Description
NOW SOLD 13/ 08/ 25
It is with huge regret that I am forced to part with my beloved Silver Shadow 2 which I have owned since 2013. The car was originally finished in Shell Grey but was subject to a major overhaul in 2007 and was resprayed, evidence of which is in the extensive history file. During my ownership it has been regularly serviced either by me or specialised repairers (Bowling-Ryan in most cases) and I have full records of all repair work carried out and parts replaced. In 2018 (at 079025 miles) it was subject to a major overhaul of the braking system when all brake calipers and associated hoses were replaced. Further repairs include new alternator, fuel pump, air conditioning compressor, battery, electronic ignition module, coil and uprated HT leads. In 2023 it was professionally Waxoyled. It was subject to a £1. 8k service carried out by Bowling-Ryan in June this year and successfully passed its annual MOT with no defects or advisories in July. MOT expiry date is August 2026.
The bodywork is generally good. There have been light repairs carried out to the usual rust areas but it still presents well. It has a few stone chips and I have tried to show the poor areas on the photographs but I am happy to provide more if required. The red rear RR motif and the non-vented wheel trims were my preference however I will include the correct vented trims along with any spare parts I have.
The interior is clean and also in good order. The leatherwork is generally good although it had been neglected prior to my ownership. I regularly feed all surfaces with Connolly Hide Cream but the "crazy paving" effect is still obvious. The woodwork is also good apart from scuff marks to the front passenger door capping and a small chip in the RHR capping. Everything works as it should - including the 8-track cartridge player - however the radio automatic aerial seems to have a mind of its own and will only work when it feels like it. I don't use the radio much as I have it tuned into a BlueTooth gadget which allows me to stream music and make calls from my phone.
Viewing is more than welcome but please contact me beforehand to arrange a mutually agreeable time. The car has a fascinating history; ordered in late 1978 and delivered in April of 1979 to the Ambassador to Iraq in Queen’s Gate, London, the car remained in it’s ambassadorial role until 1999 when it passed into private ownership. Eventually it was employed by two consecutive funeral directors and then returned to private ownership in 2009. It still has the wing mounted flagpole base fitted, along with the original flag of Iraq, a Union Jack and the flagpole. Diplomatic and original licence plates are also included.
As mentioned earlier, I bought the car in May 2013 from G. G. Stone Ltd of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the mileage reading on collection was 072512.
Back in 2003, I was operating a small wedding car hire business using two vintage Rolls-Royces hired to me by our local funeral director (a 1933 Phantom and a 1939 Wraith 25/ 30). I could see there was an opening for smaller weddings using a less ostentatious carriage and so decided to source a Shadow. Sadly the first one wasn’t a good one, hidden rust and very poor maintenance had taken it’s toll and although it served admirably, I decided to replace it with what became affectionately known as the Ambassador. It didn’t take long for me to realise that I had made a good choice, and although it had it’s faults, I grew very fond of it and decided that even if I didn’t use it for weddings, I would keep it. Always a pleasure to drive, nowadays I try to take it out every couple of weeks for a thirty mile round trip along a semi-tortuous route around the southern Lake District, even during the winter months, to keep the old girl happy. I am truly sorry to part with it but deteriorating health and a smidgeon of old age has forced my hand.
