1979 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II: Why It's Finally Time To Call This a Cool Car

[@888johnmac]

i remember when James May had one .. he said it's the reason he had to live on Beans & Toast and the reason his Mechanic could afford Armani overalls .. lol

[@martinmcdonald4207]

That was a Bentley T2 James May bought. That old Top Gear Show is on KZbin.

[@Scruffy1000]

James had a 1972 red Corniche, the Bentley came later

[@TheHicton]

Bentley was before he showed it when he first joined top gear then got the corniche same time as Jeremy got Mercedes grosser 600​@@Scruffy1000

[@lotusgroup123]

Beans ON toast, not beans and toast.

[@johnnyboy1586]

Harry Metcalf has a 70s roller which he loves and has used it on many a road trips😊

[@christyrer9530]

You won’t thank me but this car suits you perfectly; you look better driving this than anything else I can recall seeing you in 😂👍

[@john1703]

Agreed. Perhaps you are no longer a boy racer at heart.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Suits you Sir....🤭😉

[@lanmastersassistant659]

Your right 15 seconds in and it genuinely suits him

[@lloydnorth5630]

I purchased my 1979 RR (Red Badge Edition) 20 years ago. She is my baby, dark blue and pure class 😍

[@davidlis6709]

I am thinking about buying a 1980 fuel injected engine one because I live in California and I need it to pass smog. I am a little afraid because people are telling me that the cars have a lot of problems and they only get about 11 miles per gallon. You have had yours for 20 years so you would be the right person to know how expensive it is to maintain. I also have been working on cars since 16. I can fix most problems, never worked on a RR. How hard is it to get parts? Thanks David

[@clivehaynes2183]

I have owned a Bentley T2 for over 3 years now and I bought it as a daily driver on the basis that I did not like any of the new cars on the road and the fact taking in to account the depreciation over 3 years it made economic sense. There is no road tax and cheap classic car insurance and depreciation is minimal although the classic car market is not strong presently. It is a good driving experience and it gets a lot of smiles. I do not regret it.

[@plunder1956]

It is a nice colour. Part of the problem with many a Rolls Royce is they are usually either White or a really boring colour. This one looks lovely.

[@davidhoughton273]

A Lord my father knew came to visit in a Daimler Double Six VDP. I asked why he did not have a Jaguar. His reply was ‘new’ money bought Jaguars and Rolls-Royce. ‘Old’ money bought Rovers, Daimlers and Bentley. I never forgot this advice.

[@DolleHengst]

Sadly nowadays new money buys Range Rovers and Bentayga'a

[@warringtonminge4167]

Bentley of course being merely a badge engineered RR. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ Most Bentleys of the day even had RR rocker covers, only a limited few Bentleys had Bentley badged rocker covers. I think rather more that Bentleys were to be driven but Royces were to be _driven in_ . As a Spur owner however I would rather drive my Spur on any desperately contrived pretext than my "daily" car.

[@lbnewell23]

20:33 the great thing about these is along with the MOT and TAX exemption they’re also ULEZ exempt too

[@nigelbond4056]

I cannot begin to describe quite how much I love the Silver Shadow, especially the II update. I was lucky enough to be driven to school in one most days back in the late ‘70s; my friend’s dad had one 👍

[@SuperEjep]

I have had a '77 Shadow 2 for 5 years. A labour of love but I do my own repairs and parts are reasonable from flying spares. They are, by modern standards, a fairly simple car but a joy to behold and own

[@AH-fg8dk]

Back in 1983 when I started my first job, my supervisor dreamed of owning a Silver Shadow. I thought he was mad when he could easily have a XR3I, Golf GTI, 2.8 injection (needs no other introduction for petrol heads), or even a 323i (ditto). But 41 years later I get it 😊

[@edward1591]

Always preferred Bodie's 3.0 over the 2.8i...never quite loved the pepperpots!

