| Author | Message | ||
     Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 181 Registered: 4-2015 |
Is anyone familiar with this upholstery? I tend to doubt that it was original. Too pretentious with the RR logos everywhere, and seems to scream naugahyde, even though all of the seats, door panels, etc match. Real leather, or fake?  | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 2039 Registered: 4-2003 |
Christian, Does it have the traditional aroma of Connolly leather? What condition are the vehicle mechanicals and body work in? My suggestions are it is either a bespoke factory order or a later specialist motor trimmer replacement. I cannot recall a "special edition" version of the Shadow from the factory. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1526 Registered: 6-2006 |
Not original. Not a factory job. Not with the wavy piping and the non Central RR's No Likeee  | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1895 Registered: 6-2009 |
I've never seen armrests like those, either, but based on the seats themselves I imagine this must have been a factory variant I haven't encountered. Not that one couldn't order anything one wanted, but I don't think the factory would ever have done blue metallic hide, even if it could have been sourced. The interlocked Rs are just too huge, too. I agree with Mr. Yorke. Brian | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 627 Registered: 4-2009 |
I agree with Paul and Brian. The seats are not original and I would guess as not even being Rolls-Royce seats. Certainly the armrests are not Rolls-Royce. The "leather" looks so fake from the photos. I would not have bought the car based on the interior alone. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 183 Registered: 4-2015 |
Gentlemen... Thanks for the confirmation. Actually it was the interior that put me OFF from the purchase. The RR logos were just TOO "nouveau riche" for my liking. In addition I am sure the material is naugahyde. Too smooth,no grain. I was thinking that someone had actual knowledge of the item and source to confirm. Based on what I could see in the photos, I did not even go preview the car...was just wondering if maybe I should have. Apparently not. Nothing was missed by not going. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Prolific User Username: patrick_r Post Number: 177 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi Christian. If the car wasn't to far away, it would have been good to check it out. A really well mechanically maintained Silver Shadow may outweigh the cheesy interior. Not to mention a great body as well. It's always for me the "what if" factor. The interior is easy to replace with original items. | ||
| Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov Grand Master Username: soviet Post Number: 518 Registered: 2-2013 |
And I quote Conrad "The horror,the horror." I refuse to believe anyone in their right mind would put those two colours together unless they were horribly drunk and stoned and were threatened point blank with a high powered handgun with a silencer.That is quite simply mega-ghastly and so very un- Rolls Royce.What an incredible eyesore those logos are! An original RR or a reupholstered RR to Crewe standard is identifiable simply by its superb perfection and nothing else. After the colour selection blinded me I found the courage to look at it again. See where the blue meets the beige at the top ? - That's a dog's breakfast in a war zone. I it's really shocking workmanship and therefore nothing to do with RR. About 12 years ago I was in Sydney at a RR workshop. They had one of the original trimmers from Crewe doing their work. The price to refurbish a Shadow's interior including veneers was $15,000 AUD - expensive yes but one would expect excellence and get it. Those Crewe chaps an ladies were the cream of their trade. One day in my retirement I will buy a Shadow or Spur with a bad original interior to see if I can replicate the RR quality and I have zero doubt it will be a hideous and possibly painful task that will have a high possibility of me hitting the vodka savagely, putting large axe to the industrial sewing machine and blaming it all on cat while consulting the best book on taxidermy. Definitely not an original Rolls Royce interior. Check the engine block for the words "Made in China" which as you know means "F**ked from New" | ||
| Nick Adlam Experienced User Username: crewes_control Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2015 |
Hi Vladimir Your posts always give me a big laugh- love it!. Keep them coming please. I just shake my head at this "leather". As for the Vignale Silver Wraith- I have no words. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 194 Registered: 4-2015 |
Yes...It was just too "wrong" for my liking, but piqued my morbid curiosity. I had wanted to upgrade from EPW to something more modern and settled on this one: The so-called Peacock Edition from 1979, with two-tone Exterior, Light Peacock Blue over Dark Peacock Blue, and Dove Gray with Peacock Blue Piped Interior. I'm happy.   | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1923 Registered: 6-2009 |
