Stunning example. A beautiful Shadow II from America's best in RR & Bs.

Description for Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1974

Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow

"LWB"
Long Wheel Base

1974

Restored with adoration by Rolls-Royce experts ~ in lovely condition.

This is a gorgeous presenting Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base ("LWB") sedan finished in unique and factory correct 2-tone Larch Green Scots Pine with a matching dark green Everflex vinyl top. It has hand-painted moss green fine lines to the waist-rails and hubcap beauty trim rings complemented accordingly. The interior is finished in light tan/beige Connolly leather and contrasting pale moss green carpeting to "draw-in" the exterior. The carpet is bound in matching tan Connolly leather with the same theme carrying thru to the boot. The 2-tone green exterior with tan & green interior combination may sound odd but is very elegant on this example. Of course, you would need to like green as your colour - in my case, I love it!

The long wheel base version of the Silver Shadow is 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 car was a Californian car most of its life but little is known of its history. It did sit for several years. When we received the car it was in good shape and certainly an above average example but with faded paint - all original paint however so a good testament to originality. Mechanically, we went right thru her bringing all services major and minor up to date.

The exterior of the car was straight and rust free with the underside clean and tidy. The paint was entirely original but faded and lightly crazed and the Eveflex top also faded (but not split or rusty underneath). We decided to give her the "full monty" and repaint her with a brand new Eveflex top. The paint job is stunning and was a proper respray of some $18,000 and carried out by Park-Ward's dedicated paint team. The paint is now perfect without a single stone-chip, scratch or mark. Not a single one!

When the car was repainted, every single trim and fitment was removed: bumpers, headlights, tail-lights, mouldings, front window, rubbers, even the bonnet and boot lids were removed. The car was repainted in clear over base with not one coat of clear but three (3) to allow wet-sanding back to a factory flat and glass-like finish. Inside door edges and jams were not done as they remained in excellent original condition. The new fine-lines were painted by steady-hand & squirrel brushes in accordance with the Rolls-Royce/Bentley tradition.

All stainless steel was machined buffed and then hand-polished before final assembly so they look stunning. This includes the grill, headlight brows, rocker spears, hubcaps and minor finishers.

A brand new Everflex top was fitted with new window rubbers to meet factory specifications. The centre area of the roof between stitching has the correct under-padding as per factory methods.

The interior of the car is in fact the delightful opposite. Absolutely original and in stunning un-touched condition. The interior leather is entirely original Connolly from the factory. The leather finish displays the "toned hand-tanning" look that Rolls-Royce was doing for a limited time up until the late 70s. The leather is not just a light tan colour; if you look closely, you will see a toned or "burnished" effect which gives the leather an antique look. It is a very traditional look and is simply elegant. The interior is without any tears or unsightly wear marks. Now, you need to be able to relate to the tradition of "Natural patina". The leather in this car is what it is supposed to look like and what international buyers are always striving for. If you are of the type that the leather needs to look "brand new" like a show-room Cadillac then this car may not be for you. The added benefit to the interior is not only the look, but just how soft and supple it remains (please see pix of our "scrunch test").

The factory correct pure wool broad cloth headlining is also original and in very good condition (only with some slight marks below the rear window which cannot be seen behind the rear headrests). Door panels, interior chrome work, gauges and instruments are all in very fine condition.

The light African burl walnut on the doors were redone by Park-Ward and displays in the traditional high gloss Rolls-Royce glass-like finish. This was only done because the driver door had seat-belts chips in the lacquer and when you refinish a door capping, it is imperative to redo all doors for consistency. The dash and centre console, on the other hand, were left original. You will see some hairline fractures most notably on the glovebox lid. We elected NOT to redo because of the sake of "keeping as much as original as possible". If, however as a buyer you want perfection, we are happy to redo these for you also but really believe they are not warranted. Either way, with the beauty of only the best of burl walnut, the grain in this Silver Shadow displays a very intense grain and colour. From rich yellow ochres to deep reds and browns. It is truly stunning.

Mechanically the car is in very fine shape. It has been recently thoroughly work-shopped by Park-Ward with all the hydraulics/braking system serviced and working well. All services are brought up to date to include important expensive items - such as brake pumps, accumulators, calipers, pads and brake lines, by example - having been done. The engine truly purrs and gear-change is smooth and quiet. The car is very spritely in power which is a good sign of a well cared for and good condition motor. The odometer reads 68,220 miles and although not verifiable, the car looks every bit a low mileage example.

Tyres are also cool, in that they are the original Michelin X whitewalls. These alone show how well the car have been cosseted and are a great to have if you are showing the car as "original". Of course, these exact tyres have not been available for purchase for some 20 years so they are old and if you intend to do highway driving, a replacement is recommended. For pottering around and "showing" leave them, as they are a great touch!. You may wish to talk to us about what your needs will be. The hubcaps are straight and the stainless steel shiny having all been machine buffed and polished.

A/C blows ice cold and the heater works well. Electricals are all serviced so windows, seats and features & functions work as they should. All interior and exterior lighting has been checked with all bulbs and lamps operating correctly.
All features, functions and electrics have been checked right down to the smallest and insignificant dash and courtesy light. The car has its original radio and 8-track cassette player.

• Paint & exterior - $22,000
• Interior refurbishment including new wood - $3,000
• Mechanical service and repairs - $14,000
• Sundry restoration items & procedures - $3,000

Please understand, this is not a Silver Shadow "tidied up" in 30 days for resale, but the result of preservation methods and techniques that has take us over a year. The final product is a Silver Shadow LWB very comfortably ranking as a 10-out-of-10 driver quality example.

~~ 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 35 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 42 year old car is predominantly comprised of 42 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 42 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. 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 of McHenry 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 +/-42 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 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.

~~ **IMPORTANT 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. We call this; "Predelivery Commissioning". Who else selling a Rolls-Royce on eBay does this?! Depending on our work load, please allow approximately 14-21 business days for this procedure. We will keep you posted every step of the way. 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: 1974-1976
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base
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.

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