[@sebastiend.5335]

323i. Be still my heart, haha! Greetings from the Netherlands

[@thatcheapguy525]

as a spotty long haired apprentice mechanic in the early 80s I had the 'privilege' to work on and road test afterwards a Mk1 & Mk2 Silver Shadow. the Mk1 was owned by a bottom of the market hand-tool merchant and to be kind the car was not a good example. in contrast the Mk2 was lovingly maintained with no expense spared (as with the rest of his car fleet) by its retired scrap merchant. on returning to the garage after the first test drive of every car my boss used to ask what I thought of the car. I described the Mk1 as "a waste of a 6750cc engine, my Imp has more go" and the Mk2 "its like driving your living room down the road." however, there was something really cool about driving them wearing wrap-around sun glasses, a Mascot biker jacket with denim cut-off and arm out window dreaming I was a rock-star 😁

[@taylorsimonr]

Radio 3 would be more appropriate in such a stunning Rolls-Royce motor car! I bought myself a Silver Spirit I almost on the back of Harry Metcalfe’s “Arctic Rolls" featured on his channel. Of course, it was a cheap one, but I’m an adept mechanic and sizing up the recommissioning as a solo affair. I recall an amusing story my father told me of a doctor friend he used to have saving up and buying a Rolls Royce in the mid 60’s. He used it to go everywhere except to visit his mother, who’d declared it "vulgar" and therefore not welcome at hers. He then purchased a Mini, which only ever was used for the monthly visit to his mother. Once she’d passed away, the Mini was laid up in a corner of the garage. After the doctor’s death, his estate was divided and parts of it sold, including both cars. The Rolls Royce, even in the late 70’s by then, only fetched a small proportion of its original cost, mainly on account of wear and mileage. The Mini apparently sold for around twice as much as the Rolls Royce! My Spirit only happened because my girlfriend liked the colour, and it was a little over a grand to buy and have delivered to my workshop. As a child of the 80’s Spirit always appealed to me more than Shadow, but the example you’ve presented here looks fantastic!

[@alancrisp1582]

Interesting comment. You are just lucky that you are able to work on your Silver Spirit. Most of the rest of us mere mortals, have to pay a Rolls_Royce specialist to work on them. Which costs a bloody fortune . Cheap to buy maybe , but not cheap to run and fix !...

[@helenlloyd6564]

​@@alancrisp1582 I agree 100%. Eye watering maintenance costs. My Bentley T1 1970 is an absolute money pit. I am open to offers. In my ownership I have spent in excess of £63k. Bare metal respray, new floor pan, inner and outer scills, box sections, inner and outer wheel arches and lower wings, re-😢😢upholstered R R spec leather work conducted by a former R R upholsterer, new uprated bright lights, electronic ignition, L.P.G., white band tyres, hand painted coachlines, £7,500 rebuilding braking system, £3,600 suspension work including re-con spheres, stainless exhaust it just goes on and on. 😢

[@leenevin8451]

Jay Leno says his Bentley turbo never goes wrong because he doesn’t let it sit

[@michaelmontagu3979]

He is exactly right. I have owned a 1965 Silver Cloud III since 1982, as the second owner. It's my daily drive. The only real unexpected problem has been replacing the cylinder head gasket. I have it regularly serviced and anything that needs to be done is done. It's not a cheap drive but not too bad. The problem comes when the price is low enough for someone to buy, but who can't really afford the running costs. That's the way that the problems start.

[@stephanfourie6879]

This is the most enjoyable review of the Shadow ive ever seen. Absolutely briliant. I honestly hope you can test a Camargue in the future.

[@theoriginaljc-j]

My Grandfather and Uncle had Rolls-Royces , and it was always a sense of occasion when i had the chance to ride in them. I recall both my Grandfather and the Chauffeur in overalls working on his car. After many years of older Jaguars, Maseratis, Alrfa Romeos and Mercedes, I bought a Silver Spirit. It's relatively easy to understand and work on, so there are no real issues there. But, finally after many years of fast, uncomfortable, noisy, hot, spine shaking, but undeniably fun exotic cars, i have found a car that is supremely comfortable and the polar opposite of what came before, and i love it. i will never sell. The bond i have with my Silver Spirit is far beyond any other car i have had the good fortune to own.

[@sprezzatura8755]

Are you a fan of the Bentley Turbo Rs?

[@johanslabbert2869]

Around 2 decades ago, when I was still involved with running a restaurant on a wine estate in Constantia (CT, ZA 🇿🇦), a very loyal patron gifted a white one of these to our head chef. A fabulous gift by any measure, but being ever the gentleman, Frank would never say what it took in maintenance to keep the grand old thing going. He kept it looking prestine, but in the back of my mind I couldn’t help wondering what he was saddled with. It didn’t stop me from admiring nor lusting after that car though!

