Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow II
75th Anniversary
1979
Very rare & collectable model!
Here is a really fine and rare Silver Shadow II - 75th Anniversary model. The limited model was built by Rolls-Royce to commemorate 75 years of the Company (1904-1979). Only 75 cars were built for the American market. 75 years - otherwise known in the UK as the "Platinum Jubilee" and hence the colour - all were fashioned in Georgian Silver, grey (Skate) Connolly hides with the strong contrasting scarlet seat piping and Cherry Red Wilton wool floor and trunk rugs. The cars were finished off with hand painted red fines lines to the waist-rails and hubcap beauty rings.
Each car was uniquely identified by red "RR" badges fitted to the grill and trunk lid.
The cars were further specialised by a plaque affixed to the inside of the glovebox. On American cars, it read;
"This motor car is one of 75 designed in a special colour scheme
for our overseas customers to mark the 75th Anniversary of Rolls-Royce."
The 75th Anniversary edition makes a very bold statement and is unquestionably a commemorative car. This is one of the last American 75th Anniversary's off the production line and presents in stunning condition. A west coast car most of her life, she is a “dry” car that has had a garaged environment. As a result, she has been freed from the perils of harsh weather and is very clean underneath. Previously owned by a collector, she has always been well maintained and serviced and comes with her original manual.
She is very quiet and smooth on the road without any of the typical “thumps” and “rattles” typical of poor (or even averagely) maintained examples of this model. The odometer shows some *80,000 miles but the condition defies belief because if one was told half that, you would surely believe.
The interior is excellent. The leather is in excellent all original condition with no cracks, tears nor fading and very supple and soft – true to its Connolly characteristics. It has never been redyed and so displays with a wonderful natural patina which is adorable. It has all the hallmarks of an interior that was overall lovingly looked-after. The burr walnut wood throughout the car is also all original and presents beautifully with a very rich and intense grain. On the door cappings (mostly only on the driver’s door), there is some hairline fracturing of the clear coat lacquer which, in my opinion is quite acceptable. I am a purist and prefer originality so I think this outweighs the minor imperfections. But, of course, should you be a perfectionist, we do refinish wood in-house. Just let us know you’re your preference. In my opinion, I would leave it.
The head lining is all original and in fine condition as are the carpets. The rich Cherry red lambswool overlay rugs are to die for and are literally brand new. The boot (trunk) carpet carries the same Cherry red theme as per the interior and is in equally very fine condition.
The body on this Shadow II is very straight and the paint is shiny and lustrous. The car was repainted some 15 years ago and was a high-quality job. The finish is entirely consistent. When you look down the sides of the car, they are very straight and true. The paint presents beautifully with only the most minor little mark here and there from use, but is otherwise entirely as you would expect from a well-cared for 15 year old, high end paint job. Certainly, it needs nothing other than a wax from time to time. When repainted, new rubbers and gaskets were utilized. This is one of the best indicators of a top-end job.
The hubcaps are in excellent condition. The pin-striping on the beauty rings are finished in the original hand-painted technique rich red to match the waist-rails. All remaining bright-work is in good condition as is glass and rubbers.
Under the bonnet, the presentation is very clean and original. It has not been precision detailed but simply kept clean and tidy throughout its life.
The car has its original jack, correct tools and operating manual.
This Anniversary edition Silver Shadow II is part of Park-Ward's “Predelivery Commissioning” program. All our cars are put through the workshop to make sure every major and minor service is done and anything needing attention done so. This covers not just mechanical items but operational features. All electricals and features & functions are inspected to ensure everything is operating as it should; windows, seats, mirrors, A/C, heater, lights, wipers, etc. This provides the new owner a true, "take the keys and drive" example with no additional budget needed to attend to any nuances or gremlins.
I drove the car over late summer and Autumn and she was an absolute delight (hence photos showing summer and winter). The car is of very high standard and is an easy 9.5 out of 10 driver rating.
