Vehicle Description
It's the model that arguably became most closely associated with
the revered Rolls-Royce nameplate over the years and aptly captures
vintage luxury in outstanding '60s style. This 1969 Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow is "Old Money" on wheels, first providing its
opulence in Sweden before venturing stateside, where its
surprisingly solid condition still holds the promise of many future
miles of driving enjoyment.
As the '60s drew to their mid-point, the Silver Shadow emerged to
inject vitality into the Rolls-Royce brand. More compact in length
than its predecessor, the Silver Cloud, the Silver Shadow managed
to pack a lot more in a smaller space while vastly improving on
ride quality and overall drivability. The chocolate shade on
display here is not only the original color but likely the original
paint and while the stateliness of this classic is far beyond
question, a freshening up at the paint booth would elevate its
aesthetics to a substantially higher level. Whether you opt to go
that route or drive it as is, the foundation here is very solid -
you'll find no evidence of bubbling from corrosion anywhere and
from front to back, the exterior alignment remains very precise.
The inherent awesomeness of its brand is generally a strong
deterrent to customization and that holds true here - it remains in
thoroughly stock condition and its chrome and trim also look very
sharp for a car of its era.
To refer to this Rolls as a "survivor" doesn't really do it
service. It's a decided "thriver", as just one look inside its
doors will prove. Throughout, the tan interior is in unusually good
condition, with front buckets that have held their shape well and a
rear bench seat that looks downright unused. To each side, the door
panels still cling snugly their frames and feature burlwood accents
that are in top form. The dash area is another strong area - it
features a burlwood panel of its own that encircles its array of
gauges - all of which still work as intended - with a
supple-looking dash pad running across the top. The overall
functionality here is very impressive - the AM/FM/cassette deck
still stands ready to provide its era-appropriate technology for
your listening pleasure and even the clock accurately keeps up with
the passage of time. The power buckets glide into just the right
position and the power windows roll up and down without a
hitch.
Rest assured that there'll be no delay in getting this classic out
on the road to enjoy its automotive majesty. Its 6.2 liter fuel
injected V8 sits in a very clean engine bay, surrounded by
components that have a consistent, "scrubbed-clean" appearance. The
engine is in great working order, firing up promptly and pulling
with enthusiasm. In fact, this Rolls is a great driver in all
respects - in addition to still retaining plenty of power, its
automatic transmission shifts with precise smoothness and whether
cruising or braking, it tracks arrow-straight. The suspension is
nice and firm without being too harsh and benefits from the
self-leveling technology Rolls licensed from Citroen to provide a
very refined, comfortable ride. Despite debuting in an era where
solid rear axles were nearly a given, this classic has an
independent rear suspension to provide skip-free motoring over
uneven surfaces, while power disc brakes at all four corners bring
its set of 15" stock wheels wrapped with Michelin Symmetry tires to
reliable stops.
It's not often you get the chance to pull true automotive royalty
into your garage, so this 1969 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is a rare
find. Call today!