Lot Ended
Description
AMENDMENT Owned from new by Welsh opera singer Stuart Burrows; very
early Shadow II, chassis number 9; in reguar use until recently; maintained
regardless of cost; new set of Continental tyres; a one-owner Rolls in super
condition for its age/mileage
Launched in
1965, the Silver Shadow was a major departure for Rolls-Royce, being their first
car with a monocoque body and one designed specifically for the owner driver.
Hydraulic high-pressure brakes and all-round independent suspension
(self-levelling at the rear) were just a couple of the innovations incorporated
to give a near perfect ride for the occupants.
Squat and purposeful on the outside, but still aristocratically
luxurious on the inside, it was perfectly timed to attract the nouveau gentry of
the Swinging Sixties who were more likely to have made their money from
business, pop or fashion than inheriting it from the ancestors.
The Shadow II was launched in the summer of
1977, with more pedestrian-friendly bumpers, better air conditioning, updated
dashboard, improved front suspension and modern rack-and-pinion steering. A
hugely successful model for Rolls-Royce, over 37,000 Shadows were sold before it
was replaced by the Silver Spirit in 1980.
Supplied new by Rolls-Royce dealers Howells of Cardiff in August
1977, this Shadow II is one of the first to leave the production line (chassis
number 9) and was specially ordered by world-renowned Welsh operatic tenor, Dr
Stuart Burrows OBE. Born near Pontypridd in 1933, Dr Burrows was to keep it for
the rest of his life until he passed away in June this year at the grand old age
of 92.
During his 48-year ownership Dr Burrows
used the car extensively, travelling to opera houses across the UK and Europe,
the odometer currently showing 157,758 miles. He clearly maintained it
regardless of cost, the three service books containing no fewer than 38 stamps,
the last at 139,726 miles in May 1999, all at Rolls-Royce main agents. That
equates to an average service interval of just 3,700 miles, pretty impressive by
any standards.
HPI records two former keepers
but that is because Dr Burrows originally bought it through his company, Melody
Music Ltd, later transferring it into his own name and then changing
address in October 1999.
Dr Burrows gave up
driving in 2019 and the Shadow was kept tucked away in his nice dry garage for
the next six years. In August this year it was recommissioned for sale,
including four new Continental tyres; new battery; new fuel pump and fuel pump
relay; fuel drained and replaced with fresh fuel; new brake pipes and flexi
brake pipes as required.
We are told that the
car drives as a Rolls-Royce should, having been driven 28 miles since the
recommissioning work was carried out. It has certainly been starting instantly
and running very nicely as we have moved it around on site.
As you can see in the photos, it looks to be in very good condition
for its year/mileage, with lovely interior woodwork and nicely mellowed leather
upholstery. Unlike most other Shadows, this one-owner car has never fallen into
the hands of a cheapskate owner without the means to maintain it
correctly.
Add in the celebrity provenance and it
looks an absolute steal at the modest guide price suggested.
AMENDMENT: This is not the 9th Shadow II - it seems that the
first was chassis number 30001 and this is 31009 so it is probably among the
first 1,010 made although some sources claim that a few Shadow I models were
retro-fitted with Shadow II parts and have earlier chassis numbers. Please
satisfy yourselves on this score by doing your own
research.
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]