“You know, while I was driving to work, I saw a Rolls-Royce” said my wife few days back. “It might still be on the dash-cam, no?” Well, yes, it still might be. “But it was new, so it might not be interesting for this CC website of yours” (hmm…).
I’ll take a look. Preferably sooner than later, as the dash-cam runs over old files while recording, for lack of space on the SD card. What I found was indeed new, certainly by Rolls-Royce standards.
Not that a new (of recent years) RR is such a common sight in Israel. In fact, there’s no official import of the brand and the few cars that arrived here were imported privately. And that’s what I was expecting to see in the video. Instead, a nice surprise was unveiled before my eyes:
At first I thought I’ve failed. More than ten years with my wife and still she can’t see the difference between a new and an old car? But than she explained she meant that this classic RR had “new” license-plates, without the usual “Collectible Vehicle” mark that most classic car owners register their cars to. If you recall, cars with this mark cannot drive on weekdays between 7:00 to 9:00 AM.
As you can clearly see the time in the video, this owner may have decided he’d be better off without it and drive his RR to work, which to me is crazy on so many levels; his taxes are much higher than his compatriots, he has to go through a MOT test twice a year instead of once, not to mention the obvious- would you drive your classic Rolls-Royce to work, and in this start-stop rush hour traffic?
My knowledge of RRs is lacking, to say the least, but I managed to define it as a Silver Wraith II which, starting from 1976, was the LWB version of the Silver Shadow II. The main difference, besides the wheelbase, was the rear smaller “opera” window. See an example of a regular window on the Shadow II below:
As with many classic cars previously not available in Israel (when new), Rolls-Royce are now being imported freely and it’s not uncommon to see at least one RR, usually a Silver Shadow II (cheapest of the bunch?) in classic car meetings. Time now to display some photos I shot at various meetings. First two are of another Silver Wraith II:
As you can see, RRs can be yet newer… This Silver Spirit is also lacking the “Collectible Vehicle” mark.
I’ll end with two very similar Silver Shadow IIs- they look almost identical, but are not the same car. And sporting a typical Seventies color:
Not feeling the brown, but still… Mmm, Rolls Royce…
The import laws sound interesting in Israel.
I have always admired this generation of Rolls; I even flirted very briefly with the idea of getting one; my theory was that excellent materials and careful assembly, combined with understressed mechanicals would make one a car you could drive for decades. I figured this would be particularly true here where rust is not an issue. The relatively simple electronics of the era are another theoretical bonus. So, what’s not to like and why not use one for a short-trip commuter? I pictured myself crawling along through traffic in air conditioned comfort seated on fine leather.
Well, then I found our from a mechanic friend that a routine brake job costs roughly $9,000, so it’s back on the bicycle for me.
Few cars can command the sheer prestige, and presence of a Rolls-Royce. The Rolls does not have to be a 0-60 fast car, or loaded with technology. It’s old world heritage & elegance, mixed with exclusivity.
Even when brand new (any era). The vast majority of Rolls-Royce look like they are instant classics, the very minute they are delivered to their owner!
+1
Hey I’m using my new tablet so can make longer posts than on my phone – I had one of these Rolls about 15 years ago – would have been about 25 yo at the time. Unless you own an oil well don’t ever consider ownership – they do about 10-14 Imperial MPG. Heavily used probably less. Suspension and brakes are run by high-pressure hydraulics and are real complicated – approach with caution. They are still cheap to buy in the UK for this reason – they also have a poor image of kind of tacky showbiz ownership. Of course you can drive one ironically – but you will still always be at the gas station. The previous 1950`s models are classier and better to own.
I had an Explorer that got roughly that MPG. Of course, in the States gas mileage is pretty irrelevant.
The hydraulics systems is what would worry me.
These old Rollers are the kind of car I’d have a whole fleet of if I won the lottery. Then I could care less if a brake job is $9k. I just rather like the way they look.
RRs brake and suspension is a license built Citroen system not horrifically complicated or rare though RR parts are no doubt multiples of Citroen prices.
Someone earlier in the thread said $9k but I have no idea what it would cost to fix anything on a Roller.
Sounds like a rare spot in Israel, and a nice example too.
Personally, I go the earlier series 1 Silver Shadow with smaller bumpers but those maroon cars look great. Ans there’s more going on under that conservative skin than you might expect and the basic engineering lasted from 1966 to 1998, under the Sliver Spirit name as well.
Still a familiar sight here, but now as enthusiast’s car or as as wedding limo.
Always liked the styling of these RRs; their successors, introduced in 1980, were very nice too and I think the pinnacle of what is was to be a RR. I had forgotten just how upright and tall these cars were, there must be gobs of headroom in them. Also notice the unabashedly bold front grill which even the modern versions have – they are not afraid of their heritage and classic design cues, unlike Lincoln.
Lovely cars but daily running and repair costs are not for the faint-hearted!
I have seen the clone of this car driving around my small town on Vancouver island in Canada. Being part of the commonwealth and having the capital of the province Victoria down the road, there are quite a few old British cars still on the road. They mostly come out on sunny days though. This one always seems to be parked at the large discount grocery store here called super store. Which seems a bit ironic but maybe he needs to get his grey poupon in bulk…
Nice one. Silver Shadows abound here, but I don’t remember the last time I saw a Wraith, if at all.
Yohai
I will be visiting Israel in late April for about 12 days. Can you tell me on what days and where (City, and address) the car collectors meet please? Is there more than one group? In the US it is something like “1st Sat each month at the xxx (usually a restaurant) parking lot”, and the owners usually know each other and have a meal together.
Thanks
Basically, meetings occur every Friday afternoon, starting at about 16:30 until after sunset. Meetings are in major cities in Israel, and naturally the best ones are in and around Tel Aviv, which I imagine is where you’ll (also) be.
In my view, the two best ones are:
1.The central meeting of Israel’s premier classic car’s club, The Five Club. I wrote about it here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-meeting-classics-a-celebrated-event-of-past-and-present-volvos/
It’s in the car park behind this:
https://www.google.co.il/maps/place/Menora+Mivtachim+Arena/@32.0610915,34.7891307,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x151d4b73c018c40f:0x7e122fc2547037dd!8m2!3d32.061087!4d34.7913194?hl=en
2. The second meeting happens on the same time, but out of TLV, further north (you’ll need a car to get there. It’s the independent meeting I wrote about here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/car-show-classic/car-show-classics-everything-from-mini-to-brougham/
It’s in the parking around this coffee place:
https://www.google.co.il/maps/place/Aroma/@32.2215467,34.8262096,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x151d47aa152afedd:0xc39a1fa3e8c880a2!8m2!3d32.2215422!4d34.8283983?hl=en
Yohai
Cheers, maybe I will see you there. Thanks very much!
If one doesn’t mind committing a bit of sacrilege, I suppose you could always replace the Rolls’ complicated hydraulic suspension system with a stout set of aftermarket adjustable coil-over shocks or struts.
If one could find a Shadow with a good body/chassis/interior but bad mechanicals, that’d be the way to do it. Convert to coils, or if you have too much time on your hands, swap in the air ride setup from a 90’s Lincoln. Engine swaps are limited only by your creativity. Then enjoy the look and feel of a R-R with repair costs that don’t exceed the car’s value!
It wouldn’t do to convert a well-maintained pristine example, but it might be a fun project with one already in mechanical distress.
I have to say that I think the RR Silver Wraith first generation was more of a classic. After World War Two Rolls did not get the resources to keep the Rolls on top of its class from the parent company. When the VW Group got involved, followed by BMW, things have changed. I think that the featured car is at a low point for Rolls.