For our final one-make Showdown of the week, I thought we’d class the place up a little bit and look at some Rolls-Royces. The British firm has a long and rich history of making some of the finest cars ever, but that doesn’t stop depreciation from hitting them hard. These two are a bit out of our typical price range, but they’re still pretty cheap for what they are.
Yesterday we looked at two Suzukis, one that was sold here new, and one that came in after it got old enough for the government not to care anymore. By more than a two-to-one margin, you chose the 4×4 Vitara that came here through official channels when it was new. The automatic transmissions in both cars sapped some of the fun, but the majority of you felt like it was a bigger sin in the little Alto.
I agree. I think the Alto with an automatic would be a fun curiosity for a little while, but it would get boring quick. A manual would make that car more entertaining for longer. The Vitara should also be a stick for maximum enjoyment, but it’s fine with an automatic. I guess.
I want to start today’s Showdown with a book recommendation: The Perfectionists, by Simon Winchester. It’s an excellent history of precision measurement and its importance in shaping the modern world. It’s a fascinating read, and I think plenty of you would find it as entertaining as I did. The reason I bring it up now is that it includes an entire chapter on Rolls-Royce. In it, I learned that you should always refer to the company by its full name, Rolls-Royce, and never shorten it to just Rolls. Why? Because Henry Royce was the engineer who made the early cars as good as they were. Charles Rolls was mostly just a salesman.
Rolls-Royce cars are more myth than machine these days, since only a select few can afford its now BMW-based offerings. But cars from the 1970s and ’80s can be found for relatively cheap, parked neatly at the bottom of their depreciation curve. They’re expensive to maintain and repair, and sometimes not worth the trouble. But at these prices, the temptation to be able to say “I drive a Rolls-Royce” can be strong. Should you give in? Let’s take a look at a couple of them and find out.
1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow – $13,525
Engine/drivetrain: 6.75-liter OHV V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Odometer reading: 23,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Rolls-Royce didn’t actually sell any complete cars until 1949. Before that, you bought a running chassis from Rolls-Royce, and had a coachbuilder put a body on it. In 1965, however, Rolls-Royce jumped into the modern era with this car, the Silver Shadow, which has a unibody design. This car was built for fifteen years, and it’s still the car I think of when somebody says “Rolls-Royce.” Absolutely everybody famous had a Shadow at some point, and now you can have one, too.
Behind that classic waterfall grille and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament is a 6.75-liter V8, with “sufficient” power output. It drives the rear wheels through a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400 transmission – yes, the same transmission as in your uncle’s Impala. It’s probably the most reliable part of the whole car. It’s not the only part of this car sourced from another company; it also features a self-leveling hydropneumatic suspension system licensed from Citroën. The seller says it runs and drives “exactly as it should,” but doesn’t provide any details.
The end of coachbuilt Rolls-Royces meant a certain degree of personalization was lost, but the possibilities were still extensive. Witness this car’s green (!) leather interior. Green interiors weren’t that uncommon in the ’70s, but typically you’d seen them in green cars, Pintos and Skylarks slathered in green vinyl and fake plastic woodgrain. This isn’t that. This is Connolly leather, wool carpets, and burled walnut. The front seat bottoms need some repair, but the rest of the interior looks really clean. I don’t know what’s up with that steering wheel, though. I’ve never seen one like that in a Shadow before.
It’s in good shape outside, but that added-on bump strip along the side is absolutely criminal. Hopefully it’s just the tape-on kind, and no holes were drilled in the doors. I do kind of wish it were some other color besides white, but I don’t know what else would go with the green interior. Green, I suppose.
1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur – $9,900
Engine/drivetrain: 6.75-liter OHV V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Woodland, WA
Odometer reading: 71,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Silver Shadow was replaced in 1980 by the Silver Spirit, along with a long-wheelbase version called the Silver Spur. It’s largely an evolution of the Shadow, with updated styling and a few technological advancements, but the broad strokes are the same.
Its 6.75-liter V8 is the same as the older model, only this one is fuel-injected. This engine actually existed long before and after this car; it was in production for an astonishing sixty-one years. It’s still backed by a TH400, and the suspension is still hydropneumatic. The seller says it runs and drives well, but it needs new tires; they’ve aged out. And it needs an alignment after the tires are replaced.
