Buying a Silver Shadow

[MHT223]

What are the worst problems and how expensive are they to put right?

I'm thinking of getting one as a restoration project, just wondered if I got a basket case what are the main dangers.

Thanks,

Mark

[POORCARDEALER]

Hi
BUY THE VERY BEST YOU CAN...........a restoration project will cost you more ultimately in time and money and will never be as nice as a looked after original car with history.........if you do buy a project check for rot, sills, arches everwhere........electrics, central locking, seats etc make sure it works they cost £££ss to put right, air con make sure its ok, engines can smoke.......like i said find the best you can £8K will buy something decent

[MHT223]

Deep down I know that...if I get one I'm going to have a custom interior done, rear dvd and screens and try to give it a fresher, cleaner look so I was thinking that if I bought a basket I'd get less abuse for 'destroying a classic' as I'd be rescuing an otherwise unloved car.

Kinda like this...



See what I mean about destroying a classic?!? I've got an MGB which I'm restoring to its former glory, I'm not a complete monster!

[PAT COBRA]

What price will you be selling the drugs for when its finished mate !!!PAT

[MHT223]

lol bit harsh!! but now that you ask...it may be a way to bankroll the project

[Balmoral Green]

Even if you are going to do a custom, it would still be worth buying a good car, as you don't want to be rebuilding drivetrains, suspension & brakes etc do you? As you will still have to do all of that on a snotter, even though you don't mind if the interior or paint is shot.

As PCD has said, a decent car can be had for £6000 - £8000. If you buy one for £2000 - £4000 though, it will cost much more than that, plus your custom plans on top. Unless you are a very good mechanic and know the car and its systems, as parts prices aren't too bad sometimes.

[5 wh]

Engines and gearboxes are bulletproof even if maintained on the cheap.Rust doesnt respect pedigree so check all around for rot(sills wheelarches,floor etc)Trim used to be expensive to replace but a lot more Shadows are being broken now so prices have eased a little.In my opinion(and I researched and looked at many cars before I bought my Shadow II I used to own),by far the most expensive area to fix is the hydraulic system which powers the brakes and rear suspension.Pumps,accumulators etc wear out and the metal pipes rot and are a bugger to replace.The flexibles fur up too restricting oil flow and sticking the brakes on,though they arent too expensive to fix.Even a knackered Shadow will still drive okay,such is the brilliance of the engineering on these cars.My advice is to read up on the weak points and get any car inspected by someone who knows what they are doing.Budget around a grand a year to look after it properly.I owned my shadow for nearly 4 years and because I bought right and sold right it cost me very little over that time and is still the most favorite car I have ever owned.

[PAT COBRA]

MHT223 said:

lol bit harsh!! but now that you ask...it may be a way to bankroll the project

Sorry PAT

[cardigankid]

Where can you find out about these things? What is the best club for a Shadow/Bentley T?

[Balmoral Green]

Rolls Royce and Bentley...

http://www.rrec.org.uk/website/index.asp

Bentley only...

http://www.bdcl.org/HomeFrame.htm

[cardigankid]

Thanks, sent the application to join the RREC today. Think this best as my main interest is in S and T's, (though if I were a squillionaire I'd have a Derby.)

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 18th January 16:49