Description
* SOLD*
NEW MOT 08. 10. 25 passed with no advisories**
Selling my beloved early Silver Shadow, as just not using it. This car has only got 38, 591 miles on the clock from new, with a history folder to match.
The car is a rare early 1968 Silver Shadow with chrome bumpers and the desireable African burl walnut wooden Chippendale dash and chrome knobs, rear fold-down picnic tables, with no P on the gear selector. Only a small handful were made like this making it very rare, desirable and highly collectable.
Engine is the earlier 6. 2l V8 via the 4 speed auto gearbox.
Originally purchased by Sam Longson OBE, Chairman of Derby County FC, who famously appointed Brian Clough as manager. Mr Longson owned the car for 6 years, using it very sparingly, owing to the fact he owned several other cars, including a Cloud III with the reg SNU 1. He also owned the largest fleet of lorries in the UK at the time.
The Silver Shadow left the factory as Shell Grey over Tudor Grey, with red leather hides and an Ambler grey leather headlining. Fine lines on body and wheel trims are both handprinted in Brick Red to complement the interior. Carpets were grey with red piping, grey lambswool over rugs and grey/ red piped footstools. Mr Longson used the reg 5 EBJ, which would stay with the car until it was removed in 1998.
When I bought the car in 2022, it was in good condition, but had been sprayed in all Shell Grey at some point. After getting the original spec from the RREC, I decided a restoration back to factory colours was needed. The car went to D&B Coachworks for a loving glass out, panels off restoration in late 2022. The rear of the OSR sill and front lower valance areas had evidence of corrosion. This was cut out with both areas treated to new panels with photographic evidence of the before and after. The car was then treated to 4 layers of base coat and 4 layers of lacquer which was flattened and polished to its now glass finish. The fine lines were then hand painted once again in the correct shade of Brick Red. All windows and frames were removed and new rubbers fitted.
Original carpets were old and stained in places, so a new set was made for the car in exactly the same matching colours, grey with red piping. Lambswool rugs are the originals and in great shape, not surprising given the low mileage.
The original speakers and old AM radio were useless, so I had the radio internals replaced with Bluetooth, fully controllable from a smartphone and the speakers replaced with a modern sized equivalent. The sound is now very respectable for a car of this age where audio wasn’t a consideration.
Braking system required an overhaul as lights illuminated on the dash, so the original accumulators were replaced, various hoses replaced, new brake fluid resevoir pump filters, a completed system flush, a new set of discs and pads and 4 new tyres were fitted.
The engine has benefited from a thorough service with 8 new Lucas plugs, leads, oil, oil filter, air filter, pollens filter, coolant flush, power steering fluid change, new ignition amplifier and various seals to rectify minor oil leaks.
The car has also had a new exhaust system fitted.
The original soft red leather hides were cleaned, lightly connolised where needed and oiled.
The whole car was then thoroughly detailed and polished to present to bring the car up to the high standard it demonstrates today.
The car also comes with its original folder and all papers from 1968, handbook, 2 service books with stamps, original invoice, some old MOTs, HPI document and even the card that dangles over the chrome controls to explain their function. The original tool kit is also present, but looks to be a spanner missing.
Reluctant sale, but the car isn’t used, (70 miles in 3 years). I would be amazed if there is a better, lower mileage car available.
Car is HISTORIC tax class, but now has a fresh, clean pass MOT to demonstrate the car's quality.