The interior is the classic Rolls-Royce concoction of leather, wood, and wool, but in a more sedate color scheme. Everything is power-operated, of course, but it doesn’t all work; the power seats and a couple of windows are inoperable. It wouldn’t be a British car if all the electrics worked, though, would it?
Outside, things are a little weird. This car originally had a vinyl top, but the vinyl has been removed, and the roof has been painted with what the seller calls “black undercoating.” It’s a strange choice. I guess it doesn’t look terrible, but can’t you come up with something better for a car like this?
There are probably more foolish things to spend money on than a fully-depreciated Rolls-Royce, but few as classy. The expensive-to-fix parts of both of these work fine, so you should be good for a while, but the repair bills will catch up to you eventually. Until then, however, you get to see that winged hood ornament guiding you on towards adventure – or maybe just the supermarket for some mustard. Which one would you choose?
Both are my kind of bad idea. I love these cars.
I voted for the Silver Spur. The Shadow has nicer exterior styling, but the best part of a Rolls is the interior. The Spur’s interior looks more comfortable than the six star hotel I would be staying at if I owned a Rolls-Royce. I can envision myself spending many happy hours in the back seat of this car barking pedantic and occasionally impossible or contradictory orders at my driver, Jeeves (I don’t care what your actual name is – if I own a Rolls and you are my chauffeur, your legal name is now Jeeves). I don’t care if this car has a few electrical gremlins – those are Jeeves’ problem. If Jeeves can’t solve them, I’ll get a new Jeeves.
I like the Silver Shadow, but I can’t get past the interior color. I usually love a colorful interior (and a green interior, specifically), but this shade of green in this car isn’t working. At the moment I’m trying to decide if the green was something the original owner actually liked, or if this was spec’d this way as some kind of weird joke or social commentary.
That green was fashionable in the 70’s and was different than any other car interior, making yours exclusive. If it was in the same interior condition as the ’89 Rolls-Royce, then I’d probably go with the Silver Shadow. As it is, I think I can do more with less effort if I got the Silver Spur. Also, I choose fuel injection over carbs nine times out of ten.
I have seen green interiors in a lot of ’70s cars, but I was under the impression they were rare in a Rolls-Royce. I googled Silver Shadow green interior and many pictures came up, so I guess I was wrong about that. I still think it looks campy, but I wasn’t around in the ’70s.
As for fuel injection vs carbs, that is a Jeeves problem.
“The car won’t start, sir… it appears to be suffering from vapor lock”
“Then unlock it, Jeeves! You have the key!”
“I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way, sir”
“Get out and push, then, Jeeves! Why are you just sitting there!!!
“But the car weighs 12 tons, sir”
“Call a friend to help…. or borrow some teenagers”
“I believe that is considered kidnapping, sir”
“Well pay for them then… put them on my credit card. Time is a wasting!”
“But your destination is 5 states away sir, and, I might add, substantially uphill”
“Damn it! Enough with your excuses!!”
“May I suggest you fly, sir?”
“That’s an option?? Well, start flapping your arms, man! Post haste!!”
“If I feel like buying green, then I’ll get green, damnit!”
Reminds me of a Jerry Seinfeld stand up bit:
JERRY: You know I think when you name a baby Jeeves, you’ve pretty much mapped out his future, wouldn’t you say? Not much chance he’s gonna be a hitman I think after that. (with a British accent) “Terribly sorry Sir, but I’m going to have to whack you”
Can tell he is a yank…Jeeves would be the surname (family name for the pc) not the given name.
What? You offer up not one but two examples from a high end manufacturer and neither has a manual???
On behalf of the entire Autopian readership: How dare you?
That’s what Bentleys are for. You don’t what to spill your tea on the freshly cleaned carpets if your man Jeeves drops the clutch in the Rolls!
I was all for the Silver Spur until you said the electronics are kaput. There goes all of my savings versus the Silver Shadow and then some. Well, and then a lot. I also think the Shadow has a nicer and more unique interior to lounge in when the car isn’t running.
Both are good candidates for an LS swap 😉
It’s a trap.
Why such low miles?
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Did a little digging. From what I found, the Shadow had a 5-digit odometer, and I suspect it’s rolled over.
