Cars - Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

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	Cars - Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

The Rolls-Royce
Silver Shadow measures 5.17 metres in length. The model was produced from 1965 to 1980 with 172 hp 6.2 L V8s from 1965 to 1969 and 189 hp 6.75 L V8s from 1970 to 1980; both powerplants were coupled to a General Motors-sourced Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission. The design was a major departure from its predecessor, the Silver Cloud, and aside from much more modern appearance introduced many new features, such as four disk rather than drum brakes, monocoque construction and independent rear suspension, the lack of which had made Rolls-Royce begin to seem behind the times. The most innovative feature was a high-pressure hydraulic system licensed from Citroen, with dual-circuit braking and hydraulic self-levelling (both front and rear at first, with the front leveling deleted in 1969 as it was determined that the rear leveling did almost all of the work). In 1977, the model was renamed the Silver Shadow II in recognition of several major changes, most notably rack and pinion steering and modifications to the front suspension which improved handling markedly. Externally the Bumpers were changed from chrome to alloy and rubber.

A long wheelbase version (4 inches longer, with all the increase going to the rear seat legroom) was produced between 1969 and 1980. Some of the long wheelbase Silver Shadows came with a privacy glass divider, now sought after by collectors. The long wheelbase model did not have a separate name other than "Silver Shadow long wheelbase" until 1977, when concurrent with the introduction of the Silver Shadow II, it was dubbed the Silver Wraith II.

A Bentley version of the Silver Shadow, known as the Bentley T (and T II from 1977), was also made, being mechanically identical and differing only in the badging and the design of the radiator shell. The long wheelbase version of the Bentley T, available in the same years as the Silver Shadow long wheelbase and Silver Wraith II, did not have a separate identity and was simply called "T long wheelbase" or "T II long wheelbase."

A two-door fixed head coupe (FHC) model was introduced in 1965 followed by a convertible in 1967. These were given a separate identity with the name Corniche in 1971; they outlasted the Silver Shadow line and continued in production until 1982 (coupe) and 1996 (convertible). Another coupe variant (no convertible was made) on the Silver Shadow platform was the Camargue with bodywork designed by the Italian firm Pininfarina. It was produced from 1975 to 1986. All of these two-door cars were made both as Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, but only one Bentley Camargue was produced.

The Silver Shadow was the most successful model ever produced by Rolls-Royce, with a total of more than 38,000 cars built (including all editions and Bentley variants), a remarkable number for such an expensive automobile. In comparison, the predecessor Silver Cloud/Bentley S had a production run of 15,362 cars between 1955 and 1966.

Production statistics

Category:Full-size vehicles Category:Luxury vehicles Category:Prestige vehicles Silver Shadow

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