Vehicle Description
This is a gorgeous presenting Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base ("LWB") sedan finished in unique and factory correct 2-tone Larch green over Scots Pine green with a matching dark green Everflex vinyl top. It has hand-painted moss green fine lines to the waist-rails and hubcap beauty trim rings complemented accordingly. The interior is finished in light tan/beige Connolly leather and contrasting pale moss green carpeting to "draw-in" the exterior. The carpet is bound in matching tan Connolly leather with the same theme carrying thru to the boot. The 2-tone Larch over Scots Pine green exterior with beige/tan & green interior combination may sound odd but is very elegant on this example. Of course, you would need to like green as your colour - in my case, I love it!
The long wheel base version of the Silver Shadow is easily identified by the small rear window (opera window) and standard fitment Everflex vinyl top, it is 4” longer in the rear door. This provides a noticeable increase in rear passenger space.
This car was a Californian car most of its life but little is known of its history. It did sit for several years. When we received the car it was in good shape and certainly an above average example but with faded paint - all original paint however so a good testament to originality. Mechanically, we went right thru her bringing all services major and minor up to date.
The exterior of the car was straight and rust free with the underside clean and tidy. The paint was entirely original but faded and lightly crazed and the Eveflex top also faded (but not split or rusty underneath). We decided to give her the "full monty" and repaint her with a brand new Eveflex top. The paint job is stunning and was a proper respray of some $18,000 and carried out by Park-Ward's dedicated paint team. The paint is now perfect without a single stone-chip, scratch or mark. Not a single one!
When the car was repainted, every single trim and fitment was removed: bumpers, headlights, tail-lights, mouldings, front window, rubbers, even the bonnet and boot lids were removed. The car was repainted in clear over base with not one coat of clear but three (3) to allow wet-sanding back to a factory flat and glass-like finish. Inside door edges and jams were not done as they remained in excellent original condition. The new fine-lines were painted by steady-hand & squirrel brushes in accordance with the Rolls-Royce/Bentley tradition.
All stainless steel was machined buffed and then hand-polished before final assembly so they look stunning. This includes the grill, headlight brows, rocker spears, hubcaps and minor finishers.
A brand new Everflex top was fitted with new window rubbers to meet factory specifications. The centre area of the roof between stitching has the correct under-padding as per factory methods.
The interior of the car is in fact the delightful opposite. Absolutely original and in stunning un-touched condition. The interior leather is entirely original Connolly from the factory. The leather finish displays the “toned hand-tanning” look that Rolls-Royce was doing for a limited time up until the late 70s. The leather is not just a light tan colour; if you look closely, you will see a toned or "burnished" effect which gives the leather an antique look. It is a very traditional look and is simply elegant. The interior is without any tears or unsightly wear marks. Now, you need to be able to relate to the tradition of "Natural patina". The leather in this car is what it is supposed to look like and what international buyers are always striving for. If you are of the type that the leather needs to look "brand new" like a show-room Cadillac then this car may not be for you. The added benefit to the interior is not only the look, but just how soft and supple it remains (please see pix of our "scrunch test").
**Out of space. To read more go to www.park-ward.com
