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?
Back in my mid-70s college days I saw a silver Silver Shadow wafting around La Jolla under “sufficient” power. It looked splendid in silver, and I remember thinking to myself “I wonder what one of these would cost used some day?” It turns out maybe less than I thought. I didn’t know these had Citroen-style suspensions. In white and with an almost guacamole green (and oddly weathered) interior, this one looks a lot less splendid. Especially with those rub stripes. The Silver less splendid still but if I have to DD, I’d trust it more, once the things that don’t work get sorted out.
I imagine FI would be less fiddly than a pair of SU carburetors and might be a bit less thirsty and the power a bit more “sufficient.”
Silver Shadow! Wow, this is definitely not a “Shitbox” day but I definitely like both of these, crazily. They are just so nice, but definitely not to the wallet and peace of mind. They are not my kind of cars at all, but I still appreciate them. This was kinda difficult, but I HAVE to go old skool- I much prefer the more classic ones like this- and that green interior is amazing! The newer interior is too bland/neutral to me, comparably. It great these both have big ol awesome V8’s in them. I will enjoy cruising (don’t need a chauffeur) around in it in the lap of luxury like riding on a cloud of comfort in a big ol land yacht beast. I’d paint it blue (or green?) and actually put miles on the thing. Maybe I’ll even manual swap but keep the radio as close as possible, that way I can change stations while putting my own grey poupon on my sandwich while shifting, thank you very much…ha ha
“Pardon me, do you have any grey poupon?”
“Wayne’s World! Party time, excellent!”
I know they are both likely horrible cars. I typically will go fuel injection but between the strange rear end on the newer one and likey lucas electronic on top of all the weird rolls stuff I think the older one might be a safer bet and is better looking. The 89 screams original owner jumped out of a building after being over leveraged or drug overdose. The 74 still seems classy.
Sitting this one out.
The shadow just looks more classic. The boxiness of the spur I guess had its day, but it’s just not as classy in my book.
The green interior is also just awesome, even if worn. I’ve read that the biggest parts/financial drag on these cars is the braking systems, which are pretty bespoke? The 6.75L parts can be found reasonably easily since it had such a long run. I don’t know how true this is, but it’s tempted me.
Living in the UK during the entire production runs of these two cars, I don’t remember very many RRs being white. Cheap white Rolls-Royce usually means ‘Wedding car with nasty respray’. The Shadow would probably have been sold in British Racing Green and the green interior would have looked great.
IF the shell is rust-free then the Shadow is a much better deal for a slightly masochistic enthusiast.
I think white might be more common for the US spec. Especially for California. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone was trying to match their house. White on the outside avocado green on the inside. Its seems to me like most in the US cars are one of the silvers then one of the browns or off white then probably white and black after that then maybe the burgundy or red then maybe the blues and green. The later cars might be blue at a higher rate.
Interesting site showing all the factory colors.
https://www.rrsilvershadow.com/EKleur/Kleur1.htm
The yellow and bronze cars pop up sometimes here. Some of those blues you rarely see if at all.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Neither of these.
“Hand-made” can be a pejorative, even if it’s dressed up in finery.
The purchase price is just the beginning – these things are nearly as particular and expensive to maintain and repair as exotics.
I’ve seen vinyl tops replaced with spray on bedliner on old Malaise era barges locally, but never on a Rolls Royce. That fuel injection system looks utterly terrifying. Gimme the classic Shadow.
Silver Shadow survivor for me. I love the green, it’s a more reasonable size and I’m not riding in that enormous back seat. Also, emissions compliance scares me a lot more than old carbs do.
Just have to find a Citroen mechanic for the suspension.
Does that ’74 have a 5-digit odometer? Because those seats look more like 123k miles than a mere 23k. Still, that green interior is calling me, and the 8-track rack in the center console is a nice curiosity.
Get those front seats redone and paint the outside a pale, sage green (aka the color of money!) and it’s a winner for me.
ETA: Replace that steering wheel too, either with an original or a wood-rimmed aftermarket one.
One thing I’ve noticed with old Rollers, even ones from the 90’s, is the seats seem to age terribly.
Had the same thoughts. Sage with maybe a cream coachline.
agreed on all counts!!
Unless that roof mod was some kind of commonly accepted way to fix or replace the vinyl, I’m steering clear of the second one. The only thing more expensive than “used ultra luxury car of questionable provenance” is “used ultra luxury car of questionable provenance with visual evidence of a prior owner too cheap to maintain it correctly.”
Call this the “all original, save rims, tint, and stereo” rule.
Both
Newer and cheaper one for me that also seems to need less work. Also I prefer fuel injection over carbs any day.