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

The only Shadow I went in was a wedding car. However there was a difference it was owned by a neighbour who was a retired business man who was doing weddings because he enjoyed it. He had owned his car from new and kept it maintained to the highest standards by a one man band specialist who worked from his house.

[@Graham_Shaw]

Stewart / Stuart, You sir, are a real hero! Well done sir! For restoring this car to such amazing condition. What a ride!

[@andrewmoorhouse687]

I drove a Silver Spirit at The Great British Car Journey, mainly as it was a bucket list thing to drive a Rolls at some stage and I think it’s the most surprising car I’ve ever driven. It was just such a huge amount of fun. Yes, it was a bit worn around the edges and the electric driver’s seat had given up the ghost(!) meaning my long kegs were not in what you would call the most favourable position ever, but it still reeked of quality and provided such a sense of occasion looking down the bonnet to the Spirit of Ecstasy, targeting all the plebs to get out of your way. OK, I had to imagine the last bit, but you get my drift. Putting your foot down had what felt like a second delay while the message was telegraphed through to the engine room, during which the prow of this majestic ship pointed towards the heavens before providing a more than reasonable amount of thrust. The boat analogy is definitely what sprung to mind. It certainly left a lasting impression. So much so that I think it’s fair to say a Rolls Royce will always be a Rolls Royce and always an event.

[@sevensixtysteve8662]

What a beautiful example of my favourite Rolls. As you said, for years under appreciated and carrying the naff wedding car mantel but now values are climbing and people are encouraged to restore and look after them. Definitive Rolls Royce in my opinion and never bettered. Fab review :o)

[@Sid3300]

Classic FM should be the only radio station a Rolls Royce can tune into.

[@smorris12]

Radio 3, please.

[@michaelk1471]

Radio 4 at 3rd.

[@john1703]

Launched in 1992 when the RR was the Silver Spirit.

[@andrewberridge4630]

Classic FM? Sacrilege. The wireless in my Silver Spirit would only tune to Radio 3 or Radio 4.

[@ajpdaniels]

Home service or third programme I think ​@@smorris12

[@JamesTaylor-n1u]

Old Rolls' steering wheels and gear selectors were dainty for a reason. A good chauffeur kept his hands low on the wheel, out of sight, and feed the wheel from hand to hand, and the gear selector was operated gently, with an open palm gesture. One simply does not wrestle with the controls of a Rolls-Royce like a gorilla old chap.

[@GoldenCroc]

Striking imagery, well done.

[@martinmcdonald4207]

DING DONG.

[@tylerhamilton-nz8qs]

Or wear a hideous shirt like that!

[@JamesTaylor-n1u]

@@tylerhamilton-nz8qs multitude of sins hidden

[@BuffaloDoctor]

Now then now then, guys & gals... Unfortunately I always associate this type of Rolls Royce with Jimmy Saville (and generally the slightly seedy/dubious 70's business-man types). Not the type of car I'd wanna be driving round in, but I'm glad Jim fixed it for you to have a go in one😆

[@bomberaustychunksbruv4119]

Just re-imagine it as the car the Mad Arab drove in the Cannon Ball Run. Cudos restored !!!!!

[@brianiswrong]

In 1980 my parents sold there 1968 jension interceptor (TBA99) and bought a 1967 silver shadow (TYK 22F) which had an apparently very rare factory metal sliding sunroof.

[@captgutter]

So much more classy than the new cars, which have become far too flash. Beautiful shape. Love the red Corniche Elton had in the Nikita video, and the one the Sheikh had in Cannonball Run lol

[@richardshiggins704]

One never waves from a RR ! One may choose to acknowledge an acquaintance should one so wish to do .

[@albertperks3476]

In 1976 my uncle gave us a little joy ride in a RR Shadow. I was 7 at the time and I remember me and my sisters were told by our mother to not touch anything. It was a lovely thing and I've always had a soft spot. I'm hoping that maybe in a few year to buy one as I want to do a south of France trip - so I'll have to pay top dollar.

[@jfv65]

They closest thing i ever had the privilege to drive was a Chrysler Newport Limousine (6.3L V8) from 1966. But this RR SS2 really is a step up in the luxury department with the conoly hide and walnut wood trim. Gorgeous!

