Always Tempted But Never Got The Wallet Out
Discussion
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225974412173?itmmeta=01...
For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
I hired a Bentley T1 for a few days once. It was fabulous. I've never enjoyed going slowly as much as I did with that car. A Shadow has been on my shortlist of affordable luxobarges just about forever, but I'm limiting myself to one at a time and I have my hands full at the moment. I would recommend trying a few. A good one is just lovely.
reddiesel said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225974412173?itmmeta=01...
For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
I know what you mean. I nearly ended up building them at Mulliner's after applying for apprenticship there in 1979 after leaving school, but ended up going in another direction instead.For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
I prefer the Shadow 1's though, the stick out federal bumpers of the Shad 2 just ruined the looks of the car for me.
reddiesel said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225974412173?itmmeta=01...
For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
Inglebys have had some very nice cars going through their hands, I'd go and take a shuftie if I were you.For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
Every time I see Silver Shadows and T Series Betleys at close quarters in the auction section at the NEC show my mind starts to wander and wonder in equal measure - the thought of actually owning one and using it regularly is very, very appealing.
This '68 T1 is lovely...
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1383210
Bluevanman said:
Only driven one once,it was like being on an extremely slow boat in choppy waters.Dreadful car
The only people who say that are those unable to adapt their driving style.Things happen differently in a Royce: you need to recalibrate away from the speed-on-demand nature of today's cars that flatter those of average ability and actually think about your driving. That said, a Harvey Bailey handling kit improves response no end.
OP: get it bought. See you around MK in the near future, I hope
Back in the day when I worked in the family garage, we had a Silver Shadow in with exhaust issues, which involved removing the manifolds…
They sound awesome with no exhaust whatsoever
I nearly got great one for £10k, in the early 2000’s , but went for a Elan S4 instead; from one extreme to the other.
They do reward a relaxed driving style, but if fuel wasn’t the ridiculous current price, I’d love one. Such a lovely place to be.
They sound awesome with no exhaust whatsoever
I nearly got great one for £10k, in the early 2000’s , but went for a Elan S4 instead; from one extreme to the other.
They do reward a relaxed driving style, but if fuel wasn’t the ridiculous current price, I’d love one. Such a lovely place to be.
My father owned a Silver Shadow in the 70s.
A real life Arthur Daley, he really was the epitome of an East End wheeler dealer who had 'done good'. He owned and raced greyhounds at London's many dog tracks and his favourite coat really was a sheepskin.
He ran his business out of a warehouse on the Commercial Road and sometimes let me park the Rolls on one of the surrounding streets.
A seventeen year old, cruising up the A13 in a gold Shadow, sawing at the wheel with no visible effect on the direction of travel.
Great memories.
A real life Arthur Daley, he really was the epitome of an East End wheeler dealer who had 'done good'. He owned and raced greyhounds at London's many dog tracks and his favourite coat really was a sheepskin.
He ran his business out of a warehouse on the Commercial Road and sometimes let me park the Rolls on one of the surrounding streets.
A seventeen year old, cruising up the A13 in a gold Shadow, sawing at the wheel with no visible effect on the direction of travel.
Great memories.
Never really been my bag really, but I can see the appeal.
If you twisted my arm and said I must have a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, then this would have to be the one to fit that bill:
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1635019
Actually, looking at it, I would buy that for my fantasy lottery win garage.
If you twisted my arm and said I must have a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, then this would have to be the one to fit that bill:
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1635019
Actually, looking at it, I would buy that for my fantasy lottery win garage.
Having had one (Shadow II) for 20-years (family-owned for 35+ years and having driven it from day 1), I feel reasonably qualified to comment. They do now feel 'small' (well, relatively) in that they no longer feel wide or high cars. Originally the car felt much bigger and higher than virtually everything else on the roads, Range Rovers excepted (height-wise). It used to tower over the original Minis, for example. Now, not so much, with the bigger SUVs, ie Q8s, pickups etc., being huge.
It is still a long car, however, but manoeuvring it is easy because you can see all four corners quite easily; I find it far easier to reverse, for example, than many modern cars because you can see out of the back of it.
That is an early Shadow II (no headlight wipers, side marker lights) and judging from the seats the mileage could be correct - my seats look similar, genuine 40,000 miles). Whilst originally I preferred the chrome bumpers, the later ones now seem quite normal. The II drives much better than the Shadow I, IMHO, as they have rack & pinion steering, however, they are still quite 'soft'. Fitting Harvey Bailey suspension (anti-roll bars, springs, dampers) made a noticeable difference, it's still relatively soft but a marked improvement in roll etc., not dissimilar to the way the Range Rovers changed over the years. It also has a later, smaller and thicker steering wheel. RR offered a similar, but not identical, handling kit: not all HB-equipped cars had the full kit.