The Spur apparently had a 6-digit, so it’s probably done a lot of sitting since the electrics started glitching.
One only takes the Royce when one is not taking the Gulfstream.
I remember the Shadow from Gumball Rally.
Now that would be a flex, showing up to Cars and Coffee with a Shadow that only has half the paint..
As for what color goes with a green interior, maybe a reverse of the usual Green car/Brown interior? Would a brown or tan Rolls-Royce look good with that green leather?
I think you are on the right track. Back in the 70’s that green would be considered a good match for brown, tan, black, blue, and of course green, with the exterior darker than the interior.
I think it would look great in BRG, have a darker green exterior and the slightly lighter green interior. But a Saddle Brown would also look nice I think
I would probably go with a pale, sage green, much like the one used on so many Fords back in ’74, or perhaps a soft, pastel yellow with chartreuse undertones.
A cream or pale yellow would work too.
I’ve seen some ’70s Mopars in beige with green interiors.
One of my aunts had a fuselage New Yorker in a yellowish green with a dark green paisley interior.
I grew up riding in the wayback of a pale yellow-ish ’73 Gran Torino wagon with a dark green interior. The paint had just the slightest hint of green to it, and I can’t seem to find it in any of the literature or available touch up colors. We were told it was “Light Green” but the Ford Light Greens I’ve found online all look too green. A friend’s parents had a near-identical Torino wagon in the same colorway. People were always getting our families mixed up as we drove through the neighborhood.
Anyway, I think that color on this Shadow would look pretty good.
Upon further consideration, we might need to go two-tone:
https://parkwardmotors.com/listing/1973-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-3/
https://parkwardmotors.com/listing/1979-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-ii-3/
This is a tough one. In theory, I prefer the older car. But those seats will cost a fortune to put right, and it’s “wedding car white”, though I like the green. And those extra rub strips – yuck. And it’s a lot more money. The Spur is more modern and in overall better condition in a better color combo even with the questionable roof. I can fix electrics myself more easily than I can repair leather seats myself. And the Spur is *much* roomier inside – if you are going to go full luxury, you probably want the lounging space. So the cheaper car wins.
Less electrics in a British car, less ‘under’-coating application on completely incorrect surface (the top), more green.
There’s a clear winner here. By winner, I mean less of a loser, because you will lose your house, spouse, savings, and sanity trying to keep either of these going.
One just might do this more slowly.
My grandparents had a 1960 Bentley in the same color scheme as that Shadow, white over green—it works well. The Bentley’s original color was called “Magnolia,” but I’ve never been able to find out what color that actually was.
Probably a rich person’s version of white, since Magnolia flowers are white.
Magnolia is British for a cream/palest yellow shade –
Rather different from White.
If the sellers have service records, either would be a good deal, but I prefer the Shadow. I suspect getting the leather brought up to snuff is less expensive than dealing with the Spur’s top, and if the Shadow is carbureted (as it should be) there are a pair of SUs to deal with. I’m okay with SUs. I believe the steering wheel should be two-spoke black Bakelite, and I bet one could be found.
These older Royces — many R-R fanatics prefer that to just “Rolls” — are far more reliable than many believe. They are a little complex, but nothing that can’t be dealt with. Certainly, either would be a better proposition for wrenching than any modern car.
Mainly, they are cool to drive. Or be seen in.
I was all set to vote for the square headlights but that green interior won me over.
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I’ll take the Royce Silver, please.
Oh wait, that doesn’t narrow it down much, does it. OK, going with the Spur. It’s slightly cheaper and looks to be in better condition. As for the vinyl-no-more roof, I’ve always thought that undercoating or bed liner might make a decent vinyl replacement. I’d have to see it in person, but looks cromulent in pics.
A malaise era coupe I was considuering buying a few years ago had the vinyl top replaced with white bedliner. Honestly I thought it looked great and would be much easier to maintain and keep rust at bay.
That “black undercoating” top looks great… for me to poupon.
Your comment is a Triumph!
The car I want is a Rolls-Royce flying spur. It was the Mulsanne Turbo in Rolls Royce trim
The rich man’s Plymouth Horizon GLH.
Except those didn’t exist.
I’ll take the Silver Spur. I may have to hire a new chauffeur who fits where the seat currently is since the electrics don’t work, but, that’s a small thing. Those back seats look comfortable and I like the tray tables.
