How to buy a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

What would represent the very summit of your classic car buying ambitions? When that windfall finally comes in, will you plump for a first-generation Porsche 911? A Lamborghini Miura? How about a Rolls-Royce?

For so many people – including many who will never venture near a classic car – the very name ‘Rolls-Royce’ instantly evokes luxury. Indeed, the marque has become a kind of instant signature for top-end automobile opulence. But what's it like to actually own one? Is a Rolls – of any age – within your budget? And where can you find specialist classic car insurance to protect such a vintage vehicle?

The Silver Shadow: the classic Rolls you can own

If the name 'Rolls-Royce' conjures up an instant mental image, as likely as not that image is of the Silver Shadow, the company's relatively high-volume-selling saloon of the 1960s and 1970s.

The Silver Shadow represented the moment when Rolls-Royce's design language evolved from the bulging, opulent, royal-runabout looks of those 1940s and 50s Silver Wraiths, Dawns and Clouds (and that's before we even get onto the enormous, nigh-on-three-ton Phantom V), into something resembling your standard three-box saloon – albeit still with lashings of Rolls style.

Yes, when set against its predecessors, the Silver Shadow of 1965-80 was a relatively slimline affair (let's just stress that word 'relatively', though. This was still a big beast, weighing in at around 2,100kg compared to, say, a contemporary Daimler Sovereign's 1,500kg).

The Shadow also sold in large numbers – it was the marque's best-selling car to date, along with its Bentley mirror image, the T-Series, meaning that a relatively decent number are still available today.

It wasn't just in its straighter, simpler looks that the Silver Shadow moved things on from its post-war predecessors. The Shadow also featured some eye-catching technological advances, including self-levelling suspension (resulting in that pillowy ride comfort for which all subsequent Rolls have been justly famed) and disc brakes on all four wheels.

Rolls-Royce started producing the Silver Shadow in four-door saloon form only, and it's easy to see why: this classic, simple, upright form suits the car's looks and branding so well.

However, once coachbuilders started adapting the saloon into two-door derivatives, the company’s own dedicated coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward brought out its own two-door version, which Rolls later renamed the Corniche and which remains a hugely prestigious classic to this day.

A Rolls… or a Bentley?

The Silver Shadow's predecessor, the 1950s/60s Silver Cloud, had also been available in Bentley branded versions – identical in pretty much all bar the name, badge and slightly less imposing radiator grille. Rolls repeated the feat for the Silver Shadow – the Bentley version, the T Series, went to market that same year of 1965, selling for £5,375 – some £50 less than its Rolls-Royce sibling. Badge engineering at its most subtle…

Fewer of the T Series were made, which is why we're concentrating here on the Silver Shadow. If you should find a Bentley T for sale, though, that near-total parity with its Rolls equivalent means that the advice we're giving here still holds true.

In 1970, five years into its run, the Silver Shadow got some improvements: the V8 engine gained a few cubic centimetres, leaping up in size from 6.2 to 6.75 litres; the dashboard got a new look; and the four-speed automatic gearbox was replaced by a three-speed box that, counter-intuitive though it may sound, suited the car better.

The last big chapter in the Silver Shadow / Bentley T history came in 1977, when the car got a fairly significant makeover.

Externally, all you might notice would be the new chin spoiler, rubber bumpers and slightly shallower radiator grille: internally, though, the cabin got a new lease of life and there was a fresh rack-and-pinion steering system to replace the old and a thoroughly revised interior. That kept the car looking reasonably on-trend until the car's replacement, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit / Bentley Mulsanne, wafted serenely into showrooms in 1981.

What is a Silver Shadow like to drive?

Hmm. We couldn't call the Silver Shadow a drivers' car as such – the sheer size and weight of the thing renders any sort of B-road agility out of the question. Tap on the gas and you can feel the considerable power that the Rolls has at its disposal (and you'll love watching the nose, and that iconic Spirit of Ecstasy statuette, rise serenely as you do so).

But it hasn't really got the nimbleness to match that power – and it's a very thirsty car when driven at high revs. So if you're budgeting your Rolls motoring in any shape or form, we'd recommend leaving your foot off the accelerator. The thing to do is to just sit back, maintain a gentle pace and simply revel in the sheer splendour of the thing.

Are they affordable?

The fact that, for such a luxury car, Silver Shadows / T Series were produced in relatively large numbers (somewhere between 38,000 and 40,000) is good news for the collector. And, of course, being such a prestigious vehicle, many of those have been lovingly tended, and you will find some well-maintained examples on classic car sale websites. Even so, you should buy with caution.

Silver Shadows were fitted out to the last degree of excellence, both inside and out, meaning that any repairs you need to make on your second-hand car will be expensive – and will require searching out a specialist restorer.

On such a large, opulently furnished car, restoration and repair costs will tend to run high. Think of it as the rough automobile equivalent of buying a stately home: a wonderful acquisition, yet it was constructed to exacting standards quite a long time ago, and there's a lot of it – so plenty of potential for things to be not quite right.