[@paulevans3827]

James your bloody brilliant are used to own two of these as wedding cars I must say very good wedding cars I kept them top-notch but you have nailed it. They are lovely absolutely lovely I don’t own them anymore but I almost missed them. It’s a bit like losing a pet, dog, they have a character all of their own well done James what would I do without your channel?😎🇬🇧

[@drebellot5237]

I had one in the early 2000s in London and I had no problems with the car and the steering was lovely she turned like a taxi and slipped in and out of traffic no problem.

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

I'd say, all Rolls are cool by definition. At least, here in Italy every RR, old or new, gets everyone's eyes on.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Do you ever see any American cars there at all ? I’ve always wondered if any American cars make there way over or if anyone even bothers importing them

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

@@RobertSmith-le8wp Apart from Fords (which anyway are often considered at least half German, coming from the European division) the market for American cars is a niche one: it's more likely to see some odd Camaro or Mustang than any American SUV or sedan.

Well, compared to the unfortunately tatty DB7, you‘ve catched a decent example of a Silver Shadow II... in fact, it’s an EXCELLENT example! Compliments from Switzerland to the owner! 😊

[@alancrisp1582]

😱 Just remember, there is no such thing as a cheap Rolls_Royce, then and now. The most expensive car 🚙 you can ever buy is a so -called cheap Rolls_Royce !..

[@paulsz6194]

100%agree mate ! As the saying goes, : " There is nothing more expensive than a cheap ( insert your car brand here)"…..

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

To be sure. I was bequeathed a 'Roller' of similar vintage and I adore it. Less now as there is only one guy, nearly two hours away from us, that knows anything about them and he is approaching retirement age. It was in gd kit when I got her but she needs a lot of this and that to stay the smile on her face. I have found that they keep better if you actually use them. We used to take her down to Florida once in a while to visit family but the return trip was problematic. We'd always get pulled over and be given the once over by a drug dog going through Georgia. We use a solid old Lincoln now that attracts no attention and is almost as nice to drive...

[@alancrisp1582]

@@hugh-johnfleming289 Wonderful story make me laugh !.🤣

[@igordewit7357]

Just put a Ford big block in it. Or a Rover v8.

[@jacobneal5388]

From what I understand the hydraulic suspension is a nightmare to repair.

[@brianiswrong]

Fun fact If you close the car keys in the rain gutter of the boot lid with it locked😢 you can. Remove the spare wheel, remove the rubber bung in the boot floor (that allows you to check your spare tyre air pressure without having to lay on the road/ lower the spare) Then insert 1 hand and with the patience of a Saint and a full day, you can unbolt the boot latch inside the boot and open the boot lid to retrieve the keys 😮😮 The citroen suspension was only used on the rear for self leveling, and in park or neutral worked 3 x a fast as it did in drive. And lastly on the subject of mpg We travelled from Bedfordshire to Sweden (for drag racing) and back. Dad managed to get 8 mpg 4 up with a boot full of luggage and as a 16 year old lad I saw more petrol stations than I did " ABBA" lookalike ladies during the week long trip.😊

[@Mike-br8zt]

My dear chap, you have finally grown up.

[@oxfamshop]

Regarding the Hearse many years ago I said to a friend of mine " I wonder if Rolls Royce will ever make an estate car " He told me that they did and it was a 2 door estate car with a large tailgate and you only get to ride in it once

[@porkiepie1997]

As the public relations manger in The 1970s the car was pretty cool when we first showed it to the press in southern Spain and was a great favourite with legions of owners. Thank you for your piece

[@jfpk114]

A good friend of mine let me drive his Rolls while he was in the back. Foot down, big noise, nose up and nothing else..... Until we got to a roundabout. Took it way too fast and the look on his face as he slid from one side of the car to the other was hilarious. Poor tyres were screaming in pain.

[@TheHicton]

Sacrilege to to drive a roller like that what does that say about you

[@jfpk114]

Doesn't say anything about me, the owner didn't say anything either. He laughed his head off. But what it does say is these cars are old, in every possible way and are a leap way back into the past in the way they drive compared to even a car from the 90s let alone modern day cars. If you have ever driven an old Rolls you would know that. If you haven't, well, how would you know?

[@jeremywentworth1833]

I honestly an old Corniche is a thing of beauty , some look fantastic think they are definitely a colour specific car that makes the car look better .

