The Silver Shadow, which arrived in 1965, was the most radically-changed RR ever. It abandoned the classic design language and traditional BOF contruction for a very modern unibody sedan that was a full 3.5″ narrower and 7″ shorter than it predecessor, the Silver Cloud. In the US, its size (203.5″ length) made it comparable to domestic mid-size cars, a full 6″ inches shorter than a ’65 Dodge Coronet. A bit compact, for the world’s most prestigious car, eh?
So it was no surprise that a long wheelbase version appeared after a few years, starting in 1969 in the US market. The four inch stretch all went into increased rear leg room, which made it more suitable for the purpose many buyers had in mind for it. R&T tested one form the last year of its initial version; in 1976, the Silver Shadow II appeared, and the lwb version was renamed the Silver Wraith II.
The article starts with the usual superlatives about the materials and attention to detail that made the RR what it was.
The writer was also treated to a tour of the factory, where the body shells (made by BL!) are united with all those precious parts.
The article points out that the Silver Shadow is roughly the same size as the compact Cadillac Seville that was quite new at the time, but that the RR’s interior space is vastly more roomy and comfortable, as it’s still a relatively tall car with upright seating. Everything is relative.
The RR’s price is of course invariably a subject in the reviews. This one stickered at $44k, which adjusts to $192k. My father pointed out to me when I was a kid that a RR cost about the same as house in the US. This was in the early 60s. Sure enough, in 1976, the median house price in the US was $44,200.
Meanwhile a 2018 RR Ghost starts at $312k, which is still very close to the current median house price ($320k in September 2018, according to the US census.) Some things seem to never change.
“How fast does the Rolls Royce assembly line move?”…..”I believe it moved last Thursday”
I remember reading this article when I was in High School and have never forgotten that line…Written by non other, John Dinkel
The price of status. As a kid my thinking was that since these were so high priced and built with the best materials that naturally they would last forever and be reliable. My innocence was dashed when I later learned that they had GM transmissions, were ultra expensive to fix and not very reliable. I learned what disposable income was
GM transmissions…yes, but the Turbo Hydramatic was the gold standard. The best, most durable automatic transmission at the time….The same could be said of GM’s “Friginaire” air conditioning systems.
All true and found on a contemporary Cadillac Sedan DeVille for how much less?
#IIRC: The Mopar 3 speed Torqueflite automatic transmission was the automotive industry’s “Reference Standard” in the 1960’s and 1970’s?
I would throw in the Ford C-6 as well. Unless I am mistaken, all three were bulletproof and smooth.
Don’t forget the Saginaw power steering.
Someone once described the Rolls as “very fine, beautifully made furniture.”
Interesting that the most reliable part of the car was the GM automatic transmission, which one could get on a Chevrolet Caprice.
An upscale New Orleans family that I am acquainted with always kept an older Lincoln or Cadillac around for the times when their Rolls-Royce would “fail to proceed” (as the RR dealer referred to the non-starting/moving events).
Their long term maid flatly refused to drive the RR to the grocery store; always grabbed the American “back up” car.
Your comments betray the standard PR churned by all those who have never owned one. A well-maintained Shadow remains one of the most extraordinary “drives” on the planet. Though it has numerous outsourced parts, it is only because if the best was already available, why manufacture a replacement? Even Henry Royce’s cars eventually had to concede that point, because, as complexities of cars rose, no single manufacturer could make everything themselves. That said, most of the car is RR through and through.
Contrary to myths about their reliability, a properly maintained Shadow is about as reliable as anything (though it is usually more complex, and may need additional areas of maintenance). However, compared to other survivors from the era, what other car is more so, let alone still as rattle-free and smooth-driving as it was when new—or. . . even running at all??? The costs of repair are commensurate with the labor, quality of parts, and scarcity—the latter point meant to illustrate the cost of manufacturing exclusive, high-end parts in extremely limited quantities, plus storing them for years. Moreover, Shadow owners will be able to get these parts FOREVER, unlike with most other cars; if not always new, there are worldwide specialists that rebuild virtually everything—the parts are of such high quality that it can be done. And don’t forget about the extraordinary quality of all the materials the owner comes into contact with each day; sure beats plastic, faux wood, and quickly-dating interiors.
