Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Coupe '68

• Comes with some photographs of the engine’s rehaul, a detailed maintenance booklet and some maintenance bills
• Coachwork done by Mulliner Park Ward, two Rolls-Royce subsidiaries that fused in 1961
• Immortal and eternal classic

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, a car that needs no introduction as its manufacturer’s name alone speaks volumes. In 1965, it took over the baton from the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, but it wasn't an easy ride. The Silver Shadow stumbled a bit along the way, but it quickly found its footing.

During the sixties, the competition was fierce, and other car brands like Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz introduced luxurious cars that were similar to Rolls-Royce but cheaper. Rolls-Royce had to redefine itself. They designed the Silver Mist, but it turned out that 'silver mist' meant 'silver crap’ in German. In a hurry, they came up with the name 'Silver Shadow.' The Silver Shadow had to carve out a niche for itself in the market, but it sold well, especially in the United States. Rolls-Royce described its market development with this biting quip: ‘When things don't happen right away, just remember: it takes thirteen hours to build a Toyota but six months to build a Rolls-Royce’, emphasizing their hand-built, artisanal approach.

After some delivery delay and the name issue, the Silver Shadow was ready to conquer the niche market, and it did so with great success. This luxurious RR was made for people who don't settle for just ‘more’, and ‘a lot more’ is exactly what Rols-Royce offer, especially in terms of luxury. According to Rolls-Royce, the V8 engine is so quiet that you can hear the dashboard clock ticking when accelerating. The design exudes British charisma, the meticulous interior finish only adds to that. The leather-clad seats offer unparalleled comfort, and the dashboard is simply stunning with wood accents, attention was paid to every detail. The Silver Shadow pragmatic in any way to Rolls-Royce, and it can’t become any more British than this.

Over the years, the Silver Shadow underwent some changes to ensure even higher quality. For example, in 1970, the engine displacement was increased by 10%. Though, in terms of power, Rolls-Royce has always been mysterious about it. In 1977, the front suspension, the interior, and the aerodynamics were changed, which resulted in a name change to the Silver Shadow II. In 1980, it was succeeded by the Silver Spirit.

A total of approx. 30,000 models was produced when production stops in 1980. This was a lot, at least for Rolls-Royce cars. This car took Rolls-Royce to new levels. 65% of the Silver Shadow are still in use today, showing the craftmanship and the know-how with which these cars are built.

Technical information:

Body work

• Length (cm): 517 (204 inch)
• Width (cm): 183 (72 inch)
• Height (cm): 149 (59 inch)
• Wheelbase (cm): 304 (120 inch)
• Weight (kg): 2159 (4760 lbs)

Mechanics

• Engine: 6231 cc V8 front-engine
• Valve gear: 16
• Fuel system: 2 SU carburettors
• Gear box: 3-speed automatic
• Transmission: RWD
• Right-hand drive
• power: 200 hp (147 kW) at 4000 t/m
• torque: 470 Nm at 2500 t/m
• Top speed: 186 km/h (116 mph)

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