Vehicle Description
This is a stunningly presenting and excellent condition Silver
Shadow Long Wheel Base ("LWB") with factory Division. Finished in
the very regal combination of black over burgundy with burgundy
leather (with black piping) and matching carpets. It has craftsman
hand-painted fine lines to the waistlines finished in a contrasting
light grey. The colour combination is quintessentially Rolls-Royce
and is very formal in its presentation. Rolls-Royce made only a
very limited number of "limousine" division cars and on special
order. Less than 500 out of some 35,000 Silver Shadows built. The
divisions were only fitted on Long Wheel Base cars providing
electrically operated privacy glass between the front and rear
compartment with a separate radio and entirely autonomous air
conditioning system mounted in the boot that provided overwhelming
climate control for its special VIP rear seat passengers. The
division system includes a unique piece of burl walnut wood that
traverses the width of the division and surrounds the radio and
control section. The glass division can be operated independently
by the driver or the rear seat passengers. The car has been in the
hands of the right owners most of its life having been caretaken in
the last 20 years by a small car collector enthusiast who hardly
used it and simply admired it. The car was extensively restored
some 6 years ago and was done so "without compromise". A complete
back-to-bare-metal respray was done with the process documented
(photos available) to include windows out and doors off. The
exterior of the car was originally straight and clean with the
underside without scale and tidy. A complete re-paint in the
original factory colour was undertaken and is now truly flawless
without a single mark or blemish. A high-end job at a cost of some
$30,000 to include new window gaskets, moulding clips and body
hardware. It is entirely consistent in colour, finish and lustre -
truly lovely - and the combination simply OUTSTANDING. The exterior
of the car presents absolutely beautifully with all finishes,
rubbers, gaskets, glass, bright-work, lenses*, hub-caps and the
chrome in excellent condition. As part of the reconditioning
process all the bright-work was machined buffed to a high lustre.
Inside door edges and jams are incredibly clean and tidy without
unsightly overspray or any signs of restoration. The fine lines on
the car were applied in the same manner as Rolls-Royce did so to
all its cars for many years; a trained craftsmen with a good eye
and steady hand. With only the best squirrel hair brush the
striping is applied entirely free-hand in one elegant stroke at a
time. The interior of the car was also completely redone. All new
Connolly equivalent leather upholstery on every surface was
perfomed; seats, door panels, armrests, centre console, the
division, wind-lacing around the door openings - a monumental and
well done upholstery exercise that would have easily cost in excess
of $20,000. In addition, all new carpets and headlining in correct
broad-cloth wool imported from the UK. The final result presents
beautifully, and shows in amazing condition. All the interior wood
was refinished with the correct Crewe method of many coats of clear
lacquer wet-sanded between coats to get a flat glass-like finish.
This includes the dash, centre console, division rear wood, door
cappings and front and rear window finishers. Early Silver Shadows
like this one used African burl walnut wood which is very rich in
amber & ochre tones. The wood sports a elegant grain with a soft
marbelling in the inner regions complemented by intricate rich
knotty burl at the outer areas. Such is the beauty of natural wood
that Mother Nature can bring us something so beautiful and with the
bonus that it is unique to this one Silver Shadow Division. Only
Rolls-Royce can deliver such elegance. The final product can only
be best appreciated in real life. Stunning and rare, please see
more at www.
