Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow ll

We’ve been lucky enough to sell a great many Rolls-Royces and Bentleys over the years. It’s a part of what we do that we’re rather proud of, and between selling them and looking after them in the workshop, we’ve come to know the difference between a good one and a car that simply looks good in photographs.

This is a good one.

Finished in an unusual and very handsome shade of Chestnut with a contrasting tan Everflex roof, this 1977 Silver Shadow II has real presence. The combination carries through beautifully inside, with cream leather, brown piping and lovely wood veneers. The door cappings in particular are a pleasure to look at. There’s something wonderfully reassuring about sitting in a cabin like this. Even before you’ve gone anywhere, the day feels a little less urgent.

Showing approximately 72,000 miles, the car comes with an extensive service history and has clearly enjoyed plenty of care over the years. A major service within the last 1,000 miles included rebuilt carburettors, a new distributor cap, rotor arm, ignition leads and coil.

That attention shows on the road. It starts readily, runs quietly and drives extremely well, with the smooth, unhurried manner that makes a good Shadow such a lovely thing to spend time in. There’s no need to rush, although you’ll find yourself volunteering for journeys that don’t particularly need to be made.

The Shadow II is a particularly appealing version of the model, combining the unmistakable shape and character of the original with a more modern driving feel. A really good example offers a wonderful mix of comfort, craftsmanship and effortless progress, and this car makes a very convincing case for itself.

It is, of course, a car approaching its fiftieth birthday, and we’d describe it as a very honest, very presentable example rather than pretend it left the factory last week. The paintwork presents beautifully, the interior has lovely character, and the whole car feels well cared for.

We see enough of these to appreciate a nice one when it comes along. This Chestnut Shadow II has impressed us for all the right reasons.