Roll-Royce Silver Shadow "LWB†Long Wheel Base 1975
Immaculate super clean presentation
This is among the last of the Silver Shadow Long Wheel Bases ("LWBâ€) series. It can be confidently said that the 1975-76 year manufactured Silver Shadows were the best of the series as they incorporated all of the technological and design enhancements developed over the life of the model (1966-76). Being a LWB it represented the penultimate of the series.
This one is finished in "Magnolia" (a rich beige) with honey tan Connolly hide interior with matching floor rugs. The car is finished with hand-painted tan fine-lines on the body waist-line and the hub-cap trim rings. The colour is very elegant providing a light hue without being white. The car is definitely NOT white.
The body is extremely straight and the paint is truly excellent. It has been a Western USA car its entire life. It was professionally repainted in the last 15 years and it presents well - fantastic, in fact. It was a complete repaint with all chrome off and door jams done correctly. The quality is so stunning and clearly a high-end job ($20,000+). Other than the odd little mark here and there (very minor) the paint is perfect. Completely consistent, high in luster and no signs of any over-spray on any externally fitted part. The Everflex vinyl top is original factory fitment, has never been changed and in excellent condition without any signs of underlying moisture issues which are otherwise typical of these cars.
This being a LWB, it is 4" longer than the standard saloon with this extra space being offered for the benefit of rear seat passengers. The car has its original rear seat foot-rests. Long Wheel Base cars are easily identified by their unique smaller rear window and factory Everflex tops.
The interior of the car is in stunning condition with virtually perfect original Connolly hide leather. The leather appears to have never been re-dyed or repaired. Excellent testament to its relatively low mileage (any lines you may see in the photos are the "natural" creases in the leather - for some reason, they are accentuated in the photos whereas in real life the seats present with welcoming patina that is just gorgeous). The leather is soft and supple. Rolls-Royce used Connolly "Vaumol" hides which are vat dyed to the base colour (in this case tan) and then hand rubbed with a darker tone that would capture the natural pores and folds in the grain. The finish provides for a quasi antique look, in some ways like a chesterfield couch. The beauty of un-dyed Vaumol hide is this toning effect is maintained whereas recolouring results in the leather ending up being just the main colour. Please look at the close up photos of the Vaumol to appreciate this expensive and detailed process. If you are the sort of person that likes "brand new leather" like that in a new Lexus, you will not appreciate this. And, very respectfully, we will not dye this beautiful original leather at any cost (sorry).
All the wood is in excellent condition and appears to mostly original. With little signs of the typical cracking in the lacquer coating that you normally would expect, this is not only unusual but a further "positive" of the car having been well maintained and garaged during its life. The headlining is very good and the carpet excellent. The deep grain and glossy finish of the rich grained wood in this example combined with the honey tan leather interior make this car very rich and inviting. Overall it is like new and smells like it too. **For the winning bidder, a brand new set of genuine Rolls-Royce lambswool mouton rugs are available for separate purchase.**
All interior feature and functions are fully operational including all electrics - seats, windows, gauges, clock etc. The A/C blows icy cold and heater working well. Everything is also clean and crisp. It has its original push-button radio and factory installed 8-track cassette - not many left these days.
The chrome and bright work is stunning without any pitting and the rubber around the car is good.
Mechanically, the car is in superior condition and the presentation under the bonnet and under carriage clearly shows that. It has not been "done-up" for sale but maintained in original condition. All hydraulics and brakes have been serviced, inspected and tested, working well with recent caliper work, flex hoses replaced and system flush. Exhaust is good. The car has been fully work-shop inspected. The car is fitted with a matching set of Michelin XW4 whitewall tires. The car comes with the correct jack (not in trunk at time of photos), tools and operating manual.
This is a 10 out of 10 driver example that needs nothing else doing. It makes for a gorgeous "weekender" that you could take to your next RR meet with pride and joy.
Please take the time to look at the photo link below to many additional photos where I have endeavored to capture how pretty this car is. Please feel free to ask any and all questions you may have as it is an as-is auction.
~~ Being a significantly well-above average example of a Silver shadow, this will bring a good price. Notwithstanding, it remains sensibly priced. ~~
International bidders are welcome.
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below. The photos are of super high resolution so if you right-click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see additional photos!
See the "graining" in the leather. This is unique to Vaumol hide exclusively used in Rolls-Royce of this era. Re-dyed leather loses this look.
Click HERE to see additional photos!
