The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car built, in various forms, by the British manufacturer Rolls-Royce between 1965 and 1980. It was the first Rolls-Royce to use unitary body and chassis construction, and notably used a hydropneumatic suspension system, licenced from Citroën, which gave superior ride quality .

In 1977 the model underwent a significant revamp and was renamed the Silver Shadow II. Externally the Shadow II (and Bentley T2 version) featured a chin spoiler, rubber bumpers and shallower grilles. Under the bonnet, new components included rack-and-pinion steering and modifications to the front suspension (which markedly improved the handling), while the interior styling was comprehensively revised. (The Silver Wraith II arrived at the same time, essentially the same car with a four-inch longer wheelbase.) 

While the original Shadow had a 6.2-litre V8 engine, in 1970 this was replaced with a 6.75-litre derivative, and a three-speed automatic gearbox replaced the original four-speed version. This change reflected the bigger engine’s increased power and torque. 

In total 8425 Shadow IIs were built, until the model was replaced by the Silver Spirit in 1981.  

Although this particular Silver Shadow II history has been difficult to come by‪,‬ we can see upon its manufacture and registration in April of 1981‪, evidence is available ‬advising that the vehicle was released into Central London‪,‬ which could tally up with its present low mileage and paperwork‪.‬ 

In its most recent years‪,‬ the Silver Shadow had joined an enthusiasts collection in Hampshire‪,‬ where it currently resides but due to collection size‪,‬ the vendor is now ready to set the Shadow free for a new venture‪.‬

Although it does not need one, being over 40 years old, it’s MOT test remains current until April and passed the last one with no advisories.

The Shadow comes with its original leather document folder which contains the service book, which has a good number of stamps from Rolls Royce dealers and there is a thick wad of receipts from the Rolls Royce London service centre for other maintenance.

Climb into the Shadow II and the slab of exquisite wood across the dashboard dominates the view. Its a dark timber with fine lacquer which has a deep, glossy finish with no scratches or marks. 

The veneer continues into the door tops, which are also excellent. The Bakelite steering wheel looks good ahead of the wood, the leather dash top and lower sections are beautiful dark hide and match the black seats. These have held their shape perfectly, there is just a little patina of wear the the finish of drivers bolster.

Under foot there is a thick black carpet complemented by the factory lambswool mats.

With its lively metallic blue paint sparkling, this Rolls Royce has a fresh and enticing look, the bright exterior complementing the dark cabin. The paint has an excellent finish over unblemished panels, and the chrome and stainless brightwork holds a brilliant shine.

Being a luxury car of the early ‘80s it has part painted stainless hubcaps, which are dazzling.

Being a 1980 Silver Shadow, the vehicles comes with the 6750cc V8 motor, producing 189bhp, twinned with a Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission, allowing for a smooth and relaxed driving experience, with enough power to get you down the road. 

High production numbers of the Silver Shadow led to plenty of the cars appearing on the second-hand market; many owners who’d picked them up at attractive prices tried to run them on a budget and failed to maintain the cars to the necessary standards. Those cars have now largely disappeared, and sound examples like this are increasingly scarce. and consequently, values are on the rise.

Famous around the world, the Rolls-Royce brand name is renowned for high-end luxury and refinement, and the Silver Shadow II exemplifies that reputation. With its striking looks and largely original interior, this offers the chance to cruise in comfort and style