1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Convertible

Lot details
Registration No: VUK107H
Chassis No: DRH7775
Mot Expiry: April 2012

The Shadow's arrival in 1965 was none too soon and did much to reverse the notion that Rolls-Royce was falling behind the times. It resulted in many firsts for the company, including: unitary construction rather than separate body/chassis units, disc rather than drum brakes and independent rear suspension. Though shorter and narrower than the Silver Cloud III it replaced, the John Polwhele Blatchley-penned Shadow nevertheless possessed greater space for both luggage and passengers and certainly boasted far more contemporary looks. At launch it was powered by a 172bhp V8 engine of 6230cc, though this was enlarged to 6750 cc during 1970. Early cars employed the same GM automatic transmission as the Silver Cloud, but this was superseded by the much vaunted Turbo Hydramatic system from 1970 onwards. The car's famed 'magic carpet' ride was achieved courtesy of a high-pressure hydraulic system licensed from Citroen. Initially it featured self-levelling at both ends, but this was deleted from the front in 1969. A two-door Saloon variant of the model was made available from 1966 and a Convertible was introduced a year later; a total of 505 of which were manufactured before the model metamorphosed into the Corniche in 1971. Convertible versions of the Corniche remained in production for a further sixteen years.

The right-hand drive Silver Shadow Convertible being offered was manufactured in 1970 and is powered by the 6230 cc version of Rolls-Royce's silky smooth V8 engine. This particular car features Blue coachwork teamed with a Magnolia leather interior. The vendor considers its bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, engine and transmission to be in "good" order. 'VUK 107H' is taxed until the end of March 2012 and MOT'd into April. A Silver Shadow Convertible is as imposing a mode of transport as it ever was and good examples are inevitably increasingly sought after.