Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I (1967 and 1976)
The Silver Shadow was a fairly revolutionary car from Rolls-Royce, given that it was a major design and engineering departure from its predecessor, the Silver Cloud series. For the first time in the R-R legend we see the employment of a monocoque chassis and independent suspension for the rear wheels. The Silver Shadow also saw a transition from drum brakes to the more modern and effective disc brake set-up.
Given that the Silver Shadow I remained in production from 1965 to 1976, Yohan’s two examples represent virtually the two ends of its production spectrum, which is a great thing because one can also see the evolution of the series. Until 1969, the Silver Shadow I was powered by a 6.2-litre V8 that put out 172 PS, which, in turn, was transmitted to the rear wheels using an automatic gearbox. Post 1969 the powertrain was upgraded to a 6.75-litre V8 with an output of 189 PS.
The Silver Shadow I also featured an innovative hydraulic system with dual-circuit braking and self-levelling suspension that made for better stopping abilities and improved comfort for the business tycoon occupying the leather-wrapped rear bench. While in the cars produced prior to 1969 the self-levelling system worked both up front and at the rear, the later cars featured this system only at the back.
A quick dig into the naming of the Silver Shadow as such reveals an interesting trivia. The car was originally meant to be called the Silver Mist in continuation of the Silver Cloud series that it replaced. Rolls-Royce, however, learned that the word ‘mist’ in German meant ‘manure’, which was obviously unpalatable to Rolls-Royce’s sense of pride and legacy. Thus was born the Silver Shadow I.
