1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow S2

This 1980 example has lived most of its life in the North of England, with (like so many classics) its yearly mileage diminishing to very sedate numbers over the years. It has covered some 98,000 miles over its lifetime and, with its present owner, tends to come out for the odd gentle jaunt around the villages along the Cumbria/ North Yorkshire border where it now resides.

A veteran classic car owner, Dave its keeper has looked after the Rolls himself, taking care of fluid and filter changes and also fettling and replacing some of the hydraulic parts, which, like many a canny Rolls-Royce owner, he knew to be the same as those utilised (and often manufactured) by Citroen.

He and the Shadow have also been tempted into doing the odd wedding - just for friends - this has by no means been a ‘working classic’, and the car has led a pretty sedentary life.

This is a solid-looking Rolls-Royce in good overall condition. The Le Mans blue presents very well across most of the car - making for a more up-beat vibe than many Shadows. The metallic paint retains a good gloss and a consistent colour across those big panels, with only small areas that need attention. There are one or two small scrapes on the edges of lids - bonnet and boot, though the edges of the doors are good. There is bubbling and cracking to the paintwork on the lip of the rear offside wheel arch and also a couple of small cracks in the paint near the bottom nearside corner of the windscreen. The seal is slightly uneven here and also at the top on the driver’s side (the rear windscreen seal is very healthy). The bonnet too needs a little attention; there is a lighter patch in the centre and some dappling/unevenness around the central chrome strip.

Chrome in general is good across the car - and there is quite a bit of brightwork on these. The chrome coachlines line up smartly across the panels, with door handles that are free from pitting or scratches. The big mirrors retain a good shine and are secured by screws free of corrosion in the heads. The famous winged lady has weathered four decades on the prow very well, and the big signature radiator grill below her is in good shape; still pretty shiny with all its tall vanes straight and correct.

The big bumpers are likewise shiny (the front bumper has a badge bar), with plastic sections that have remained as straight as the steel sections. The colour of the plastic here is good too. There is no discolouration in window frame joints and the (also shiny) headlight mountings sport a very healthy set of wiper brushes.

Shut lines and panel gaps remain good across the car looking obliquely down the flanks uncovers no evidence of distortions or rippling. Those heavy doors open without creaking or sagging.

The Shadow’s cabin remains a very pleasant space for touring. It is largely very clean and the leather exhibits only a mild patina commensurate with the car’s age and respectful use. There are no significant marks or stains to spoil the atmosphere and cushions and bolsters retain their shape with stitching that remains tight and tidy.

Carpets are clean (in the boot too); those fairly exciting electric blue floor mats have done a good job of keeping heels from digging in. There are one or two tired edges - in the boot and on those lower door trims - but again nothing to really upset the ambience. The headlining remains very clean and smart - no signs of sagging and the mirrors in the rear pillars remain intact.

The heavy door furniture remains in good shape all round. The chrome fixtures are bright and solidly mounted, with no signs of pitting to the metal. The chunky door arm rests have escaped any significant wear or scratches. (Looking deep into the door hinges, everything is pretty clean and operates without creaking).

Of course, Rolls-Royces are famous for their interior woodwork and the burr walnut in this Shadow is quite richly figured and retains a decent gloss. The bookmatching on the door tops is good (one or two slightly tired edges), although that atop the driver’s door is missing a small chrome fixture.

A gently lived-in feel and a relaxed ambience.

There’s always a lot going on under s Shadow’s bonnet, and although the engine bay is a big space, the 6.75-litre certainly manages to pack it out.

Although things do show some general weathering; chips to paint, scuffed edges and oily marks, there is actually very little surface corrosion, the general impression is of a robust, cared-for engine.

All assemblies and ancillaries look healthy and serviceable - and the motor does run with a reassuring smoothness - tappet ticking free.

The whole carburettor assembly looks good, with air ducting free of holes or buckling tubes. Rubber hoses and H/T leads are healthy (as are their clips and mountings) and the wiring likewise (much of it held in check in tape). The suspension towers appear robust, as does the very substantial brake fluid reservoir.

One section of the under-bonnet sound proofing is missing, though structurally, the big lid appears very sound.

The underneath of the Rolls looks pretty strong. The original undersealing looks to be largely intact and seams and edges in good general health. The exhausts show an understandable covering of surface rust, and there is surface corrosion to some brake and suspension parts, though probably nothing that would impair their function.

Rubber gaiters appear intact and supple. The engine sump looks a little oily, as do the front suspension components on the driver’s side as compared to the other.

Inner wheel arches appear good, and that quite deep front chin spoiler surprisingly intact. There is a trace of surface rust on lowest edge of the front off-side wheel arch and under front bumper, but underneath, the Shadow looks generally very solid.

Recent works includes: new steering rack and pipework, rear suspension, brakes overhaul discs and pads, air-con re-commission, new radiator, engine mounts.

There isn’t a lot of paperwork with the car. The Rolls had a new radiator and thorough brake overhaul in 2016 (with the previous owner), and a there is a clutch of invoices for general maintenance from around this time. As already mentioned, the present owner is no stranger to Rolls-Royce and classic maintenance and has refettled the hydraulics - especially the hoses - and the car also underwent a further brake overhaul while in his care.

Doing most of the routine maintenance himself, there is understandably no paperwork, but the way the car runs would suggest its needs are being taken care of.

The car does come with a full 12 months MOT.

Mechanically, this feels like a well-sorted car, with a few minor cosmetic issues that the owner can choose to ignore or tackle at their leisure. None of the latter would appear to go so deep as to require major restoration.

With both those aspects in mind, we expect the Silver Shadow to achieve between £10,000 and £14,000, at which price point it offers more car per pound note invested than almost anything else you can buy. This vivid blue Shadow II offers a relatively inexpensive way into ownership of one of the world’s greatest marques.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Cumbria; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.