*The speedometer was replaced at some point and there was a 10,000 mile discrepancy which we identify. That said, the car is being offered as “mileage exempt” in accordance with Illinois dealer practices for cars older than 10 years.
~~ This stately 75th Anniversay Shadow II is an excellent condition representation of the marque that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. Being a rare commemorative model she is of "collectable" status and would do very well at your next Rolls-Royce meet. ~~
International buyers welcome!
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos are of super high resolution so if you right click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see additional photos!
Click HERE to see additional photos!
For those Rolls-Royce enthusiasts who have followed my auctions in the past I welcome you all.
For those who are new to my adverts and/or the marque, please note that as a serious collector of some 40 years, all my cars are truly described examples. I have my own private Rolls-Royce workshop of some 25,000 sqft with trained Rolls-Royce craftsmen who are proficient in all aspects. As a team, we are dedicated to the preservation of the marque and as such, any car that leaves the stable is completely inspected and work-shopped to ensure mechanical and operational items are maintained appropriately. This process is known as “Predelivery Commissioning”. This is a process that ensures all major and minor services are done and any maintenance the car needs is attended to. This is not just limited to mechanical items bit operational items and features as well, such as AC, heating, electric windows, seats etc. The Predelivery Commissioning process occurs once a car is sold and can take a few weeks. We ask you be patient but it’s all for the benefit of you as the new caretaker.
We adopt a “keep it original” mentality with pride and confidence, offering after sales technical support and assistance well beyond the sale. Because most of my cars are offered for the pleasures of driving enjoyment it is not always possible or practical to seek perfection (in the true sense of the word) but we do always uphold excellence in whatever we do. Our cars are by no means cheap priced cars but we like to think they are amongst the best. To this end, I firmly believe in the famous adage; “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten." We hope you do to.
We at Park-Ward Motors – the things we do.
When our Rolls-Royces are commissioned for resale, they are indeed professionally and correctly fully work-shopped through a process called “Predelivery Commissioning”. No corners are cut. And it is all addressed in true Crewe tradition. There is way too much to list here but to give you an example of our commitment to excellence of the various processes, this is one such example of what we do:
Doors and windows:-
Every car has its interior door panels removed. If the wood is in need of repair (as many do) it is refinished in-house by trained and talented craftsmen at Park-Ward Motors. This is a detailed process of stripping the wood of its old lacquer, repairing the veneer if there is damage, staining the top surface as per Rolls-Royce methodology and refinishing with no less than 25 coats of clear lacquer. Hand wet-sanded and polished between all of its last 15 coats. New window felt guides and wood-to-glass foam seals are fitted. All window mechanisms are checked and serviced for smooth and efficient up and down movement. This sometimes includes an electrical modification to rectify the typical “slow window syndrome”. All tracks, chains and gears are lubricated. Where central locking is fitted, these are all serviced to ensure no “solenoid sticking”, another common problem. Units are repaired and or changed as required for refurbished units. Door wiring and door-to-body wiring is checked, repaired and/or replaced as required. The splash plastic on the inside of the doors to protect the leather panels from rain splash from inside the door is replaced with correct specification black plastic as used by the factory. Cut to shape and glued in position as per original. All door hardware is checked and repaired as required including locks, handles and scuttle finishes. The door is reassembled with all items cleaned and polished. The wood refitted and the leather panels are re-Connollised before final fitment.
Take this example and apply it to the many, many different aspects of Rolls-Royce restoration, service and maintenance and you have our dedication to correct and professional vehicle pre-delivery preparation and commissioning.
**PLEASE read auction terms and conditions below BEFORE bidding.**
~~ Important note: the $2,000 deposit is due within 24 hours.