Just know that no Shadow owner takes uninformed opinions about their cars to heart. They all know that most of the people who put them down would be the first to own one if they could afford to do so.
Hart-
I agree with you. To each his own, however. Everyone is entitled to their tastes and opinions. That’s why so many different cars exist. I have owned a 1974 1/2 RR Silver Shadow LWB since 1980. It is my second Shadow. It has 100K miles on it. When purchased it only had 16,000 miles. The car is gorgeous and reliable. I enjoy doing my own maintenance and have had components rebuilt instead of replaced when I had something wear. There is more to do in terms of maintenance, but it’s not hard, and everything is easy to access compared to the new cars. My wife and I own a couple of late model Mercedes Benz which are our daily drivers, a couple of Ferrari, and a 60s big block FAST muscle car. There is something special about getting in the Roller and driving it into Philly, or Manhattan, or taking it for a leisurely drive through the country.
It is funny to remember a time when a Rolls-Royce was at the top of the list of fine cars. Somewhere along the line Mercedes Benz snuck into that spot and has mostly stayed there since (although its hold seems to be slipping). I am not sure I can point to just exactly the point in time when that change happened, but it certainly did happen.
Today the Rolls seems to be a sort of afterthought to most people. I know lots of people who will say that if they were to win the lottery they would buy a Mercedes, but I don’t think I know anyone who would say Rolls-Royce instead. Most people kind of forget that Rolls still exists, until reminded.
The W116 S Class is the car that pushed the anachronistic RR and the chintzy Cadillac into the ditch. The MB’s dynamic performance, tangible quality, and attention demanding presence made it the big luxury car to drive and be seen in. Being cheaper/smarter than RR and pricier/better than Cadillac (and not a half-assed clown show like Jaguar) was the perfect image position.
The Rolls Royce brand was neglected because glamorous new models were retreaded and hotrodded Bentleys, not new limousines (whether owner driven or chauffered). Under BMW ownership, RR has returned to the personal limousine market with a series of fresh products. Younger buyers now don’t think of Rolls as the ultimate automobile to own and drive or be driven in; it’s a fashion brand that exists solely to flaunt wealth with idiotic/obscene/wonderful (choose one) excess.
very well said
If I won the lottery I’d buy the other RR – a Range Rover…!
I don’t think the Mercedes cachet is what it used to be here in New Zealand. There are a lot of ’00s Mercs (usually C-Class) here that are lowered to within an inch of their lives and driven by less-productive folks, and that tends to lower the brand image rather a lot. Of course that happens to BMWs and Audis too, so it’s not just a Merc thing. Mercedes (and BMW and Audi) are almost common now, whereas a Rolls of any age is rare and still presents an air of prestige – especially the new models which still look like little else on the roads, whereas some of the latest Mercs could be from any manufacturer, such is the dilution of their styling language. Just my opinion though of course!
Don’t forget to win the lottery again, you know, for maintenaince.
From what my financially betters have told me: The large Lexus sedan (LS 500 today?) has taken the place of the Benz in terms of initial and long term quality control excellence,lasting reliability and resale value.
Put a Chevy 450 in it keep the GM tranny and give me that Rolls!! These are what defined Rolls for me.
But honestly, ill take a 75-79 Cadillac Seville over it any day!!
Here’s a link to a fascinating road test from a 1977 Car magazine comparing the Rolls with a Cadillac Seville, Mercedes 450SEL 6.9, and a Daimler (Jaguar) Double Six. The Rolls ranked only slightly ahead of the last-place Seville, and the test states that in some ways, the Cadillac was better.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/sets/72157628810974261/
You’re taking me back to my youth! Thanks
Interesting to read that CAR considered the Seville a decent effort and gave it a much more complimentary write up than you might have expected.
