Original, clean, immaculate & fully serviced in rare, elegant colour combination
1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow - Wraith II for sale in Barrington, Illinois, United States
Item location: | Barrington, Illinois, United States |
Make: | Rolls-Royce |
Model: | Silver Shadow |
SubModel: | - Wraith II |
Type: | 4 door sedan |
Trim: | - II |
Year: | 1978 |
Mileage: | 62,500 |
VIN: | LRG-032936 |
Color: | Pewter (Sage green/grey metallic) |
Engine size: | 6.75 Liter Rolls-Royce V8 |
Number of cylinders: | 8 |
Power options: | Air Conditioning, Cruise Control, Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Drive type: | Rear wheel drive |
Interior color: | Biscuit leather interior with beige carpets |
Options: | Cassette Player, CD Player, Leather Seats |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Want to buy? | Contact seller! |
Description for Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1978
Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith II
1978
A stunning and beautiful presenting example!
Here is a really fine and original example of a Silver Wraith II. Finished in Pewter with a cream (light tan) Everflex vinyl top and matching fine lines to the waist-rails. The interior has handsome Biscuit tan Connolly hides with cream piping and matching Wilton carpets in the reverse combination. The same tan and cream theme carries through to the boot.
The Silver Wraith II is the long wheel base version of the Silver Shadow II. Easily identified by the small rear window (opera window) and standard fitment Everflex vinyl top, it is 4” longer in the rear door. This provides a noticeable increase in rear passenger space.
This is an unmolested example that has been beautifully maintained and presents in excellent condition. It is entirely all original in presentation with no modifications - right down to the original Blaupunkt push button radio and separate cassette player. This was an Arizona car all its life so it is a “dry” car that has had a garaged environment. As a result, it has been freed from the perils of harsh weather and is very clean underneath and completely rust free! It has always been well maintained and serviced and comes with its original manual.
The Silver Wraith II presented here has been work-shop inspected with all work needed is carried out. Important costly items such as the hydraulics and brakes are fully inspected and serviced as required. This includes checking of all brake hoses and system pressure tested and bled. It is ready to drive and enjoy. The odometer shows a low 60,700 and although this is not verifiable, the mileage is commensurate with the condition (particularly when you look at the condition of the interior, under-hood, brake pedal etc). It is very quiet and smooth on the road without any of the typical “thumps” and “rattles” typical of poor (or even averagely) maintained examples of this model.
The interior looks close to perfect. The Connolly hide leather is in absolutely outstanding condition with no tears nor fading and very supple and soft – true to its Connolly characteristics. The leather has never been redyed but simply lovingly preserved. A great welcome with true “original leather” is the colour characteristics. If you look at the pictures of the interior, there are some close up shots that clearly show the colour is not just plain tan, but with a “burnished” tone to the leather. You can see the honey tan base and then in the fine natural grain of the leather is a darker tone. This natural quasi “antique” leather look (like a Chesterfield couch) was achieved by the hand rubbing Connollising technique that made this leather so famous and for which its name now describes the correct procedure for refinishing leather – “Connollising”. Leather that has been re-dyed by typical methods is “mono-toned” featuring only the 1 primary colour. As such, it lacks depth and richness that unrestored Connolly hide has to offer.
The burr walnut wood throughout the car is stunning. They are also completely factory original and yet in fantastic condition without any marks or blemishes so regularly seen on Silver Shadows. The finish on the wood throughout is simply stunning and is like glass. And, with the gracious offering of Mother Nature, the wood grain in this example is simply divine with a very rich ochre hue combination of light and dark knots and a pattern that is breathtakingly beautiful. It is truly amongst the best we have seen!
The head lining is original and in good condition with no water staining or marks. The original Wilton wool carpets with leather binding are in good condition. Likewise is the leather finish to the dash and top-roll. The boot (trunk) carpet with the same theme is also in good condition.
The car has dark tinted windows all round giving her a very formal look.