We'd definitely recommend paying a bit more for a well-cared-for model – scrimping on price to buy a cheap, tired Silver Shadow will prove in the end to be a false economy.

Whatever model, year and state of repair you end up going for, we recommend protecting it with some specialist insurance for classic cars. Age will catch up with even the most meticulously maintained Shadows in the end, and repairs and restoration jobs on this most exclusive and specialised car will always be expensive.

What should you look out for?

Unfortunately, like many cars of its era, the Shadow is not immune from rust and rot: susceptible areas include the front wings, the rear wheel arches, the inner rear wings below the bumper, and the front/rear valances. Damp carpets will also be a rust giveaway. Also check the vinyl ('Everflex') roof that featured on many Shadows: if this is bubbling or peeling, corrosion in the metal behind could be the culprit.

As regards the engines, you'll find a 6.2-litre V8 in Silver Shadows made until 1970, at which point a larger 6.75-litre took over. If looked after, this engine has proved reliable over a long period: but look out for a few issues.

Watch for any signs of oil leaks, and of cracked exhaust manifolds, which can be expensive to repair. Also listen out for 'piston knock' – this could signal problems with the cylinder liners, possibly due to lack of a correct anti-freeze maintenance schedule.

When it comes to gearboxes, you'll probably want to look for the later, post-1976 Silver Shadows with their three-speed automatic gearboxes – these have proved more reliable than the earlier models' four-speed box. Age can have its effect on the gearbox's electric selector mechanism, though, so check on your test drive that the gearbox is changing efficiently. Check the ground for oil leaks after your drive, too.

Like everything else inside the Shadow, the suspension system is sophisticated and complex – and can go wrong in later life. Look carefully for leaks from corroded pipework and perished seals, as these will mean expensive replacements.

Check any worn subframe bushes, and for rust around the suspension system's mounting points. And look at the tyres – if they look somewhat unevenly worn, that could give a clue as to some not-quite-perfect suspension.

Brakes are another area where repairs will be costly – probably in the region of £5,000 for a full overhaul. Seized brake calipers and rusted brake pipes are common. Here, as elsewhere around the car, you'll want to see paperwork for any maintenance jobs done, MOTs passed and so on. Check that the brake fluid isn't leaking, too. Finally, make sure the dashboard's brake warning lights light up correctly when the brakes are applied.

When it comes to the interior, this is obviously an area where you'll want to maintain the original car's high standards. Nothing will look more off-colour than a cheaply refurbished Roller.

Check rigorously for signs of damage and wear and tear right around the cabin, from the plush carpets via the leather seats to the electric windows. If you find yourself needing to replace any of the leather or the wood veneer dotted liberally around the cabin, you'll be footing some big bills, as these jobs require specialist materials and restorers.

Make sure that there's no musty smell, as that will indicate water ingress, which will be disastrous for leather and wood alike. And check your electricals, too – windows, reclining seats and air conditioning all rely on electronics, and can all be costly to repair, so make sure they're all doing their thing.

How much should you pay?

The relative popularity of the Silver Shadow means that there are plenty of used examples around – but, as we've said, you should be wary of emitting a whoop of delight and dashing off to see your nearest sub-£5K Roller, cheque book in hand. The reality is that a well maintained one (and, as should now be clear, that's what you'll want) will probably cost you somewhere north of £15,000.

There doesn't tend to be much price difference between the early 6.2-litre versions and the later 6.75 litres: the latter are, though, a little more enjoyable to drive, with their slightly more pokey engine and better gearbox. £20,000 should net you a very decent later Shadow II (the latter models).

Still relatively little to pay, though, for a key chapter in British engineering history – and a car that still feels stylish and eminently cosseting to this day, not to mention still representing the last word in good old-fashioned British opulence.

Just make sure you've some left in the kitty to provide the classic car insurance that this beautiful vehicle deserves.

One last piece of advice…

Join a Rolls Royce owners club. As you may know, we're huge enthusiasts of drivers' clubs here at Lancaster Classic Car Insurance: as well as being places to meet other like-minded souls who share your particular automotive passion, drivers' clubs (and their online forums) are great places to pick the brains of other enthusiasts.

In the case of a highly sophisticated and specialised car like the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, that kind of expertise is going to be indispensable. Many owners' clubs can also help you score discounts on your classic car insurance.

The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club has different regional sections that organise their own meets: there's also a prestigious annual Rally and Concours d'Elegance at Burghley House in Lincolnshire.

Meanwhile, the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club also organises events where owners can get together and share their knowledge and expertise.

Rolls-Royce insurance from Lancaster Insurance

Did you know that we’ve been arranging Rolls-Royce insurance for 35 years and counting? Benefits of classic car insurance through us can include:

• Limited mileage discounts
• Free European cover
• Agreed valuation
• Discounts for classic car club members

Whether you own a classic Rolls-Royce or a Reliant Robin, the team at Lancaster would love to hear from you. We can find protection for virtually every type of classic available.

Get a quote for Rolls-Royce insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.