Great link, and quite the contrast to R and T’s effort.
Btw, CC-ers, the site linked, Triggers Retro Road Tests on Flicker, is a superb source of old road tests. Beware the rabbit-hole effect!
Thanks for that great link!! Brought back childhood memories and also reminded me of when i started to buy magazines like Motor Trend and Car and Driver just for the pictures as the writers only praised foreign cars while homeland cars were so much garbage to them. most of the writers should have moved to europe and worked for their car mags.
7.3:1 compression ratio and it needs 91 octane gas?
We don’t answer those sort of questions, Sir. It’s the Best in The World.
Far be it from me to question Rolls-Royce, but about those unevenly-spaced fan blades used to minimize noise and vibration. Wouldn’t that arrangement create an unbalanced fan and the potential for more problems? I can see how that design could help with the helicopter-ish blade noise, but the other issues perplex me, as a non-engineer.
It certainly is a stunning car, and a used one would be tempting if not for the mind-exploding maintenance costs.
The variable blade size and spacing wasn’t something unique to RR the Delco Remey 10DN from the 60’s had that feature. As far as balancing it goes, it does not need to be uniform to be balanced. Because the size of the blades varies (at least on GM and Fords) as well as the spacing they can balance it out.
I remember that the first time I rode in a Rolls-Royce, my only impression was how small it was on the inside. This was pre-Shadow, so probably a Silver Cloud. Compared to a Cadillac of the time, it was rather unimpressive. I’d owned British cars, so the leather and wood inlays were nothing new. They did look rather nice though, at least up until the Shadow. I think the new ones are very impressive.
At the same time, I was managing a foreign car shop, and the Mercedes rather even more plain. Vinyl upholstery? I never saw a 300S, and I imagine they were somewhat nicer, but still not that great.
I never really fell for the American’s need for kitschy details, but Cadillacs had more and better accessories, more power, more room, and an impressively large countenance. They seemed to be about as reliable as the imports, and with less expensive parts, you could afford a hit there. I understand how Lexus got to the top of the heap but not how Cadillac sunk so far. And a Chevy Malibu is about as impressive as a modern Lincoln.
I wonder if Ford’s marketing campaign for the Granada originally intended to compare it to a Rolls Royce, and changed to Mercedes since that was the rising star of the industry. Not to elevate the Granada any, but these Rollers definitely look like Ford Granada’s.
There are only two core things I truly hate in humans, pompousness and pretentiousness. Post-war Rolls Royce has no other qualities going for it for their obscene value.
Actually it would be Granada looks like either one as they were both here befor the Ford.
AMC compared the Ambassador to a Rolls Royce in 1968, though with tongue somewhat in cheek.
Ford used the RR comparison a decade earlier. That they chose a different European luxury car for the Granada comparison probably shows how MB had displaced RR in the public’s mind as the pinnacle of motoring quality.
Of course the Ford ad was a riff on the RR ad making the claim that “at 60 miles an hour the loudest noise comes from the electric clock.”
The parody of all of them (and perhaps the only honest ad) was from Land Rover…
Item #8 in the add is totally, socially, unacceptable in today’s society.
I love it!!!😜😜😜
Stove enamel!
Makes me wonder why it’s not used more often. It’s remarkably tough and certainly capable of ordinary mass production. For example, my Kelvinator electric stove has endured 40 years of pans and silverware and scrubbing and heating/cooling cycles, and doesn’t show a single scratch.
Same as my 1939 GE Triple Thrift fridge. It was built with the enamel surface option. Aside from a chip due to long ago carelessness, it’s outside surface is prefect. After a little rewiring 11 years ago and it still keeps my beer cold after 79 years of almost continuous use.
