1973 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base – “LWB” 1973 (Very last of the chrome bumper models) This is a very handsomely restored Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Long Wheel Base saloon finished in the wonderful combination of 2-tone Silver Sand over Walnut with hand painted burgundy fine-lines to the waist-rails and hubcap beauty rings. The interior is light tan with chocolate piping with the carpets in the reverse them. The combination is quintessentially “Rolls-Royce” and looks simply stunning. The Long Wheel Base (“LWB”) Silver Shadow is longer than the standard sedan by an additional 4” in length in the rear door. This provides considerably extra leg-room for rear seat passengers. The LWB is easily identified by the unique smaller rear window and the Everflex vinyl top. This gorgeous Silver Shadow LWB was restored by Park-Ward Motors some 8 years ago. The paint job was a bare metal respray of some $25,000. Today, the paint remains in excellent presentation with only minor marks from minimal use since the restoration. When the car was repainted, every piece of stainless steel was removed and machined buffed and then hand-polished before final assembly so they look stunning. This includes the grill, headlight brows, rocker spears, hubcaps and minor finishers. Even the door-jam stainless sill moulds were removed during the painting process and machined buffed. The fine-lines were painted by steady-hand & squirrel brushes in accordance with the Rolls-Royce tradition. The Everflex vinyl top was also replaced and remains in excellent shape with no rust bubble issues sometimes seen. The interior presents very well and is of a high standard of finish. The Italian burl walnut wood is immaculate with the dash, console, all 4 doors and rear vanity mirrors having been redone by Park-Ward’s own craftsmen. The process was done at considerable cost and in accordance with the Rolls-Royce “multi-layer lacquering technique” which involves painstaking wet sanding and buffing by hand, between coats – no less than 20! The final finish on the wood throughout is simply stunning. The leather is lovely with no tears or cracks and presents beautifully having been re-Connollised (not the same as simple re-dying). It displays a lovely patina with only the atural creases you would expect – and want – with Connolly hide leather. The leather remains soft and supple. The rear seat is not in the correct stitch pattern but was like this when the car was first supplied to us (the customer at the time elected to leave it). The carpets are factory Wilton wool – the fronts replaced by importing Wilton wool from the UK and hand sewn by our own craftsmen – contrasted in chocolate brown with light tan binding. They “connect” beautifully with the same 2-tone exterior. The headlining in the car is in good condition as is all glass and interior finishes. The rear parcel shelf is in fine condition. All features and functions are working; electric windows, electric seats etc. The Air conditioning blows icy cold with a new compressor having been fitted some 5-6 years ago. Mechanically, this Shadow is a very fine example. It is one of the first Silver Shadows off the production line fitted with vented front brake discs. All Park-Ward Motor cars are fully workshop inspected under a program known as “Predelivery Commissioning”, whereby anything needing doing is attended to and all major and minor services brought up to date. Even though this car was the subject of that 8 years ago and regularly maintained since, the same procedure will apply in readiness for its new owner at this sale. This includes important costly items such as the hydraulics and brakes. This Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow drives particularly well, considerably quieter and smoother – especially at idle – than you would normally expect for any other Shadow of this era. With these cars, it is sometimes “luck of the draw” and this happens to be a great one! Mileage is not verifiable but commensurate with the car’s pre-restoration condition. A summary of the restoration carried out by Park-Ward some 8 years ago is as follows: Paint – $25,000 Interior refurbishment including new wood – $7,000 Mechanical service and repairs – $15,000 Sundry restoration items & procedures – $3,000 ~~ This Silver Shadow LWB is one of those hard-to-find examples where a considerable amount of money has been spent on restoring her to correct and original specifications. It is an excellent purchase for a buyer who simply wants a 9 out of 10 Silver Shadow and does not want to spend anything on her. This one is ready to “go and show”. ~~ ~~International buyers always welcome. we have sold and shipped 100’s world-wide.~~ 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 some 150 high resolution photos Click HERE to see some 150 high resolution photos