Whilst they were seen as complex back in the day, they're nothing like as complex as a modern car. The beauty of the Shadows is that they drive very similarly to the later Spirits but don't have some of the later electronics, some of which now can cause 'bespoke concerns', ie memory seats (batteries leak over ecu), remote locking/alarms, Zytek ecus in '94-onwards cars etc.. The usual body checks apply, ie sills etc., but also wheelarch lips, boot floor around battery etc.. Consumption-wise, 12mpg town use, 15mpg on a run. Unless you hoof it everywhere.
They are old cars now, so can't be compared with modern ones but are an ideal way to simply glide from A to B, although probably not the best track car.
There isn't much to check electronically, windows, seats and that's about it. The hydraulics can be a touch pricier than some cars as there are accumulators, quite a few flexible pipes etc.; twin calipers on each front wheel and replacing rear discs needs a special puller, but specialists have them. Having had and driven Jags as well (6 & 12cyl), whilst I understand the comments made when new, there is no comparison when it comes to build quality and attention to detail. None.
The one in the link looks quite tidy - a few chips in the veneers, not cheap to repair properly, but not really a big issue. Worth a look if considering, if for nothing other than to see whether you like the 'feel' of them.
It is still a long car, however, but manoeuvring it is easy because you can see all four corners quite easily; I find it far easier to reverse, for example, than many modern cars because you can see out of the back of it.
That is an early Shadow II (no headlight wipers, side marker lights) and judging from the seats the mileage could be correct - my seats look similar, genuine 40,000 miles). Whilst originally I preferred the chrome bumpers, the later ones now seem quite normal. The II drives much better than the Shadow I, IMHO, as they have rack & pinion steering, however, they are still quite 'soft'. Fitting Harvey Bailey suspension (anti-roll bars, springs, dampers) made a noticeable difference, it's still relatively soft but a marked improvement in roll etc., not dissimilar to the way the Range Rovers changed over the years. It also has a later, smaller and thicker steering wheel. RR offered a similar, but not identical, handling kit: not all HB-equipped cars had the full kit.
Whilst they were seen as complex back in the day, they're nothing like as complex as a modern car. The beauty of the Shadows is that they drive very similarly to the later Spirits but don't have some of the later electronics, some of which now can cause 'bespoke concerns', ie memory seats (batteries leak over ecu), remote locking/alarms, Zytek ecus in '94-onwards cars etc.. The usual body checks apply, ie sills etc., but also wheelarch lips, boot floor around battery etc.. Consumption-wise, 12mpg town use, 15mpg on a run. Unless you hoof it everywhere.
They are old cars now, so can't be compared with modern ones but are an ideal way to simply glide from A to B, although probably not the best track car.
There isn't much to check electronically, windows, seats and that's about it. The hydraulics can be a touch pricier than some cars as there are accumulators, quite a few flexible pipes etc.; twin calipers on each front wheel and replacing rear discs needs a special puller, but specialists have them. Having had and driven Jags as well (6 & 12cyl), whilst I understand the comments made when new, there is no comparison when it comes to build quality and attention to detail. None.
The one in the link looks quite tidy - a few chips in the veneers, not cheap to repair properly, but not really a big issue. Worth a look if considering, if for nothing other than to see whether you like the 'feel' of them.
I have had my T2 since 2003 with a short break about 10 years ago when I sold it and then bought it back (which I guess must count as some sort of recommendation). It sits in what to me is an eclectic collection of about 15 cars, mostly 60s, some modern and nearly all of which require some effort to drive. The T2 is the antithesis of nearly everything else I have. It is motoring valium and in a strange way all is well with the world when I am behind the wheel. Do not expect it to handle like a chavvy modern on 30 profile tyres but do it expect it to absorb speed bumps and potholes without anyone really noticing. Like most old stuff there are good ones and there are bad ones. I think the quality of the average T2 (and its more common sister) has improved over the years as more and more basket cases are taken off the road. The Shadow 2 the OP has identified looks a peach. Its owner has kept up annual MOTs (a good sign in itself) which show small but consistent use over the years and the MOTs are impressively free of advisories. I can recommend Hillier Hill who have looked after mine throughout my ownership. I am not sure where else GBP20k odd can deliver so much .....
princeperch said:
I am sure there are cogent and compelling environmental reasons why this is ulez compliant and my mates well looked after 2011 1.9 diesel passat estate wasn't (and he had to get rid of it and get a 2L skoda superb in its place) but I'll still never full understand them..
As a historic vehicle, it's exempt from everything except the congestion charge. There are hardly any of them, they hardly get used, their mileages are all limited by insurance terms and conditions. Classic cars aren't the problem. I suppose like historic buildings aren't subject to the same efficiency regulations as newer ones, but there are usually more restrictions on what you can do with them.aeropilot said:
TarquinMX5 said:
They are old cars now, so can't be compared with modern ones but are an ideal way to simply glide from A to B, although probably not the best track car.