[@Suprahampton]

Dark green

[@Izrealeu]

Had a 1972 shadow for 3 years in early nineties, loved it, it does help having your own classic car workshop. I am actually thinking about getting something like that again, a perfect car for being less in a hurry...

[@davidcoote8395]

😅love mine, had it for 5 years as my daily driver. Nothing nicer to drive every day and it’s now not costing very much to keep going as it’s well maintained. I get 12pm pottering locally and 19mpg touring.

[@Carl-x8y3c]

Beautiful RR Silver Shadow. I was 19 years young when it rolled off the assembly line. Nice condition, and the interior is very nice.

[@nigelha3699]

love a RR. They are actually exceptionally well built and not that hard to work on. Simple cars, with some expensive parts. Any moderate mechanic can fettle. Watch Classic Obsession - Gary Mavers play with his two Corniches Put the Harvey Bailley handling kit on it and it corners very well. Stuff is solid and lasts.

[@vaslav030547]

I have had a Spirit now for five years and it is my pride and joy. Being single a non smoker and a non drinker gives me the opportunity to bring it back to showroom condition. I insure with a Classic Car company and each year I increase the cover and the cost remains very much the same. In fact they wrote to me this year and enclosed a cheque for £14. 80p for discount. I should also say that it is a fraction of the premium I pay on my everyday Ford Fiesta.

[@jo05dk]

For once I was way ahead of the trends.. I remember walking with my then girlfriend back in...2008 I believe, and seeing one of these, two toned brown, waft by. I stopped, followed it with my eyes as it passed us, turned to her and said "that's actually a really cool car", and she got the usual blank stare and agreed with me to shut me up I suppose. ..oh and: I agree. This car is absolutely beautiful. Great spec.

[@colinhoward74]

In 1980 , when the Silver Spirit was brand new and just been launched against the 126 mercedes , I thought it was cool , little did I know then , as a 15 year old , what it was , I was doing my trade as a motorcycle mechanic (while in school ) in 1981 , that it was the same beast in different clothes . I thought it was great , only to find it was the same nightmare of the Shadow , a (older) friend of mine had inheritited a Shadow of sorts as a settlement of debt , it would not go into any gear but the fulid was perfect . I told him it was a GM400 box , so not a real problem ... lets fast forward to 2000 ish , the car came to me to dispose of , it had a hurst shifter mounted to the tunnel , faultless in operation but faultless , I asked him why , he said , to go floor shift , replace the gm switch , the hurst shifter and the mods were half the cost of another solonoid based switch second hand , never mind the cost when quoted by Rolls Royce for the part , never mind the labour , hence , in the past , I avoided the Shadow like the plauge ( having heard my friend threatening to scrap a 3 year old Rolls in 1982

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

Stunning colour combination! Understated elegance! Wonderful! Drinks fantastically like Oliver Reed!

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

The problem with service on these cars is the huge amount of labour required to complete most repairs. Unlike modern cars every part can be disassembled and overhauled. This means the "new pads and discs" business model just doesn't apply meaning there is not enough profit to keep the lights on in a shop.

[@dougbelanger3479]

Have one of each from 1980, a Wraith and a Shadow. The Wraith is a project, the Shadow is a nice 35,000 mile car which gets compliments wherever I take it. And they always need something. Good thing I can work on them myself. Cheers, Doug

[@paulsz6194]

In Australia some of the wedding hire companies actually fit the venerable Buick 3800 along with the 4L60E transmission connected into old Rollers & Jag’s, from old Holden commodore’s….

[@mikeholling8830]

Yeah but there’s a lot of cowboys in Australia eh.😂

[@paulsz6194]

@@mikeholling8830 where in particular, ? … Have your been to Australia?

[@johnpalmer5131]

Yes, that makes sense… the venerable look without the mechanical headaches… I have often thought these care would make a great electromod.

[@Currawong]

​@@johnpalmer5131 They might be a bit heavy for an electromod -- I got the impression that lighter cars were better for that due to the battery weight. But I did see somewhere on YT a much older Rolls (or similar) that had been rebuilt over a chassis with an electric motor.

[@tomnewham1269]

I would have thought the old Holden iron lion V8 be a better choice than the Buick/Ecotec V6.

[@martinslocombe2288]

Very English and bloody marvelous ,especially with a Vaughn Williams soundtrack while bimbling down a Wiltshire B road in summer sunshine .