Helped a widow wake up her husband’s hobby ‘70s Rolls fresh out of the barn for quick sale once upon a time. It hadn’t aged well. I hope these are in better shape.
Can I click “both” and transplant the phantasmagoric green interior into the fuel injected car?
I was also thinking both, but was going to put the fuel injected mill in the more classically shaped body without bedliner all over the roof. Bonus is the green interior and working (for now) electrics.
Oh well, this one I’m really torn about. The Silver Shadow has been one of my obsessions since I was a child. But not this one. It’s gotta be UK-spec, pre-74 (with the vents under the headlights). The Silver Spur is okay, but normally I prefer them in a darker shade.
I think I can’t get past the design irk I have with the excessive amount of sheet metal under the Silver Shadow’s headlights; two-tone, upper-four-digit Silver Spur it is.
Both are overpriced so neither.
Hard to choose, I feel like either one needs to be driven by someone in an Arabian outfit and looking for a road rally.
I worked at a dealership in the early 90s that included Roll-Royce. One elder gentleman handled them all, had tools in a roll up pouch, wore white cotton gloves, the whole deal. I had to test drive one after a repair and I was scared to death some idiot in downtown New Orleans was going to hit me.
Had to go for the Silver Shadow because I’m pretty sure that’s Tux the GoBot.
Pretty sure Gobots never specifically said he was even a Rolls-Royce because of infringement worries (toy never had the spirit of ecstacy emblem either), but I believe you are correct and a person of obvious culture!
Yikes. That roof on the Spur has been “fixed” cheaply. I’m betting there are other “fixes” that will crop up and make ownership miserable.
And I like the green interior. Gimme the Shadow. The price difference is WORTH it.
If you’re going to wreck the thing with Rhino Lining, may as well do the whole damn car.
tough choice, not sure if the bosch injection or 50 year old carbs with only 20K miles on them scare me more. I guess if the thing is running ok and stopping, then the old one is more attractive to me, green interior be damned.
I’m going with the older one. It’s not less likely to break down, but with no electronic controls the fixes should be somewhat more approachable, certainly at the shadetree level.
This is my thought, I generally despise carbs, but that fuel injection system looks like a complete nightmare. It’s heresey, but at absolute worst you could probably drop a small block Chevy into the ’74 without issue.
I mean….
…there’s already a Turbo-Hydramatic in there. It’s not like you can’t make the SBC mate up to it. And then of course, any and every level of power, exhaust note and reliability that has been baked into the SBC for damned near as long as the Roller engine has been around is at your fingertips. At your fingertips, I say, for a fraction of the cost of any basic maintenance the Roller might need.
Oh no. Oh nonono. I saw the one Wade Dankpods bought on the Garbage Time channel. These will bury anyone whose net worth is less than 7 figures.
I took the older one since, if nothing else, it probably has less things to break.
(Side note: I always daydreamed about dropping one of the late 6.75 turbo motors into a 3/4 ton pickup and seeing how well it pulls.)
The shouty man is kind of a dumbass when it comes to cars. You shouldn’t trust anyone who replaces their engine oil with Yoo-hoo.
Take it all in context.
and well, as long as the mineral oil breaks work, you can pretty easily drop in a 350 SBC and never have to worry about part prices or cost to run it…at least until those brakes fail.
The brakes and suspension would be my main worry. Those seals or lines fail on any of that, and you’re digging into savings…
That one is a complete and utter heap. These at least seem to be running/driving cars. Not that I have any interest in owning one at all.
Do not do this, ever. I have written books about these things, those engines are brutes, 700 bhp at the axle and near on 1400 ft lb of twist. I love these toys but a full spec late turbo one is one scary whotsit. The 0 to 60 is impressive, about the six second mark. The good bit is the 50 to 80 and the 80 to 130. No gentleman’s club should do this. Massive car with two adult children in back boot full of stuff and a sleeping wife in the front seat. Just a minor speeding infringement. I was lucky not to be locked up!
Now I wonder what that powertrain would be like in a 3/4 pickup?
Like a typical tuned diesel, but without the smoke?
This said, you don’t have to worry, I don’t have the money, hence daydream.
Yep, if you ever get the money, do not try this!