1980 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II – superb condition, spec & history

Year: 1980
Chassis: SRH 0039229
Engine: 0039229
Registration: NBF 395V (formerly VDR 658V, BOY 205H, SRD 803)
MOT: Sept 2023

When the Silver Shadow first wafted out of Crewe in 1965 (at a cost of circa £130,000 in todays money) it achieved a number of ‘firsts’ for Rolls Royce. The first unibody-constructed car, independent rear suspension & disc brakes on all four corners to name a few – a significant improvement on the aging Cloud III, it also offered a self levelling hydro pneumatic suspension system (licensed from Citroen) offering an even comfier and more luxurious drive than previous Rolls Royce’s.
Launched with a 6.2 V8, later offered with a 6.75 litre, and driven through a super smooth GM 4-speed automatic gearbox, they offered the height of luxury and motoring sophistication and led the charge for what became the now predominantly self-drive Rolls Royce.

Following the success of the 1 & 1A the second generation, or Silver Shadow II, glided luxuriously onto our streets in 1977 with some subtle but significant differences. Obvious changes, such as flared arches, gave these cars a more modern look and the mechanical upgrades gave the later cars a similar feel to an early Silver Spirit; rack & pinion steering, front discs, rear hydro suspension only etc…

Whilst there is no shortage of Silver Shadows on the market, really good examples are becoming harder to find and are now more desirable than ever, the Silver Shadow is at last having a renaissance and becoming the ‘Rolls to have’, they now grace any serious collection as well as being a much loved useable classic.

As well as being a wonderful luxurious motor car it is also mechanically sound; starts on the button – runs, drives and crucially stops as it should with no issues whatsoever and delightfully copes with modern traffic as you would expect.
The Pacific Green bodywork is straight and in good order, with new arches replacing previous tired examples and a full paint refresh recently carried out. Panel fit is excellent with no dings or dents & no corrosion is present around the wheelarches or sills. The Everflex hood is in superb condition, straight and flat with no ‘under bubbling’ or lifting present – a rare car indeed!
The brightwork is in great condition, without the usual ‘tired’ look, it’s sitting on the correct wheels & crucially, matching tyres.
Finished in striking Pacific Green with the Dark Green Everflex Roof & Green piped Beige upholstery, Fawn Cirrus headlining and Green carpets, with the lambswool rugs, the car presents well all around. The interior pleasingly retains excellent wood front & back including vanity mirrors to the rear.
With front & rear head restraints, rear picnic tables, rear footstools & armrest we suspect it was originally a chauffeur driven car; having enjoyed long term & low ownership this one is definitely not to be confused with the often tired and poorly maintained examples.

The super file includes the original Rolls Royce & Bentley Owners Handbook Folder & covers almost all of the cars 42 years starting with the original order, invoice, build sheets and delivery documents. Chassis No.SRH 0039229 was ordered on the 5th June by John Hopkins Esq of Granby Marketing in Manchester and delivered on the 2nd January 1980 by Mumford Ltd at a cost of £35,302.63.
Specified as extra’s on top of all the usual refinements were; non-standard paint, Everflex roof, RR motif’s to rear quarters, picnic tables, rear recess with hinged lid in rear armrest & Avon whitewall tyres. Further Order Amendment forms show the addition of Lambswool Rugs in Green, still present and in excellent condition, plus a change of colour for the Everflex roof to Dark Green.
On the 1st August 1985 Strattons of Wilmslow then sold the car to Frank Reynolds of Abbey Windows for £21,400, and it remained in his ownership for the next 25 years, albeit changing from a company car to his personal car; technically accounting for 2 of the 5 former keepers. At that point the car was on registration SRD 803 and the file includes photographs of the car at various RR events & shows.
The file then evidences ownership to a Mr S Couch from 2012 upto the current V5 documentation. The file includes a small collection of receipts and MOT’s and evidences a period off the road, clearly in dry storage from circa 2012 to 2022.

Recently taken out of long term storage, through a deceased estate, we have undertaken a light recommission & service comprising of an engine oil and filter change, along with the replacement of the spark plugs, brake fluid, and the exhaust olives, as well as a brake calliper overhaul, an air conditioning refill, and an MOT.