The affluence and allure of any Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is enough to consent a respectful glance from even the most cosseted of trophy wives. Here’s an example to gain the respect of every road user who passes your way - all for less than a secondhand Vauxhall Corsa.
A complete departure from the expected Rolls-Royce norm, the Silver Shadow set the direction for Rolls-Royce to follow until the turn of the new millennium. Offering a unitary yet sharply styled body resembling the stately home of target customers, it’s impossible not to fall for the Silver Shadow's curving charm and majestic splendour - departing from your inquisitive inspection awash with aspiration and admiration.
The self-levelling suspension and all-round disc brakes provide serious comfort over even the roughest of cobbles outside The Savoy - of which its turning circle is specially designed to navigate - leaving you cocooned in contentment, trouncing the tumble-dryer experience from lacklustre rivals.
The V8 is smoother than ice cubes wrapped in silk, and under takes duties of acceleration and cruising akin to Alfred the Butler from Gotham, with well-kempt manners hiding a temperament to catch you unawares when provoked under lairy antics. Gliding to 60mph from a standstill in little over 11 seconds may seem lethargic from a modern standpoint, but for a 1960s design lofting around 2.1 tonnes this is little short of a miracle. Capable of 110mph, you can waft from Ascot to your illegal fox hunt in no time.
The Silver Shadow does have its downsides - regular usage will dictate monumentally thirsty fuel consumption, with MPG starting with the dreaded decimal point under heavy piloting. But what do you expect from a 50-year old Rolls-Royce offering this much luxury? The interior is vast in a sense usually reserved for ocean liners - and a first class cabin at that.
Any poorly Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow can be found held together only by rust, sending many an example to the village fête in the sky with diamonds, not to mention leaving owner’s sanity dispersing like a headache tablet in a glass of Château Lafite. But here we have a fine example devoid of turbulent woes - for a miniscule £5995.
Is there better value out there? For the price of a Kia Picanto you can attain a British icon with space inside for a caviar-tasting carousel alongside a silky smooth driving experience and a boot large enough for your right wing fears - or that unruly stable manager.
Presented in Peacock Blue with contrasting cream leather seats, this Silver Shadow comes with an extensive history portfolio, air conditioning and electric windows amid other luxuries to make any lesser car appear like a utilitarian barn.
It may devour a smidgen more fuel per mile than a Kia Picanto and require servicing twice as often, but nothing offers this kind of comfort on a budget. With a long MoT and recent work undertaken, it’ll be thousands of miles before you so much as consider spending money on this one. As an added benefit, with prices now on the rise, you’ll have a prime investment alongside a prime slice of succulent British beef.
Thanks to old Father Time, you can now obtain a tidy example for Ford Focus money, starting your relationship with a true British world-beater. So, what are you waiting for?