The body on this Wraith II is very straight and the paint is shiny and lustrous. The car was repainted some10 years ago and was a very high quality job. The finish is entirely consistent. When you look down the sides of the car, they are very straight and true. The paint presents beautifully with only the most minor little mark here and there from use but consistent with a low-mileage recent paint job. Certainly, it needs nothing other than a wax from time to time. The Everflex vinyl top, standard fitment on all Wraith IIs, is excellent.
The car has Michelin XH4 white-wall tyres fitted with plenty of tread and the hubcaps are excellent with no imperfections in the stainless rings or caps. All remaining bright-work is in good condition. All electrics have been checked right down to the smallest and insignificant dash and courtesy light.
Under the bonnet, the presentation is amazing. It has not been precision detailed but simply kept clean and tidy throughout its life. The under-bonnet heat pads are great! You must take the time to look at the photos of the engine bay as its presentation is like that of only a 5 year old example. Simply stunning!
As you would expect, this Wraith II comes with its original jack, correct tools and operating manual. The car is of very high standard and is an easy 9 out of 10 driver rating.
Please remember, all Park-Ward cars are fully workshopped examples with anything needing doing, attended to by professional in-house Rolls-Royce craftsmen. As part of our dedication to excellence, when a car is sold, it then undergoes a "Predelivery Commissioning process" to ready the car for complete turn-key delivery including all oil services up to date. Our motto is to "get her right the first time" and so we will never ship any of our cars in compromise to this commitment.
~~ This stately Wraith II is an excellent condition representation of the marque that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. It makes for an excellent driver for either everyday driving or sunny weekend enjoyment. Take her to your next Rolls-Royce meet and you will attract attention! ~~
Interesting information on the Silver Shadow II series
The “II” mark provided considerable improvement over the earlier Silver Shadow. In 1977, the model was renamed the SilverShadow II in recognition of several major changes, most notably rack and pinion steering, modifications to the front suspension which improved handling markedly, a dual exhaust along with the first-to-market fully automatic dual system air-conditioning system and a modernised and improved dash lay-out. The model represents the pinnacle in design features for the Silver Shadow series that started production in 1966.
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 some 150 high resolution photos
Stunning Biscuit tan leather with contrasting cream piping
- all original and very supple.
All beautiful chrome and bright-work.
Absolutely stunning 100% original wood - never refinished.
Absolutely stunning original wood - never refinished.
Beautiful rich ochre grains.
The look of undyed leather. A base colour with a rich darker burnish to the grain.
Very soft and supple front seat cushions
Entirely original un-dyed Connolly leather in super supple soft condition.
Click HERE to see some 150 high resolution 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-shopped”. 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 syndrome”. All tracks, chains and gears are lubricated. Where central locking is fitted, these are all serviced to ensure no “solenoid sticking”, 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.
**PLEASE read auction terms and conditions below BEFORE bidding.**
~~ 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 should be undertaken BEFORE you bid or make an offer and I openly welcome any potential buyer to come and personally inspect the car. 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 25 year old car is predominantly comprised of 25 year old parts. And old parts will fail. 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 25 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 most US states, the mileage may be recorded as “exempt”. 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. 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 +/-25 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.
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 own a Rolls-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~~
~~ **Please note: As a professional collector and experienced restorer, I have my own Rolls-Royce dedicated workshop with qualified craftsmen on hand; The Park-Ward Motor Museum. As a passionate collector of the marque I take great pride and pleasure in passing on any of these great cars to its next owner (“caretaker”). In so doing, once this Rolls-Royce is sold, I will put the car thru my workshop to ensure that it is mechanically sound and all major features and functions are operating as described even though the car is contractually being sold "as-is". Certain items such as final electrical tests and hydraulic pressure checks are usually left for this stage as these are considered "commissioning procedures". In this case, this will include the air conditioning system of this car. This and considerable other work will be performed after the sale and before delivery. This is all done at NO CHARGE. Who else selling a Rolls-Royce on eBay does this?! Depending on our work load, please allow approximately 7-10 business days for this procedure. For more information on the Park-Ward Motor Museum and our skills, please eBay message me and I would be happy to show you some 100 Rolls-Royces restored to varying levels over the last few years ~~
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: 1977-1980
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Silver Shadow II
Show car: $45,000+
Exceptional: $35-40,000
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.