Highlights
- Low mileage, late model Shadow I recently carefully recommissioned by the vendor, a longstanding Shadow specialist
- Beautiful ‘coffee and cream’ colour scheme of Nutmeg metallic with beige roof and cream interior
- Just serviced and sold with fresh 12 months MOT
- A very good condition Shadow that presents well, right down to the supple leather interior
- MOT and tax exempt
The Appeal
The Shadow was a sales success for Rolls-Royce and its fundamentals proved so effective that they underpinned the firm’s models well into the 1990s. Early Series 1 cars look very attractive with their chrome bumpers and well cared for cars deservedly command a premium.
This is such a car, a beautifully presented car with its attractive ‘coffee and cream’ colour scheme. Recently recommissioned after 12 years storage by the vendor, a well known Shadow specialist, it is a particularly low mileage example with good history and recent service and MOT. As the photographs show, it has lost none of the opulence and charm for which these cars were renowned when new.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered on 26th August 1976
- One of the last Series 1 Shadows built, so close to the end of production that it even carries a Shadow II rear badge
- Original factory hardback manual with stamped service book showing regular main dealer servicing up to 31,686 miles, with a handwritten testimonial from the previous owner covering most of the subsequent period
- Invoices exceeding £25,000 for the period 2004 and 2005, prior to the car’s storage, with work by well known Rolls-Royce specialist
- MOT to June 2024 with no advisories
- For transparency, the MOT records suggest that the regular tester appears to have mis-recorded the mileage by a small amount
- Recently recommissioned by the vendor including refurbishing the wood veneers by specialist HQ Lacquers, fitting new Avon TurboSteel tyres and a full service
The Interior
- Series 1 Shadow dashboard with sweep of unmarked light brown leather across the top
- Attractive cream leather interior with light brown highlights including the leather dash top and carpets
- Cruise control and appears to still have an original 8 track stereo
- Cream leather seats are supple and in excellent, unmarked condition
- Extensive wood veneers recently refurbished by vendor prior to sale and present in superb condition
- The various chrome features around the car are complete, working and in very good condition
- Excellent leather headlining in cream
This nearly 47 year old car retains all of the sense of occasion that must have impressed the first owner when they collected it from the Jack Barclay showroom in 1976. As a late model Shadow I it retains the lovely curve of leather across the dashtop, below which there is excellent and recently refurbished wood veneer housing the smattering of dials and chrome switchgear.
Even the sumptuous cream leather retain their suppleness, the leather looking fresh and free of the shiny, hard finish that can plague cars of this age. The carpets are in similarly very good condition. The overall effect is of a very light patina of age that adds to rather than detracts from the car’s character.
The Exterior
- Nutmeg metallic bodywork in very good condition with no visible marks or deterioration on inspection of the photographs
- Shadow I car but fitted with Shadow II badges
- Contrasting beige leather roof in very good condition with no obvious damage
- Factory chrome wheel embellishers with body colour finish in very good condition
- New Avon TurboSteel tyres recently fitted by vendor
- Underside shows some undersealing and areas of surface corrosion but nothing of concern and no advisories on MOT
- For completeness there is moisture in the offside front side light, the only issue we spotted around the car
The ‘coffee and cream’ colour scheme of this mid 70s car seems very much of its era yet still looks attractive and perfectly suited to the handsome lines of the Shadow. The paintwork is in excellent condition, likely helped by 12 years off the road in storage and that low mileage.
The Avon TurboSteel tyres are newly fitted and the underside reflects the bodywork condition, with no visible issues to be aware of. The car has a fresh MOT with no structural advisories.
The Mechanics
- 6.75litre Rolls-Royce V8 engine with 3spd automatic gearbox
- Serviced in readiness for sale by the vendor, a very experienced Shadow specialist
- Stamped main dealer service history to 31,686 miles in 1980
- Testimonial from previous owner stating ongoing service history from 34,000 miles at 4,000 mile intervals
- Significant invoices totalling £25,000 for work carried out in 2004 and 2005 by a Rolls-Royce specialist
Summary
The Silver Shadow brought Rolls-Royce luxury within the reach of owners who drove rather than were driven. Handsome and sold in surprising numbers - for Rolls-Royce - it blended very high levels of luxury with an ultra smooth ride.
This 1976 car was one of the last chrome bumper models built and looks remarkable, its Nutmeg metallic paintwork nicely accentuated by the beige roof and chrome detailing. A low mileage, low owner car it has clearly been cared for and benefits from comprehensive recommissioning by the vendor, including reconditioned veneers, a full service and fresh MOT. The supple leather seats look very inviting and offer a very comfortable reward for the lucky buyer.
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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