However, with the right engine transplant
I would have thought that it would have been much easier, and cheaper, to simply fit a K & N sports air filter; if you believe the adverts
reddiesel said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225974412173?itmmeta=01...
For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
There are 2 that look very decent for sale in Ireland, both sub 9k, the market is dead their at the moment, they were UK cars so no import duties are due bringing them back, just re regitering fees, but sometimes they escape an export marker, so youcan just apply for a new V5.For many of us belonging to a certain generation the Silver Shadow was pretty special . The ultimate expression of "having a few quid" and often cited as the Worlds Best Car at the age of 60 I always view them with much affection . By the eighties , the early cars were already in banger territory and many could be found earning a living being used as Wedding Cars . Who amongst us in the late sixties and early seventies could ever imagine a Silver Shadow being forced to earn a living ?
Lately I've been having a fresh look at the Silver Shadow and the first thing I have noticed is how small they now seem . Back in the day when viewed against Ford Escorts and Austin Allegros they seemed massive . another thing is that occasionally you can still pick up a one owner example and the car above looks to be a fine one . So far despite being sorely tempted I haven't opened my wallet . I have a Specialist nearby in Olney Hillier Hill and I am thinking its time I had a chat about the perils of second hand ownership .
The downside is they will not have had a test for a while, I mot even my exempt cars, 40 quid to have it up on a ramp and checked over, is money well spent in my mind, and helps at sale time.
Specialist dealers can afford to sit on them at high prices, and they are creeping upin value for good ones.
I've always been tempted too....
However, I DID get my wallet out and bought one during Covid. I'd gone to buy something else and ended up with both that and a Shadow, very much playing the 'life is too short' and 'man maths' cards!
I've had a number of 'executive' cars - Jags, Range Rovers, S-Class Mercs, big Alfas etc. so am familiar with the wafty experience, but the Rolls is in another league entirely. It's a spectacular event every time I drive it and I have absolutely loved the experience. Not regretted a single moment and kept it 'out' and available all through the winter so I can drive it whenever the opportunity arose. Bonus being my kids love it too and actually want to go out in it (bar eldest as it's 'embarrassing').
I've a number of other classics too and in comparison to those it's still a massive car, though by modern car standards it's probably 'regular' size. It is spectacularly comfortable and cosseting and the ride is still exceptionally smooth and isolating - they must have been truly other-worldly when they were launched. Sure, it doesn't have modern car manners and roadholding, but it's still very capable of maintaining sensible motorway speeds and if you are prepared to loaf the throttle into the Wilton it's yobbishly quick for such a boat! Hilarious too!
I have really enjoyed learning about it mechanically too - the engineering is a marvel and everything is servicable / repairable, with masses of helpful advice from enthusiasts on the 'net. It's very much a car you can DIY if that's your preference.
Honestly, if you've always been tempted I wholeheartedly recommend you pull the trigger and buy one - I highly doubt you'll be disappointed and more probably you'll absolutely love the experience and wonder why you didn't do it years ago. Buy sensibly and spend the time to find a genuinely good car that's had the work done and you should be good for some very enjoyable miles.
However, I DID get my wallet out and bought one during Covid. I'd gone to buy something else and ended up with both that and a Shadow, very much playing the 'life is too short' and 'man maths' cards!
I've had a number of 'executive' cars - Jags, Range Rovers, S-Class Mercs, big Alfas etc. so am familiar with the wafty experience, but the Rolls is in another league entirely. It's a spectacular event every time I drive it and I have absolutely loved the experience. Not regretted a single moment and kept it 'out' and available all through the winter so I can drive it whenever the opportunity arose. Bonus being my kids love it too and actually want to go out in it (bar eldest as it's 'embarrassing').
I've a number of other classics too and in comparison to those it's still a massive car, though by modern car standards it's probably 'regular' size. It is spectacularly comfortable and cosseting and the ride is still exceptionally smooth and isolating - they must have been truly other-worldly when they were launched. Sure, it doesn't have modern car manners and roadholding, but it's still very capable of maintaining sensible motorway speeds and if you are prepared to loaf the throttle into the Wilton it's yobbishly quick for such a boat! Hilarious too!
I have really enjoyed learning about it mechanically too - the engineering is a marvel and everything is servicable / repairable, with masses of helpful advice from enthusiasts on the 'net. It's very much a car you can DIY if that's your preference.
Honestly, if you've always been tempted I wholeheartedly recommend you pull the trigger and buy one - I highly doubt you'll be disappointed and more probably you'll absolutely love the experience and wonder why you didn't do it years ago. Buy sensibly and spend the time to find a genuinely good car that's had the work done and you should be good for some very enjoyable miles.
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