One of the last Shadow ll’s produced and a really good example finished in the rare and lovely colour combination of Pewter Metallic with dark green leather interior. It features a number of factory options including headlamp wash/wipe, rear quarter plaque badges, rear picnic tables, rear courtesy lighting/mirrors and rear footrests. The car is in superb very original order in all respects and has covered 58,000 miles with a full history from new.

The Shadow was supplied when new on the 22nd May 1980 via Rolls main dealer Lex Mead in Manchester as noted in the original book pack and in the original delivery form from factory to dealer which is on file. The first owner, a Mr Stephen Buckley of Altrincham, Cheshire had the car registered with his private number SRB 2, this replacing the original issued number LBU 134V. Mr Buckley retained the car until October 1983, covering some 36,798 miles in this period. The car was returned to supplying main dealer Lex Mead for regular servicing and later to Stratton of Wilmslow who took over the Rolls Royce franchise following the demise of Lex Mead. Invoices on file and stamps in the original service book detail this work.

The second owner, a Mr Waterson, also an inhabitant of Altrincham purchased the Shadow in December 1983 and he again put his private registration on the car, 222CW. He retained the car until September 1989 increasing the mileage in this period to 47,000 miles. During his ownership the car was serviced annually by Rolls specialist Stamford Garages in nearby Bowden.

Following its sale to a third owner, the registration returned to the original issued number LBU 134V which it has retained to this day. This third owner had the car fully inspected by Strattons, the Rolls dealer who knew the car well prior to purchasing it and this report is on file. Following purchase the car was serviced fully by Strattons with any areas found wanting in the report being addressed, again this invoice is on file.
This third owner used the Rolls minimally, the mileage rising to 50,600 miles in this period.

The fourth owner, a Mr Robert Long bought the Shadow on the 17th March 1992 directly from the previous owner as noted in an invoice on file. He then kept the car until June 2015 and used it very little in this time, the mileage rising to just 51,800 miles. I bought the Shadow from Mr Long following an introduction from a friend of the family. The car was in a heated garage adjoining Mr Long’s house and it was clearly a much loved possession, only being sold due to Mr Longs advancing years and long term illness. The Shadow was in extremely good and very original order and had obviously been carefully used and stored throughout its life.

Following purchase I had the car transported directly to Rolls specialist David Sainsbury in Cirencester for a full inspection and major service. He confirmed the excellent overall shape the Shadow was in, however the car was clearly in need of maintenance following a long period of inactivity and the invoice on file for £11,000 details the extensive work completed.

Following this preparation we sold the Rolls immediately to a regular customer who had been looking for just such a fine example in a great colour combination. He enjoyed the Rolls until the end of 2018 at which point I bought it back. The mileage at this point had risen to 54,180 miles. I sent the car to Rolls specialist DEW Services in Eynsham near Oxford for a full evaluation and service as detailed in invoicing on file amounting to £6,500. This work included the Bilstein suspension upgrade which transforms the road holding and handling without damaging the excellent ride quality.

Following this work I sold the Shadow to another regular Hairpin customer, again without the need for publicity. Like the last owner he has enjoyed the car in fine weather and like every owner he has looked after it correctly with a further service and maintenance and service in July 2020 covering all matters requiring attention, again this is detailed in invoicing on file.

I repurchased this excellent Shadow some weeks ago and used it as transport for the recent Goodwood Members Meeting and what a fine and capable car it remains in every way. Everything works correctly, even the original Blaupunkt radio and cassette deck. What was once regarded as a ‘big car’ is no longer really and I cannot emphasis too strongly how great the drive is with those Bilstein dampers, of course the Shadow has to be a great and well sorted example in the first place too…

The interior ambience is second to none and that lovely aroma of quality leather remains with you for some time after.

I do think these late Shadows when in great shape like this one are far too cheap. It comes with all books, tools, a good history file as referred to above and wants for nothing. A full inspection and service will be completed prior to sale.

All this for only £40,000 – how can that be right?