[@lestrem11]

I would absolutely love one of these but don’t think I would sleep at night worrying about the bills….. Great content btw.

[@sayrerowan734]

That would be my dream color on that car. That interior is gorgeous.

[@sleepingdragon]

Back in the day, when the Volvo was the safety benchmark (mid to late 1980's), I was walking through Kew in London, and saw police everywhere near a totaled Volvo. I still remember thinking, "What the hell did that". Answer, a bit further around the corning was a cream Shadow II with a tiny dent on the driver side front corner. The occupants of the roller were standing on the side of the road - they looked like something from the cover of Sgt Peppers. I have wanted one ever since 🙂

[@SlimGamingChannelYT]

Funny thing about this is, I believe this was the car my parents were offered one of these before I was born (I'm 54 now)of these before I was born (I'm 54), they chose a cattle truck instead as they owned a cow far in wales at the time, before moving down south.

[@thisiszaphod]

Enjoyed this James. The pinnacle of all Rolls Royces, IMHO.

[@longtailgt]

I'm not a fan of new RRs but these old ones are just majestic! There's something special about driving, or being driven in, a Silver Cloud, Shadow or Spirit. Many years ago, I got to sit in the driver's seat of a friend's Silver Shadow (the only time I've ever been in a Rolls), and holding that thin rimmed steering wheel while being seated in an stunning leather seat and being surrounded by the pinnacle of 70s luxury was an unbelievably pleasurable experience, even if only for a few minutes!

[@richardcarter1000]

Always fancied a Shad. Funny what you said about dealers. I bought an Aston Vantage and Aston main dealer wouldn't give me a second pen for my Nephew.

[@phillipchapman169]

She’s a beauty and I agree the colour combo makes a very positive difference. Certain cars suit certain colours and some colours certainly do not. On a separate note, your presentation is one of the best.

[@acalthu]

Finally, after 30 odd years I heard the correct pronunciation of Camargue.

[@briandurning9211]

Wonderful video. Just like fine wine, you are improving with age.

[@seanfahy606]

Fair play You achieved an interesting video on a car that is of no interest to me Thats a certain gift you have , well done

[@cerbie70]

Another great shirt James. I have moments of considering a classic RR or Bentley, but then I soon snap out of it. I'm not a comfortable wafting gent, I'm a rattle, bump, wind noise and leaks sort of guy. The last two maybe just me.

[@derekantill3721]

It is the colour of this particular car that sets it apart.

[@oldjonesy123]

Sorry but I dont think that green is a Rolls colour if you know what I mean I owned a Silver Spirit for a few years and it was metallic gold and looked a million dollars . It got lots of headturners wherever I went in it. I didnt think it was too expensive to run either apart from the petrol but thats all part and parcel of Rolls Royce ownership.

[@derekantill3721]

@ I know it’s not a Rolls colour, I didn’t say it was. I just said the car looks nice in that colour.

[@Stormy177]

My dad had one of these in the late '80s - it was his ambition to own I've before he turned 40. (Actually he had two in succession, because the first one had been in an accident that the salesman managed to hide - when he found out, he went back to the dealership and demanded a replacement.) They are beautiful cars, and ours drew embarrassingly large crowds whenever my dad parked it up on holiday in France. On the plus side, when we visited the Cognac factory, the chairman inquired as to the owner of the Rolls-Royce, and invited us into his office (a suitably luxurious old-world affair) as a result.

[@SabotsLibres]

At the time the Shadow was launched, the only Citroën sporting (well done James) oleopneumatic suspension was the DS, the last of the "traction avant" models already being out of production for 8 years, the SM and the GS models not arriving for another 5 years...

[@RupertFear]

23:05 I play Rock and Punk when driving mine!

[@severinhendrikx7893]

Perfect ending with the radio on classic FM! Great video

[@jasonjudd8656]

I like the colour of this Rolls Royce and the model shape. This was favourite of these cars.

[@jamiesutton8569]

Great review thank you! Really enjoyed it as a R-R owner. I have to say (and maybe it’s just me) but I don’t ever remember these being uncool. As a teenager I’d have loved us to have one!