If not paid, or if no contact is received within that period, we reserve the right to offer the car to any other party.~~
~~oo00oo~~
This Rolls-Royce is part of a private collection of the Park-Ward Motors Museum. Although licensed and bonded, I am not a main-stream retail car dealer or broker; I am a professional car collector of some 45 years with considerable experience and knowledge of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars. I have a long standing reputation being associated with the marque which I take seriously. I take pride in my cars and have fun in collecting and restoring them. However, auctions are not a game so when you place a bid or offer, and you are the winning bidder, please understand you have entered a binding contract. You cannot bid and win the auction and expect not to meet the terms and conditions. Bidding and/or winning does not mean you are expecting me to “hold” the car until you have the opportunity to inspect it. Any inspection contemplated must be undertaken BEFORE you bid or make an offer and I openly welcome any potential buyer to come and personally inspect the car. Please note, however, we do NOT allow 3rd party inspectors because history has sadly proven, they are not worth their weight in salt. Do not waste your time nor money - come yourself and we will go over the car in detail with you. Once you bid or make an offer, you are doing so to buy WITHOUT conditions. Your bid can not be subject to anything. A $2000.00 deposit (non-refundable) is required within 24 hours of the close of the auction and payable by PayPal. The balance of funds are required within 7 days of the close of the auction and must be provided by cashier’s check or bank wire (unless, and only, if agreed otherwise in writing). I cannot accept PayPal for the balance unless you are willing to meet the cost of transfer fees or you are happy to pay via "pay a friend". Full payment must be made (and payments cleared) before the title and/or the vehicle is released. All payments are non-refundable. Payments as described above form an important part of this purchase contract and so, if all the funds are not received as outlined above, I reserve the right to terminate the transaction without notice. If there has been any deposit or other part payments received and I elect to terminate the contract and/or if you fail to complete the transaction, I reserve the right to keep any such deposits or payments and resell the vehicle to another bidder or interested party or re-list the vehicle at any time. To be clear, if you change your mind for ANY reason and do not complete the transaction in the time-frame required, you will forfeit your deposit and any other monies paid. And, to make it very clear, paying by credit card, if so accepted, does not mean you can unilaterally elect to seek a refund from your credit card provider and/or lender. I am happy to assist with shipping arrangements on a national and worldwide basis but the winning bidder takes full responsibility for pickup and/or shipping and at his cost.
As a collector and experienced restorer of the marque, I make every effort to bring my cars to a high standard, both before and after the sale. By comparison, my cars are generally far superior to others available but they are by no means perfect. You must expect some issues. Unless specifically stated, the car is not of show standard but of nice "driver" condition. Please understand, show cars of this model cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve and sell for prices commensurate, so the sale price of this car reflects its relative condition. You are buying "condition" accordingly. Buyers should not expect to receive concours quality or "perfect" cars at these prices. Please also understand, the very nature of these classic Rolls-Royces is such that it is not always possible to attend to every item, or perhaps I may have inadvertently overlooked items. Further, and very importantly, these cars are classic cars also because they are old. So this means if a car is 50 years old, then it is predominantly comprised of 50 year old parts. And old parts will fail. All buyers must understand and expect that things can or will wear out, break and/or stop functioning without notice, even if we have inspected it. This is even more likely with hand-built English cars of early technology when compared to the typical American car of the same vintage. Please note, fitted radio/stereo systems are usually subject to upgrade by purchasers so I do not ensure operation of these. Similarly, cruise control systems fitted to these classics were of an inferior design and I do not check or warrant the operation of these. Suspension and brakes on these cars are complex. We thoroughly check them and replace things that are identified faulty. But please understand, by example; if we refurbish or replace a brake caliper because it appears aged or faulty, we do NOT at the same time refurbish or place all other brake calipers because they are of similar age. This is considered "preventative maintenance". We do not do this unless specifically requested and is not included in the purchase price. Feel free to ask for this additional service. Further, a feature or function that is working perfectly one moment, may decide to play-up the next. After all, it is several decades old. This is the nature of any classic car and especially a Rolls-Royce which was very "complicated" for its era. For this reason it is necessary for the following condition:
