fuel, it handles and goes just as well as it needs to or you would want it to. And he only parted with that one once he had found a '72 Corniche FHC that he wanted.
This is testing my memory a bit now, but I think that the '74 model had ventilated wheel trims and compliant suspension. I would always be impressed with a nicely cared for interior with no dampness, and woodwork in good order suggests that it has been looked after. Check any service history you can find. Look under it for R.O.T.
And get some pics up here pronto.
life's too short to regret not buying it !
I would be worried primarily about rust, because that's the most expensive thing to put right.
there's a fundamental concept here.....
these are big, expensive vehicles and they do deteriorate. a change of use brings out new faults, so if you're going to be using it every day, then expect some pain until you've got it properly up and running. Also, if it hasn't had much work done on it recently, then you should also expect to "catch up" with this.
I bought my Mulsanne 18 months ago and used it every day for the whole of last year, knowing full well that I'd have to take it off the road and do stuff to it. ( hence the current "subframes-off" work ). The only part that I hadn't really anticipated was the sheer cost of new spares - for instance, £50 each for suspension bushes. On the flip-side though, they are incredibly easy to work on - it's really no more complex than an MGB, there's just more of it.
Incidentally, average fuel cons. for the year was 11mpg, which I don't think was unreasonable considering it gets well "exercised".
I would be worried primarily about rust, because that's the most expensive thing to put right.
there's a fundamental concept here.....
these are big, expensive vehicles and they do deteriorate. a change of use brings out new faults, so if you're going to be using it every day, then expect some pain until you've got it properly up and running. Also, if it hasn't had much work done on it recently, then you should also expect to "catch up" with this.
I bought my Mulsanne 18 months ago and used it every day for the whole of last year, knowing full well that I'd have to take it off the road and do stuff to it. ( hence the current "subframes-off" work ). The only part that I hadn't really anticipated was the sheer cost of new spares - for instance, £50 each for suspension bushes. On the flip-side though, they are incredibly easy to work on - it's really no more complex than an MGB, there's just more of it.
Incidentally, average fuel cons. for the year was 11mpg, which I don't think was unreasonable considering it gets well "exercised".
Thank you all for your replies.
As an update I called the lady selling the car yesterday, she did not answer and as yet has not called back. This is not a great suprise, as she is a little eccentric. I will be perservering.
My main concerns with this car had been with respect to the hydraulic systems, I had heard that they could be horrific when poorly. I am not worried about servicing or fuel consumption, I have an affinity for old barges so rarely expect more than about 18mpg!
I do have some photographs and will post them. I must apologise for the quality however as they were taken in a confined, dark garage, and if that were not enough my photography skills need work.
As an update I called the lady selling the car yesterday, she did not answer and as yet has not called back. This is not a great suprise, as she is a little eccentric. I will be perservering.
My main concerns with this car had been with respect to the hydraulic systems, I had heard that they could be horrific when poorly. I am not worried about servicing or fuel consumption, I have an affinity for old barges so rarely expect more than about 18mpg!
I do have some photographs and will post them. I must apologise for the quality however as they were taken in a confined, dark garage, and if that were not enough my photography skills need work.
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