[@jimsimpson1006]

There once was a Rolls Royce dealer called Stanley Harvey in Clarence Street West, Belfast. Sometime in the mid 1970s, when I was still a student, I answered an ad they put in the paper for a car cleaner 2 or 3 days a week (if I remember correctly - it was a long time ago). I went for the interview and the owner must have been impressed since he offered me the job, reminding me that "I would need to be courteous at all times, as our customers are just that little bit special". Come the Monday morning when I was meant to start, I got lazy and never bothered to turn up. Sometimes I think if I had, maybe I would be driving a classic Rolls Royce today. 😐

[@quackman]

a Rolls is always cool! that grille... the Spirit of Ecstasy.... amazing!

[@pibble3962]

Thank you for your exceptional commentary and for presenting this cool car!

[@derin111]

Whenever I’m tempted by something like this, I remind myself how I may feel in the cold like of day the next morning after I bought it! 😱😱

[@martinboulden4388]

In 1980 the list price on one of these was £38k plus extras like Front head rests, Headlamp Wash Wipe, Everflex Roof, Passenger Door Mirror, Sunroof, Rear Picnic Tables and Two Tone Paint. I say this as my dad bought one registered 1980 and three months old with a 1,000 miles on for £30k from Arnett’s of Bournemouth. ❤

[@localheroEd]

Born in the 80’s it was the only choice for our wedding car. Looks amazing in the arty monochrome photos!

[@giorgiogourlas306]

Beautiful colour combination Classy and elegant. Looking forward to buying one in the future

[@markhooper1352]

Every man and woman to his/her taste, but I have to say my Rolls-Royce Shadow brings me great joy. Yes, she is an "investment" that one continues to "invest" in heavily throughout it's life - if you are wise - but the drive is like no other. I own several cars, but the Rolls is the one that is exquisite to to drive and savour. Mine is a very late '76 Shadow with the steering "box" as you say, however she is very nimble - more than she ought to be - and I have never felt I am "correcting" her direction. I also love the pillow-soft "wallowy" ride she provides. I have never driven a Shadow II - maybe some day. Anyway... back to work to save for her next service :-)

[@timorgano]

You got the toot and wave from a hearse, but you're forgetting you GAVE it to a hearse once. Back in your E39 M5 video.

[@andreasvenator]

14:03 OMG: a ticking clock in a British Classic Car! What a marvel indeed!

[@shanemay3797]

Probably the best resto-mod would be a Turbo-hydro 700 4 speed, if it fits that is.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

They use the TH400 I’m almost certain. If it fits any other GM automatic would as well. Other than being only a 3 speed it’s probably the best automatic ever made. GM put behind every legendary big block that ever came out. 396/427/454/455, even the Cadillac 500 in a 3 ton car. It also went into heavy duty trucks and the RV they made back in the 70’s

[@davidhills3100]

I remember as a kid in the early 80s buying What Car? magazine and poring over the car listings. Cheapest on sale was the Fiat 126 at something just over £2k. Then at the top was the Rolls-Royce Camargue. At £78122.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

That is wild. Like he mentioned you could definitely get a nice house for that kind of money. I remember watching a motorweek from 1999 and one of the Rolls Royce they tested was almost $300,000 which at that time you could buy a very, very nice house in most areas and almost a mansion in some

[@Dugiesrevenge]

Just checking autotrader

[@thewaldfe9763]

Quite unfortunate that in Europe it's almost impossible to replace the crap that keeps breaking with something better and get the car registered. Would be so nice to have the looks inside and outside, but with e.g. a modern GM or Tesla drivetrain

[@tomnewham1269]

Another person commented on here that here in Australia, hire companies swap the RR engine/transmission with the Holden Commodore V6 and the 4 speed automatic.

[@jeremywentworth1833]

My grandad was a bookie with 7 or 8 shops so had a few £ in 1979 i went with him to pick up a brand new so very dark blue it looked Black from Appleyards RR in leeds. So from 8 or 9 years old i use to go to School in it etc. When it was 2 or 3 years old it wasn't used as much as he bought a brand new 1 of the very 1st Granada Ghia X 2.8 X reg. When it was about 7 or 8 years old he sold it as it couldn't be left anywhere without the wheel rims etc been nicked. He had the 2.8 Ghia X rat up until his death around 96. Think after it wore off owning it he prefered the Granada. Previously to the Roller he had quite a few Rover P5Bs with webasto roofs & Jags.