Self leveling suspension was licenced from Citroen, that scares a lot of people but its a simple system, RR spent a minor fortune trying to improve on Citroen’s system failed and paid up for the original, Really nice cars and they did go to a lot of trouble to make sure they had the best of everything, My WOF inspection guy works on RRs for one of his customers but mostly only 1920s cars, but the guy who owns them uses a Shadow as a parts hauler he turned up with a load of wire wheels all straightened and ready for tyres when I was out there getting an inspection done on the Xsara last time, this was undergoing repairs
How is the brake system integrated with the suspension? Heard warning to avoid any old Silver Shadow with brake system problem, they become hideously costly to fix.
You’re not kidding: According to Hagerty, just the Rolls-Royce brake fluid itself is $125.
it might be the finest of material but those interior door panels look like they were farmed out to an earl scheib upholstery offshoot south of the border.
It’s a little wry, surely, for R and T to present this a Road Test. Perhaps any critical faculty went down the excellent meal at L’ Aperitif and Boiled Beagle or whatever he said. (Honestly, I cannot look at English ‘otel from 1976 and not think Basil Fawlty is inside). It’s a bit slack to present PR from Rolls that they don’t do new tech, or to retread the rather wearisome guff that the driving of a Rolls is philosophy and tradition incarnate, beyond rational consideration.
I know this is peak malaise, when all makers were struggling to meet pollution standards, but 12-odd secs to 60, a bit over 100 tops and 10 mpg? And no mention of handling or road noise at speed, both seriously sub-par for the best in ’76?
Up above, tonyola has provided an excellent link to an English CAR comparison test, (albeit then edited by pesky and disrespectful colonials). It says amongst much else critical that the Roller falls well short of competitors, bettered even by the Seville, and they were not known for love of US machinery then.
I fully suspect the insular Rolls people really did believe in the haughty superiority of their products, even in the face of mass-produced stuff that was better made, not to mention better as actual cars. They’d no doubt always attribute the unreliability of what they churned out to misuse or purchase by the wrong sort. None so blind, and all that.
It’s been a very long time since the purchase of a Rolls Royce had anything to do with cost-no-object taste for a beautifully-engineered machine. It’s been just as long since they were leaders of any sort. No, as Basil put it in another context in 1976, these mundane monsters with fancy tailored silk underpants are for “jumped-up pretentious piles of pus.”
And a good review might quite entertainingly (and yet respectfully) question a bit of this.
“misuse or purchase by the wrong sort” That line’s been taken over by the Germans, hasn’t it?
Excellent youtube story of a gent who bought a Silver Shadow on eBay for £4,100 and drove it from the UK to the Arctic Circle in Norway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIdNcbsgOiM
As per other youtube videos, it appears that Silver Shadows have developed a following in the UK.
Anyone recall the hot rod Rolls-Royce that Jamie Farr drove in the “Cannonball Run” movie?
🙂
I believe that the Silver Shadow was the first Rolls-Royce that could ever be described as popular. Due to their low values on the second-hand market (even today), most people could still own the RR that dipped it’s toe into a radically different styling profile.
Yes, one can buy a used Rolls at a “reasonable” price, but I am sure that those of us on this site know that the purchase is just the start of the cost of ownership.
In fact, today I drove by a “buy here, pay here” car lot, and there sat a Bentley Continental that looked pretty rough. I can only imagine the misery that awaits its ecstatic buyer.
I remember my first ride in Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow owned by my mum’s very extremely loaded friend (a.k.a. oil tycoon’s trophy wife) in Dallas. I was 12 in the summer 1979 and didn’t think much of it other than noticing opulent leather and mirror finish wood veneer as well as that lady at the grille. Not to mention those pedestrians gawking at us.
Interesting to see the ‘estimated horsepower and torque’ in Road & Track test. In Germany, Rolls-Royce had to give out the engine output figure as required by Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) in order to receive vehicle type approval for German market. Road & Track could easily obtain those figures…