A note from RRMOTORSINC:
For those Rolls-Royce enthusiasts who have followed my auctions in the past I welcome you all. For those who are new to my adverts and/or the marque, please note that as a serious collector of some 30 years, all my cars are truly described examples. I have my own private Rolls-Royce workshop (not open to the public but dedicated to my own cars and fellow RR enthusiasts) with trained Rolls-Royce craftsmen who are proficient in all aspects. As a team, we are dedicated to the preservation of the marque and as such, any car that leaves the stable is completely inspected and work-shopped to ensure mechanical and operational items are maintained appropriately. We adopt a "keep it original" mentality with pride and confidence, offering after sales technical support and assistance well beyond the sale. Because most of my cars are offered for the pleasures of driving enjoyment it is not always possible or practical to seek perfection (in the true sense of the word) but we do always uphold excellence in whatever we do. Our cars are by no means cheap priced cars but we like to think they are amongst the best. To this end, I firmly believe in the famous adage; "Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten." We hope you do too.†RRMOTORSINC is a division of Park-Ward Motors and The Park-Ward Motors Museum. We can always be reached at +1-312-320-6996.
We at Park-Ward Motors - the things we do. When our Rolls-Royces are commissioned for resale, they are indeed professionally and correctly "fully work-shoppedâ€. No corners are cut. And it is all addressed in true Crewe tradition. There is way too much to list here but to give you an example of our commitment to excellence of the various processes, this is one such example of what we do: Doors and windows:- Every car has its interior door panels removed. If the wood is in need of repair (as most are) it is refinished in-house by trained and talented craftsmen at Park-Ward Motors. This is a detailed process of stripping the wood of its old lacquer, repairing the veneer if there is damage, staining the top surface as per Rolls-Royce methodology and refinishing with no less than 25 coats of clear lacquer. Hand wet-sanded and polished between all of its last 15 coats. New window felt guides and wood-to-glass foam seals are fitted. All window mechanisms are checked and serviced for smooth and efficient up and down movement. This includes an electrical modification to rectify the typical "slow window syndromeâ€. All tracks, chains and gears are lubricated. Where central locking is fitted, these are all serviced to ensure no "solenoid stickingâ€, another common problem. Units are repaired and or changed as required for refurbished units. Door wiring and door-to-body wiring is checked, repaired and/or replaced as required. The splash plastic on the inside of the doors to protect the leather panels from rain splash from inside the door is replaced with correct specification black plastic as used by the factory. Cut to shape and glued in position as per original. All door hardware is checked and repaired as required including locks, handles and scuttle finishes. The door is reassembled with all items cleaned and polished. The wood refitted and the leather panels are re-Connollised before final fitment. Take this example and apply it to the many, many different aspects of Rolls-Royce restoration, service and maintenance and you have our dedication to correct and professional vehicle pre-delivery preparation and commissioning.
~~ Important note: the $2,000 deposit is due within 24 hours. If not paid, or if no contact is received within that period, we reserve the right to offer the car to any other party.~~ ~~oo00oo~~
This Rolls-Royce is part of a private collection. Although licensed and bonded, I am not a main-stream retail car dealer or broker; I am a professional car collector of some 30 years with considerable experience and knowledge of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars. I have a long standing reputation being associated with the marque which I take seriously. I take pride in my cars and have fun in collecting and restoring them. However, auctions are not a game so when you place a bid or offer, and you are the winning bidder, please understand you have entered a binding contract. You cannot bid and win the auction and expect not to meet the terms and conditions. Bidding and/or winning does not mean you are expecting me to "hold" the car until you have the opportunity to inspect it. Any inspection contemplated must be undertaken BEFORE you bid or make an offer and I openly welcome any potential buyer to come and personally inspect the car. Please note, however, we do NOT allow 3rd party inspectors because history has sadly proven, they are not worth their weight in salt. Do not waste your time nor money - come yourself and we will go over the car in detail with you. Once you bid or make an offer, you are doing so to buy WITHOUT conditions. Your bid can not be subject to anything. A $2000.00 deposit (non-refundable) is required within 24 hours of the close of the auction and payable by PayPal. The balance of funds are required within 7 days of the close of the auction and must be provided by cashier's check or bank wire. I cannot accept PayPal for the balance unless you are willing to meet the cost of transfer fees. Full payment must be made (and payments cleared) before the title and/or the vehicle is released. All payments are non-refundable. Payments as described above form an important part of this purchase contract and so, if all the funds are not received as outlined above, I reserve the right to terminate the transaction without notice. If there has been any deposit or other part payments received and I elect to terminate the contract, I reserve the right to keep any such deposits or payments and resell the vehicle to another bidder or interested party or re-list the vehicle at any time. To be clear, if you change your mind for ANY reason and do not complete the transaction in the time-frame required, you will forfeit your deposit. I am happy to assist with shipping arrangements on a national and worldwide basis but the winning bidder takes full responsibility for pickup and/or shipping and at his cost. As a collector and experienced restorer of the marque, I make every effort to bring my cars to a high standard. By comparison, my cars are generally superior to others available but they are by no means perfect. You must expect some issues. Unless specifically stated, the car is not of show standard but of nice "driver" condition. Please understand, show cars of this model cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve and sell for prices