1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II

Originally finished in Shell Grey Metallic, a mini-restoration in 1994 saw this Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II change its colour ever-so-slightly to Shell Grey Metallic over Dark Tudor Grey Metallic, the latter chosen because it was a factory option when  ‘EMV 462T’ was new. 

Dark Red coachlines decorate its flanks and hubcaps, and it further boasts Claret hide seats, doors and console furniture, with Black hide being used for the top of the dashboard and the knee roll. The headlining is also leather, in this case Magnolia and the combination is stunning.

It was fitted with a factory handling kit comprising new dampers and springs  in 1991, and it sits on a matching set of Avon Turbosteel tyres, so it handles every bit as well as it looks.

It’s also the culmination of a childhood dream for the seller, whose dad gave him a book in 1978 in which he’d written: “We’ll have one of these one day.”

Sadly, that didn’t happen, but it was an itch the seller simply had to scratch – and scratch it he did back in 2022 when he bought this one from renowned independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists Ghost Motors.

He’s had his fun now and needs the space, so he’s reluctantly decided that now is the time to let it go.

Don’t dally though, because he wobbled when he dropped it off and wobbled again as we were writing this advert, and we suspect it wouldn’t take much to tip him over the edge and have him knocking on our door asking for his keys back…

The bare metal respray in 1994 is holding up well, but then the clear HPI report, meticulous record keeping, and tight and consistent shutlines all suggest this is not a car with an interesting past.

On the contrary, all the signs are that great care has been taken to preserve the bodywork over the past three decades because it is still free of significant dents and dinks. No ripples disturb the reflections the still-shiny paintwork casts either, and its vulnerable corners are free of scuffs and scrapes. 

But the years start to show as you get closer with issues that include blistering and split paint on all four wings, corrosion on both sills and wheel arches, and the typical lead cracks around the windscreen and at the base of the rear window.

There is also a scratch on the nearside front wing plus another on the adjacent door. Rust and chips around the tailgate and its surrounding panel too, plus sun-damaged rear lamp units, a wonky offside front bumper, and perished rubber seals on the offside door mirror, rear window, windscreen, and boot. 

Quality remains though because the doors still latch with an authority you simply don’t find in any new car, no matter what your budget: This is a car that was properly engineered and hang the budget – but then it was designed at a time when society admired engineers, not accountants.

Previous owners have played their part, no least in ensuring that the Handling Package is supported by only the best tyres, in this case 235/70R15 Avon Turbosteels, probably the very best tyre of them all for a fast British saloon of the era. All have plenty of tread left on them, although they are old and starting to crack.

The plentiful chrome work is in a very good condition too with barely any pitting and tarnishing and only light scratches. The imposing radiator shroud, grille, and Spirit of Ecstasy all still look utterly fabulous.

Even the smaller details are sublime, like headlamps that are kept clean by brushes rather than rubber wipers, and the hand-painted coachlines that hint at what’s to come when you open a door.

So, let’s get on and do just that, shall we?

The seats were re-Connolised in their original Claret Red as part of the car’s refurbishment in 1994, a £7,000 investment that also saw the air-conditioning system overhauled.

The front seats have developed a few creases and lost a little bit of colour but this is a Goldilocks patina that’s neither too much nor, crucially, too little because nothing looks worse than amateurishly filled and dyed leather seats.

Further desirability comes from heavy chrome controls that have a heft to their operation; whether by completing a circuit or operating a mechanical linkage, there’s satisfaction to be had in operating your car instead of delegating it to a computer – and don’t get us started on how much easier it’ll be to keep your Silver Shadow running in the next 50 years than it will a modern Rolls-Royce.

Further satisfaction comes via the armrests on the front doors, which can be adjusted for height, and the velvet-lined slots between the front seats that stop your 8-track tapes rattling around – and yes, you will be able to play through them because the dashboard holds an (untested; funnily enough, we didn’t have any to hand…) Blaupunkt 8-track player.

The Magnolia hide headlining is clean, taut, and free of damage, thereby fulfilling every expectation you could reasonably make of it, and the deep-pile carpets are still clean and fluffy. 

The rear-seat passengers enjoy very good legroom plus footrests, illuminated walnut-framed mirrors, leather Duchess straps above the doors, reading lamps, and coat hooks.

The boot is vast and clean and contains a car cover. Lifting the red carpet uncovers soundproofing, and lifting that up shows good metal with only a smattering of light corrosion to contend with. 

As for flaws, the vent below the radio is damaged and the veneer at the top of the driver’s door is showing its age.

The Silver Shadow’s service regimen is detailed in its history file but the TL:DR is 15 stamps between 1979 and 1994, with the cost of the work between 1987 and 1994 alone adding up to a little over £23,000.

There are two more stamps from Ghost Motors for service work in December 2019 at 78,345 miles and January 2022 at 79,471 miles.

Other significant work includes a service, which included fresh coolant and differential oil as well as machine polishing the coachwork in January 2021, and fitting four new front brake calipers and an alternator in July 2019. 

As you can see, the Silver Shadow fires into life willingly, and quickly builds good oil pressure, even at working temperature. It revs keenly too, with the V8 engine’s customary smoothness and hush. There are no odd noises either, nor excessive smoke from the (discreetly fruity) exhaust system.

The seller reports that it has been “as good as gold” and is full of praise for the Handling Package. He went on to say that he wouldn’t hesitate to drive it to Cornwall and back before confiding that isn’t something he’d have been able to say of his Jensen Interceptor.

The engine bay is clean and neatly presented. If you were to spend a few hours replacing rusty fasteners and repainting a few of the steel components then few would accuse you of being overly fussy – but if you were to leave things exactly as they are now few would think you slovenly. 

Examining the underside reveals a rusty exhaust system that may be getting near the end of its useful life, plus extensive corrosion to the front of both sills, which was mentioned as an advisory during the MoT test in 2024 but wasn’t commented on during its last.

Because the Silver Shadow’s MoT certificate, which was issued with no advisories, is valid until April 2027.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it was first supplied by Mann Egerton of Nottingham on the 5th of April 1979. The first owner kept it for a little over a year and 10,907 miles before it passed to its second, and a full list of names, dates, and mileages forms part of the impressive history file, along with a few notes on each owner.

Further contents include the original wallet to hold the Owner’s Handbook and Literature, the actual handbook and literature including a booklet for the uprated suspension package, and service books for the Silver Shadow and its air-conditioning system.

NB: The private registration number you see in the photos has been retained, and it has reverted to its original number of EMV 462T.

Quite possibly the definitive Rolls-Royce, the Silver Shadow is still capable of stunning you with its otherworldly combination of civility and power. 

As long as you buy the right one, of course and what you want to see is exactly what this example offers: A meticulous record of maintenance with evidence of the right money being spent with the right people on the right things – and this one also offers the handling package upgrade, which addresses what was probably the model’s only significant weakness.

With this in mind, you’d have every right to expect this to be one of the more expensive examples being offered for sale today – and if it were being sold by an independent Rolls-Royce specialist then that would undoubtably be the case.

But we suspect this one will sell for somewhere between £15,000 and £18,000, which represents staggering value for money – and if you’re the sort of person who also takes a pride in maintaining their cars properly, it could last a lifetime.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.