For Sale: 1973 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow in Torrance, California

STUNNING 1973 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW AND OWNED ALMOST FROM NEW & FOR MANY YEARS BY THE RENOWN RAOUL 'SONNY' BALCAEN BEFORE BEING ACQUIRED BY HIS CLOSE & LONG TIME FRIEND AFTER HIS SUDDEN PASSING IN 2024.CARROLL SHELBYS PRIMARY MECHANICAL CHOICE & LONG TIME CLOSE FRIEND.SERVICED PRIMARILY SINCE NEW AT CHARLIE AGAPIOU WEST HOLLYWOOD SERVICE SHOP, CARROLL SHELBY'S & KEN MILES OTHER CLOSE LONG TIME FRIEND AND MECHANIC, Raoul 'Sonny' Balcaen grew up in Los Angeles at a time when it was becoming the epicentre of American motor racing, nurturing a vast talent pool of people whose influence has echoed through to today.As a teenager, he successfully competed with his home-built Top Fuel dragster during the formative years of the sport. With Lance Reventlow, he worked on the famous Scarab sports cars and was standing in the dyno room when the team?s all-American Formula 1 engine was fired up for the first time. A period as Jim Hall?s crew chief and a close association with Carroll Shelby added to the know-how that guided him towards becoming a successful entrepreneur and led to all that followed.   Aged 17, Balcaen built his own Top Fuel drag racer, the Bantamweight Bomb?, which he developed relentlessly and drove to many successes.  His role in the fabulous Scarab sports cars the landmark all-American racers and insights into life with their creator, the incomparable Lance Reventlow. Working as crew chief to the brilliant Jim Hall, preparing and running his Lotus Eleven and Lister-Chevrolet long before the famous Chaparrals emerged. A second spell with Scarab, this time with the Formula 1 project the first American Grand Prix car plus a special job for Reventlow converting a Scarab sports racer into a street car.  Onwards into setting up his own successful business, IECO (Induction Engineering Co), to create and sell high-grade performance and appearance accessories, with Chevrolets especially Corvair and Vega featuring strongly. His many-faceted dealings with Carroll Shelby, leading to consultancy and even assignments as occasional Shelby American company pilot. Along the way he was to be associated with all the other big names of the era, including Chuck Daigh, Bruce Kessler, Warren Olson, Dick Troutman, Tom Barnes, Phil Remington, Ken Miles, Leo Goossen, Jim Travers, Frank Coon, Ed Donovan and Pete Brock.