Edit… in the ad for the 1974 Rolls, anyone know why the seller puts “[1, 2, 3]”, “, “[1, 2, 3, 4] and “[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]” beside some points?
What’s that supposed to be about?
This jumped out at me too: • Displacement: \(6.75 \text{ liters}\) (\(412 \text{ cu in}\))
Did the seller use some kind of template that they completed online and somehow it doesn’t copy/paste right?
It’s most likely formatting likely carried over from an ai output. Could also be carried over from formatting in some document. Possibly with linked sources. They pasted into CL and their html wysig took it and displayed it like that likey as they don’t allow some functions or broken formatting from website style or similar. Some wysig editors have a paste a plain text function to clean up weird formatting carried over like that.
The price disparity made it a tough decision, but the Silver Shadow won me over. If I’m going to put effort (and money) into a car like this, I’d want the classic prestige. The green interior is unusual, but that also contributes to its uniqueness.
I just can’t with the green interior.
Agree. Looks like a Ford Country Squire.
And that’s…… Bad? 🙂
lol. Only to some. As an unwashed Philistine I may not be capable of appreciating such finery.
It’s amazing how cheap Silver Spurs have gotten, and I keep getting them in my feed because apparently I’ve clicked on them too many times in Hemmings.
In any case, from what I’ve learned about these, the seats are each controlled by their own ECU which is powered by a specific battery, which when they go bad will leak electrolyte on the circuit boards. All of this is expensive, so if you’re shopping a Silver Spur that “only needs power seat fixed” do a bit of research first.
I’m still picking the Spur, because the seats are nicer. For whatever reason it seems Rolls Royce seats wear terribly. Also the Shadow is just a bit too fogey looking for me.
https://www.rollsroyceforums.com/threads/1989-silver-spur-seats-inoperable.29544/
I can redo the interior of the Silver Shadow II and still have an interesting/unusual color combo, or I can redo the Everflex roof of the Spur (I’d select a tan or brown roof) and still have rectangular headlamps.
It’s the Shadow for me.
Heck I’ll take both. When one breaks I’ll drive the other.
Correct answer – plus as much as I love the green, I’m not sure if I would be in the mood be surrounded by it every day.
Depending on his mood, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had 93 to choose from for daily drives around his Oregon compound in the 1980’s.
But what happens when they both break?
Your butler doesn’t have their own car? Send Jeeves to get whatever it is.
If you need to go somewhere, crowd into your chauffeur’s Honda.
This was a battle of the heart and head. Heart wanted the original, but head saw the interior of the Spur. Heart obliged and agreed with head until head started extrapolating exactly what early electronics might mean for one of these things, and the whole roof thing put a few more questions into the mix. The heart (now utterly disgusted by the waffling) told the head to STFU, go with the Shadow and enjoy the (very) relative simplicity of the package, while it soaked in the ambiance of something that was once considered the absolute pinnacle of automotive luxury.
I will say, “early electronics” means “able to be repaired/serviced” a lot of the time.
But I will also say that the ’80s was not “early” for electronics and you may find more ICs and surface-mount than you expected.
Today, if some of these things are unobtanium (like the op-amp or RISC IC no longer exists for the power seats or whatever) you can probably work up an emulator with a Raspberry Pi or something.
Or just…not. These are probably more satisfying to get cash pressed into your hand for their weight in scrap than they are to own or drive.
That steering wheel in the Shadow is 100% aftermarket, early-mid 80s is my best guess. Looks a lot like a Personal or Nardi from that era, I used to sell tons of them at Auto Drugstore in Montreal back in the day, but I don’t recall ever seeing this exact model.
I would dump either of these in a second for a Bently Turbo R. Jay Leno describes it as the car you use to pick up the in-laws from the airport. I think it would be interesting driving such a “sporty tank” of a car.
Looking at my comment, I guess these could also be used to pick up someone from the airport.
I’m with you – if I’m making a financially-devastating choice on a British luxury car, it is a Bentley Turbo R, not a Rolls-Royce.
If I’m going to buy a money pit, I buy one with class and originality. Silver Shadow today.
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Had to go old school. As a child of the 80s, it is what Rolls Royce looks like in my head.
I also want to stuff a black wing from a caddy in it. Silent exhaust, stock tires, the gentlemen’s sleeper.
[1, 2, 3, 4]
the older one’s steering wheel looks like a pre-merger [old skool] AMG wheel to me…
Rich people in Rolls Royces went from looking for Grey Poupon in the 80s to these days looking for average Joes they can poop on.
Pretty sure they’re just pooping on anyone who isn’t a billionaire+ these days, at least in the US.