commensurate, so the sale price of this car reflects its relative condition. You are buying "condition" accordingly. Buyers should not expect to receive concours quality or "perfect" cars at these prices. Please also understand, the very nature of these classic Rolls-Royces is such that it is not always possible to attend to every item, or perhaps I may have inadvertently overlooked items. Further, and very importantly, these cars are classic cars also because they are old. So this means a 45 year old car is predominantly comprised of 45 year old parts. And old parts will fail - we cant possibly replace everything. All buyers must understand and expect that things can or will wear out, break and/or stop functioning without notice. This is even more likely with hand-built English cars of early technology when compared to the typical American car of the same vintage. Please note, fitted radio/stereo systems are usually subject to upgrade by purchasers so I do not ensure operation of these. Similarly, cruise control systems fitted to these classics were of an inferior design and I do not check or warrant the operation of these. Suspension and brakes on these cars are complex. We thoroughly check them and replace things that are identified faulty. But please understand, by example; if we change a brake line because it appears aged or faulty, we do NOT at the same time replace all other hoses because they are of similar age. This is considered "preventative maintenance". We do not do this unless specifically requested and is not included in the purchase price. Feel free to ask for this additional service. Further, a feature or function that is working perfectly one moment, may decide to play-up the next. After all, it is some 45 years old. This is the nature of any classic car and especially a Rolls-Royce which was very "complicated" for its era. For this reason it is necessary for the following condition: The vehicle is being sold "as-is/where-is" with no warranty expressed, written or implied. Any descriptions or representations are made with reasonable judgment and all efforts are made to ensure fair assessment and accuracy but they are for descriptive and identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. The seller shall not be responsible for errors in description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein and makes no warranty in connection therewith. If any aspect of the description contradicts what can be seen in the photos, then the photos shall prevail as the reference point. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, unforeseen imperfection, defect or damage. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have satisfied himself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects at the buyer's request prior to the close of the auction. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any written or oral statements about the vehicle.Being a classic car in excess of 10 years of age, in mostUSstates, the mileage may be recorded as "exemptâ€. In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown and accepts no responsibility for any discrepancy with independent reports such as Carfax, AutoCheck, etc.In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown. Should there be any legal dispute after the sale, (andI certainly hope there would never need to be!), all such disputes shall be determined in the jurisdiction ofMcHenry County,Illinois- the domicile of Park-Ward Motors.I can hold the vehicle up to 30 days while you arrange shipping but you must immediately insure it.I will not bear any responsibility for any additional costs including storage, transportation, or repair after the close of the auction. Whereas I am happy to store the car in excess of 30 days from auction end, a cost of $35 per day shall apply beyond 30 days of auction end. Also, you must remember that this is a classic +/-45 year old vehicle, and while it is up to you, I do not recommend that you just "hop in and drive it across the country" until you have familiarised yourself with the car. At least, I have never done that. I have always professionally transported the cars in enclosed carriers from where I bought them to my home or office. PLEASE; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, CONTACT ME BEFORE YOU CONTEMPLATE DOING SO AS, RESPECTFULLY, THERE CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS. I am sorry if these terms seem harsh but there seem to be some very unrealistic buyers out there - fortunately, only few of these people exist but those that do can make life difficult, so it appears EVERYTHING needs to spelled out. Very simply put, this is an old car being offered for sale. It is not new and is subject to the perils of age. Further, Rolls-Royces are not without nuances, idiosyncrasies and they are renown for a host of design issues which can make them not inexpensive to maintain. This is well documented in many circles. You need to be a special and considerate type of purchaser to ownaRolls-Royce. Their down-side is part of the fun in owning them! As the old saying goes; "we love to hate them and hate to love them!" So, please respect the terms and conditions when you bid.
~~oo00oo~~
VALUES: Rolls-Royce values vary wildly, entirely dependent on their condition. There are, of course, other aspects that add or subtract from their values - Long Wheel Base versus regular, the year which dictated certain technical changes, etc. The colour alone, for example can make a big difference. So for the benefit of new-comers to the marque please see the approximate guide to values based on a particular model below. Please remember, these are "plus-or-minus" figures:
Year: 1973-1976 Make: Rolls-Royce Model: Silver Shadow
Show car: $45,000+ Exceptional: $35-45,000 Excellent: $25-35,000 Good: $18-25,000 Average: $12-18,000 Fair: $6-12,000 Basket case: < $6,000
Hopefully this will provide a reference point for the Rolls-Royce being featured in this listing as it compares to the range of different condition examples.Please note, a very poor condition example that is tired and not maintained can easily demand some $30,000 in restoration to make it a "nice" example but remember, it will be no longer original. So don't be fooled by "cheap buys". For any specific questions about this unique example of a Rolls-Royce, please do not hesitate to contact me.
According to the London based investment research firm; Historic Automobile Group International, classic cars have appreciated on average, 13% per year since 1980, whilst overall stock values averaged an 11% gain over the same period. The following graph charts the value of collectible cars vs. the S&P500.
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