In the 1960s, Rolls-Royce occupied an exalted position at the absolute top of the car market, though much of that reputation was based on archaic but impeccably built machines featuring the highest quality materials and craftsmanship along with astronomical price tags. However, the brand was overdue for an update, and the Silver Cloud was finally supplanted with the new Silver Shadow. Car and Driver took a look the new car in the March 1966 issue–did they find it to be a suitable continuation of the Rolls-Royce legacy?
In addition to the new car, Rolls-Royce had another secret weapon to keep it at the top of the super luxury car segment: old school salesmen who personally helped customers configure their exact dream machine. Car and Driver profiled one such man, Charles Willmore, who had been in the car business almost since its inception, and was quite adept at meeting the motoring needs of the very rich.
Beautiful car, a true RR, just look at this sumptuous interior. It was smaller than its predecessor yet had every bit the same aura of wealth.
Warren Weith authored some delightful, personal viewpoint column & articles for “C&D” for over a decade and was one of the many reasons my Father and his son had a continuous subscription to this magazine for over 40 years.
While the Cloud II is still my favorite “standard” Rolls, I can see how it was well out of date by the mid 60’s, and these Silver Shadows were a worthy replacement. Though it seems there are a lot of them in poor shape that trade rather cheaply these days–I wonder if the values will start to appreciate as the rusty or otherwise worn-out ones finally meet their demise? They did make an awful lot of these, at least by Rolls standards, over their long run.
It’s beautiful to my eyes, yet there was a surprising amount of prejudice against these cars when new. I remember reading a letter to the editor in some mag that “Rolls-Royce has begun building Volvos”. Apparently the Shadow just didn’t look traditional enough. I loved the follow-up by Warren Weith, one of my fave autojournos.
LOL, I bet they keep quiet about when Rolls Royce made cars in America(in the old Indian motorcycle factory). I suppose these weren’t “real” Rolls Royce cars!
The Derby RR.
I heard its styling was derisively compared to the [1956?] Rambler. Its headlight surrounds remind me of the GM “New Look” bus.
But they showed good sense in choosing GM as their power steering & auto trans supplier.
I still remember the compalints that the Rolls to closely resembled the new Volvo introduced around the same time.
A few years ago I was surprised to find myself parked across from one of these (likely a ’70s version) at our train depot turned museum. It was slightly ratty, not at all appropriate for a Roller.
That steering wheel was black – not color keyed – and looked like something from a ’60s bus or farm machine. I couldn’t help but think of some sort of analogy to the Emperor’s New Clothes. It sure seemed like someone was pulling something on the rich folks. A ’66 Chevy Caprice had a much better looking steering wheel.
Strangely, I think the modern Rolls on a BMW chassis really better fulfills the promise of a supreme luxury car.
Roll’s of this vintage can be had surprisingly cheap. I recently saw a rather nice one go by me in traffic on an unusually nice winter day when the streets were completely clear. A ’70s version with that vinyl top that looks a bit worse to me every time I see it. I probably have a sighting about once every year.
Rolls died quite young. Royce died in the early 30’s, probably leaving Rolls without much leadership. After WW2 the parent company liked the idea of keeping the car in production, but I think did little to modernize it. Even so, a Rolls Royce was the standard for a prestige car. Somehow they managed to keep their mojo while Cadillac lost theirs (assuming they actually had one).
BMW seems to have a definitive idea of what the car should be.
It’s been said Rolls’s logo was changed from red to black to commemorate his death, but others say it was purely an æsthetic move on Royce’s part.
Rubber bushed tie rod ends? what were these clowns smoking? such parts have no tolerance for movement and are metal on metal greaseable for most applications, if they are going to delve into details more knowledge should be aquired. The braking and damping systems on these cars was adapted from Citroen under licence after Rolls spent thousands of pounds and many years trying to improve on it.
I’ve always liked these cars. I never heard of them being compared to a Volvo though. They always gave off a high class Checker Marathon vibe to me with it’s roomy but more compact (for America) dimensions.
I’m at a loss to think of a Volvo that looks even remotely like a Rolls perhaps someone could post a pic of said Volvo
Click on this link, and look at the photos of it in profile. Then squint. Maybe tilt your head a bit:
http://tinyurl.com/volvo144
You’ll see it in the proportions, as well as in the high character line along the sides.
Compared to the Silver Cloud, which was distinctive and difficult to mistake for another, less prestigious vehicle, the Silver Shadow adapted modern (and more common) styling while retaining Rolls-Royce materials and craftsmanship.
I do see it. Like you say, be sure to squint.
Am I the only one wondering what was involved of the ‘Make-Believe Rally’ you can play in your own home at your leasiure?
(Ad on the lower left, last image)