Highlights

Attractive coupé styling
Comprehensive inspection report
Previously overhauled
Owned by one family since 1971, with one previous owner before that
1 of 369 MPW Coupes produced

The Appeal

If ever there was a car which we could call a “people’s” luxury vehicle, surely the Silver Shadow would be a contender. It brought the Spirit of Ecstasy within reach of a wider audience and has been introducing people to Rolls-Royce ownership ever since.

But this particular example is a coupé-bodied Shadow, built by Mulliner Park Ward. The two door body has attractive, sweeping lines while still retaining the politely imposing stance of any Rolls-Royce.

It is in need of recommissioning for use on the road, and comes with a thorough inspection report from Frank Dale — set out below — which details the work required. So it will make a great project and a superbly impressive motorcar once complete. It's certainly a rare project too - Just 571 MPWs were built, with 369 of those reportedly built in RHD. If that wasn't enough to tempt you, it's been owned by one family since 1971, with just one owner prior to that.

The History and Paperwork

First registered 22nd January 1968
Originally purchased by an ex-Army major from supplying dealer Howells of Cardiff
Purchased by the current owner’s grandfather in 1971 with 22,000 miles on the odometer
The car was stored off the road for some time before a partial restoration was undertaken by Healey Brothers in 1997
Another overhaul was undertaken in 2010
Comes with a recent professional assessment by Frank Dale
Road Tax and MOT exempt
The private registration number ‘8777 DA’ is included in the sale
The current V5C shows 0 former keepers. But the vendor tells it has had at least 3 owners in the same family since 1971, plus the original owner in 1968

The Interior

The interior is in very good condition for its age, with few signs of wear throughout
The headlining is clean secure and is not sagging
The carpets would benefit from cleaning but are otherwise well presented and retain a deep pile.
Front seats showing some patina/cracking in the leather due to their age but there are no signs of any rips or tears.
The rear seats are in an excellent state of preservation
The dashboard veneers and door tops present very well, with only a few small blemishes on the outer edges of the front doors and some dulling to the lacquer
Full complement of instruments and switches
Commodious boot to the rear

The Exterior

The bodywork is in generally very good condition, with only a few very slight creases noted on the NSR wing, visible only at certain angles
The paintwork along the flanks of the vehicle is in good order
But there is some fading on the upper faces of the wings roof, bonnet and boot panels
The vendor has treated a small area with cutting compound and some of the shine was restored
The chrome badge rail, grille, Spirit of Ecstasy, window trims and other trim pieces are in good condition, with only a little dulling and age-related patina,
There are no obviously missing trim pieces.
The electrically operated aerial is currently inoperable
All four wheels are shod in Avon Turbospeed tyres, which are said to be in good condition

The Mechanics

This Shadow is being sold as a restoration project, due to requiring a full mechanical overhaul and recommissioning
The car has reportedly starts, runs and drives
Its recent running has been limited to loading/unloading from transport to-and-from Frank Dale (see report below), to avoid unnecessary stress on the braking system
The engine bay itself is in well patinated condition, so it would be highly receptive to detailing
A full assessment and report on the car’s mechanical condition has been carried out - please see below:

Road Test

Due to the braking systems being inadequate, no road test has been carried out – once brakes / hydraulics have been attended to, a road test shall be carried out and further items may be reported
Recommend full service, ideally full hydraulic service
Most rubbers / perishables generally show signs of ageing / cracking

Engine & Transmission Items

Engine belts old and sitting low in pulley grooves
Slight play in water pump and sign of leak on pump body
Engine oil dipstick is dirty and traces of hard matter present, note / rectify in service
Oil pressure tests well
Front of engine wet / oily - clean and tighten, run, recheck, and report further if necessary
Rocker covers damp / weeping - clean and tighten / recommend resealing
Sides of engine are wet - clean and tighten, run, recheck, and report further if necessary
Carbs wet around float chambers and jets - recommend removing and resealing carburettors as necessary.
Short stove pipe is broken - renew stove pipe with carburettor reseal.
Coolant level was low
Some fuel hoses are hard - recommend renewing fuel hoses
OSR engine mount is cracking and has oil contamination but is not split
Front engine mount has oil contamination but is not split
Gearbox leaking around selector shaft / linkages - clean and tighten, run, recheck, and report further if necessary
Rear axle pinion damp - recommend renewing axle pinion seal
NS driveshaft seal / detroit plug wet - recommend renewing nearside driveshaft seal
OS driveshaft boot split - renew offside driveshaft boot

Steering & Suspension Items

PAS pump damp - clean and tighten, run, recheck, and report further if necessary
Steering column joint has play and boot is wet - recommend removing lower column and disassembling to investigate play
Bearing pins and washers worn / cracking - recommend renewing all bearing pins and washers
Panhard bar bushes completely gone - renew panhard bar bushes
OSF upper ball joint has excessive play - adjust play from OSF upper ball joint
NSF lower ball joint has excessive play - adjust play from NSF lower ball joint
Rear axle beam mounts split - renew rear axle beam mounts
Recommend renewing torque arm mounts at same time as axle beam mounts

Brakes & Hydraulics Items

No.2 braking system not working at all - investigation required - begin by removing rear brake pump
No.1 accumulator gas pressure at 30% remaining. Recommend removing and overhauling both accumulator spheres and valve bodies
Brake pumps appear corroded but dry
Brake reservoir levels were low
Reservoir lids were seized on
Front brake discs are banded type and corroding - recommend renewing front brake discs and pads
Front brake pads / caliper pistons, particularly inners, very tight to return / squeeze back
NSR brake disc a little greasy around centre witness holes
One height control hose is still original type fitted - recommend renewing all height control hoses
Rear brake and height control pipes are corroding - recommend cleaning and treating rear pipework as necessary
No casing over rear parking brake cables - recommend renewing both rear parking brake cables
Parking brake sticks on / is slow to release - service and cable renewals should rectify this, however further investigation could possibly be required

Electrical Items

A brand new replacement battery has been fitted.
Bonnet light not working - investigation required
Blower motor mounts are splitting - recommend renewing all blower motor mounts
OSF window not working - investigation required
OSR window sticks and won't open fully - investigation required
OS number plate light not working - investigation required
NS indicator tell-tale light not working - investigation required
NS inner headlamp lens is 'milky' - recommend renewing NS inner headlamp
Main beam tell-tale light is not working - investigation required
OSF fog light is not working - investigation required
No sound is coming through radio - investigation required
Fuel and coolant gauges stick and require tapping - remove gauges and send for specialist repair
Coolant gauge is reading hot - investigation required
Dynamo (brushes) buzz a little
Screen washers not working, fluid very dirty - investigation required

Other Items

Bonnet grommet missing - supply and fit bonnet grommets
Scuttle filter breaking up - renew scuttle filter
Cosmetic imperfections across body and general vehicle
Some body corrosion across lower panels and arches
Dents in driver’s door
Front body drain blocked and corroded - clear drain
Boot seal in poor condition - recommend renewing boot seal
NSF quarter light seized - investigation required
Demister not blowing hot to OS side of screen - investigation required
OSR bumper is loose - tighten rear bumper as necessary

Summary

In all, this Silver Shadow is a very attractive motorcar, especially as it’s a Mulliner Park Ward bodied coupé. It certainly deserves to be returned to the road, and with the comprehensive report provided you'll know what this work might entail.

Notice to bidders

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

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