The vehicle is being sold "as-is/where-is" with no warranty expressed, written or implied. Any descriptions or representations are made with reasonable judgment and all efforts are made to ensure fair assessment and accuracy but they are for descriptive and identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. The seller shall not be responsible for errors in description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein and makes no warranty in connection therewith. If any aspect of the description contradicts what can be seen in the photos, then the photos shall prevail as the reference point. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, unforeseen imperfection, defect or damage. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have satisfied himself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects at the buyer’s request prior to the close of the auction. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any written or oral statements about the vehicle. Being a classic car in excess of 10 years of age, in most US states, the mileage may be recorded as “exempt”. In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown and accepts no responsibility for any discrepancy with independent reports such as Carfax, AutoCheck, etc. In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown. I can hold the vehicle up to 30 days while you arrange shipping but you must immediately insure it. I will not bear any responsibility for any additional costs including storage, transportation, or repair after the close of the auction. Whereas I am happy to store the car in excess of 30 days from auction end, a cost of $35 per day shall apply beyond 30 days of auction end. Also, you must remember that this is a classic +50 year old vehicle, and while it is up to you, I do not recommend that you just “hop in and drive it across the country”until you have familiarised yourself with the car. At least, I have never done that. I have always professionally transported the cars in enclosed carriers from where I bought them to my home.
PLEASE; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, CONTACT ME BEFORE YOU CONTEMPLATE DOING SO AS, RESPECTFULLY, THERE CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
Finally, the advertised or "Buy it Now" price is a price whereby we are committed to do repair work on the car if we see something "not right". This may occur after the sale and before delivery. It is our commitment to excellence. So, to be clear, if the agreed selling price is less than 85% of the initial asking price, then the sale is considered a wholesale "as-is" sale. To put it simply, and to be fair, a buyer cannot expect to buy "cheap" and get all the benefits otherwise associated with a retail value type sale.
I am sorry if these terms seem harsh but there seem to be some very unrealistic buyers out there - fortunately, only few of these people exist but those that do can make life difficult, so it appears EVERYTHING needs to spelled out. Very simply put, this is an old car being offered for sale. It is not new and is subject to the perils of age. Further, Rolls-Royces are not without nuances, idiosyncrasies and they are renown for a host of design issues which can make them not inexpensive to maintain. This is well documented in many circles. You need to be a special and considerate type of purchaser to own a Rolls-Royce. Their down-side is part of the fun in owning them! As the old saying goes; "we love to hate them and hate to love them!" So, please respect the terms and conditions when you bid.
~~oo00oo~~
VALUES:
Rolls-Royce values vary wildly, entirely dependent on their condition. There are, of course, other aspects that add or subtract from their values – Long Wheel Base versus regular, the year which dictated certain technical changes, etc. The colour alone, for example can make a big difference. So for the benefit of new-comers to the marque please see the approximate guide to values based on a particular model below. Please remember, these are “plus-or-minus” figures:
Year: 1979
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Silver Shadow II Anniversary Edition
Show car: $65,000+
Exceptional: $50-65,000
Excellent: $45-50,000
Good: $35-45,000
Average: $25-35,000
Fair: $20-25,000
Basket case: < $20,000
Hopefully this will provide a reference point for the Rolls-Royce being featured in this listing as it compares to the range of different condition examples. Please note, a very poor condition example that is tired and not maintained can easily demand some $30,000 in restoration to make it a "nice" example but remember, it will be no longer original. So don't be fooled by "cheap buys". For any specific questions about this unique example of a Rolls-Royce, please do not hesitate to contact me.
According to the London based investment research firm; Historic Automobile Group International, classic cars have appreciated on average, 13% per year since 1980, whilst overall stock values averaged an 11% gain over the same period. The following graph charts the value of collectible cars vs. the S&P500.