[@toni4729]

My brother bought a roller some years ago, and was very happy with it until the brake line broke. Just a plastic tube any mechanic could fit but no one would. He drove it into the local service station and you'd think he was driving a spaceship. No one wanted to come near it. They told him he'd have to take it back to the dealer. It was I think about fifteen years old and no one would touch it.

[@Lucan-ve6zc]

Just looked up the average house price for December1979 (UK) James. £18,542!

[@paulround4691]

Your chilled delivery was almost a parody of John Thompsons Jazz Club...Nice!

[@JayEmmOnCars]

*turns to camera and winks*

[@cornishrider]

What a fabulous example! An absolute joy to watch.

[@benzinapaul7416]

Seem to remember a company called Harvey Bailey Engineering did suspension kits for them which transformed the handling, contained the roll and maintained the ride. As you say they are so colour dependant - this one looks lovely as do most other metallic shades. Styling wise they are so elegant, I'm not sure if the later Silver Spirits/Spurs will every look good to modern eyes.

[@iconicetiquette4546]

I love the silver shadow , I used to work at Harrods 81-93 it was the car of choice for landed gentry 😊

[@johnscarsandstuff]

Both transmissions in the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow had their origins with General Motors. I think the four-speed was made under licence by Royce. The difference between four and three-speed gearboxes was the four-speed had a simple two-element fluid coupling while the three-speed had a torque converter coupling. Fluid couplings do not multiply torque like a torque converter does, which is why the older transmission needed a lower first gear. From what I've seen, the older gearbox (GM Hydramatic?) has rather oddly spaced ratios, where the TH400 is more sensibly geared. The long and short or it being, the change from four- to three speeds in the gearbox wasn't necessarily the retrograde step that it might first appear. By the way, I think I am the only person who prefers the Silver Spirit/Bentley Mulsane (SZ-series) cars to the Silver Shadow/T-Series. Maybe because I'm old enough to remember when the Silver Spirit was new and therefore the Shadow was "the old Rolls-Royce" nice enough but not quite the thing. I've even driven a Spirit and a Bentley Eight, both of which I loved and wish I could have taken home with me.

[@oldjonesy123]

When at college I did my work experience at the Roĺls factory at Crewe and it alwsys amused me when all the workers on one station had to push the car to the next station. It was in the days of the Spirit launch which was a beautiful car as I found many years later when actually owned a Silver Spirit.

[@robsawalker]

Great episode! Amazing really how youtube now has broadcast quality production and writing like this.

[@R1CH130]

Me and my ex had a White Shadow 1 for our wedding car, back in 2008! Lovely dark blue interior too and I think it had always been white, but who know 🤷‍♂️

[@joegoodsell]

We have to see you in an Arnage with that same (but different) engine!

[@walterplant2957]

I wanted to have a silver shadow as a kid ; I bought this kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4qUkpRufJuefbMsi=40iOYOkYgi3T0gJG

[@simonnorcliffe5877]

I used to own a silver shadow 1976 , absolutely gorgeous 😊

[@laurieharper1526]

Three of us spent a week in the west of Ireland in a Shadow 1 some years ago. Driving down those narrow lanes in it was, erm, interesting. It certainly ate the bumpy roads, though.

[@richardelson3261]

Lovely. Those gorgeous interiors. There's one of those old ones round the corner from me that is tatty and neglected exactly as you'd imagine and it makes be so unfeasibly sad to see it.

[@CliveDawson-Ellis]

I have a MK 2 1980 same colour and l love driving it and it the fuel consumption is a good bit less than my Phantom l and Phantom 11 RR !

[@rob1tnt]

Seeing as it got mentioned, I would love to see a review of a Camargue, its one of those cars ive read about 1000 times over but ive seen very little content on KZbin about them...and what a disastrous failure they were.

[@paulsz6194]

Rudiargh McVeigh did a good review on that car…

[@tonyworrad3767]

Unfortunately……mines a ‘typical’ wedding coloured car, but in generally ‘first class’ condition and with a tan everflex roof…..so it looks “stunning” ….to me……low miles, good body and well maintained……by me too, having spent £5k since owning it, over 12-months….. But, I love it - you’re right - people don’t look at the car…..they look at who’s driving it 🤪 Always wanted one since being a boy - delusions of Grandeur……but at 61 - why not? Great video by the way, and I LOVED the colour of that ‘test’ car ❤