Christian, While the pictures are lovely, I can't believe that's 1979 model year in those photos. I don't think the full chrome bumpers were even in existence in any delivery market by 1979. Of course, someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Also, if I'm wrong, then what markets still had "the full chrome treatment" then? Also, what's the chassis number. Brian | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 114 Registered: 7-2012 |
My near perfect spec. car. My understanding is that even UK cars from 77MY (30,001 on) had rubber bumpers. Although two tone were still in vogue as late as 1990, we as dealers did the spec. our 90my(active damping) demo in these colours. I did have some input, as our sales director said to me "choose some spec. as I have been tasked to do this and I always end up choosing my favourite colours" Hence, my favourite! Another interesting point is that the Shadow Peacock Blue is different to the Spirit/Bentley Turbo Peacock Blue. | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 506 Registered: 4-2012 |
Hi I also thought it odd that this car had the chrome bumpers and no front spoiler chassis number would help. Richard. | ||
| gordon le feuvre Prolific User Username: triumph Post Number: 115 Registered: 7-2012 |
Yes Richard, I really think that chassis/VIn numbers should always be quoted as over the years the number of cars produced was around 2000 per annum, but in this were lots and lots of improvements/updates that do reflect the responses that are relevant. I.e very early cars with different feeds to rear calipers, short stroke/long stroke engines and ignition systems, late s1 car braking systems . Auto acu, rack&pinion etc, etc. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 195 Registered: 4-2015 |
Chassis SRK37338 I also rather liked the dual exhausts from the rear.  P.S. What is the front spoiler? | ||
| Chris Browne Prolific User Username: chrisb Post Number: 253 Registered: 2-2010 |
Hi Christian, It is the alloy wing fitted beneath the front bumper on Silver Shadow 2's. My Shadow is very close to yours SRH37331.  Kind regards, Chris | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1924 Registered: 6-2009 |
The dual exhaust is standard, and I'm now convinced that the bumpers are not. Someone who had a preference for the chrome bumper look fitted these later and removed the front spoiler. The one on SRH33576 has been missing since I acquired her. If you look at the photo at the front of the Owner's Handbook the front spoiler is prominently visible in that "beauty shot." Brian, who'll have to check whether LRK37110 has one, but I don't think so | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 507 Registered: 4-2012 |
Hi Christian the front spoiler was fitted to European spec cars the rubber and chrome bumpers were fitted to all cars of that era the all chrome bumpers that you have were fitted to the shadow 1 they may have been a special order. (I must say that I prefer the chrome shadow 1 ones to the rubber and stainless. Richard. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 196 Registered: 4-2015 |
Richard... Thank you. I prefer the look of the chrome bumper version and absence of the spoiler as well. Don't forget that these cars are custom built, specially ordered, rather than "cookie cutter" creations. I rather like that it is entirely unique and really don't give a rat's behind how it got that way. The only "popularity contest" that matters to me..is MINE!! As to the dual exhausts, my preference stems not from the assertion that they are special or unique, but that the chrome bumper being less ponderous, they are more visually prominent and not obscured by the later style bumper. | ||
| Nick Adlam Experienced User Username: crewes_control Post Number: 34 Registered: 12-2015 |
Hi Christian Amazing car- the numerous benefits of the series II with the classic looks of the I. I once considered a II then "retro-fitting" the older parts. I guess the costs and possible loss in resale value steered me away- I would feel obligated to retain the original parts for the next custodian in case he's a purist. Proves that it's possible, and looks great. Did you perform these mods yourself?. | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 509 Registered: 4-2012 |
Hi Christian just for the record I much prefer the chrome bumpers that's why I bought a Shadow 1. Richard. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Prolific User Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 197 Registered: 4-2015 |
Richard...Me too, and I'll go one step further and say that I much, much prefer the very early Shadows with the Chippendale dash, which basically means only up to 1968. That said, I just could not resist this one. Love at first sight, so to speak. ...and as an aside, today while in town on errands, there was a newer red label Bentley Coupe drophead with its top down parked on the street and I could not resist checking the interior. I was shocked..shocked!!..that there was absolutely NO, as in NONE, burl wood ANYWHERE...all chrome and what looked like black plastic. Shocked! I stuck my head over the open top in order to appreciate the expected wood and leather "aroma" and...shocked, again...it smelled like perfume. Then I noticed one of those pine tree dangling air deodorizers hanging from the turn signal arm. What??? I don't know. Maybe the owner has a bad case of the farts, but it certainly did not smell like or have the "cachet" (spelling?) of any of the other RR/B I am used to!! Shame, Shame. Really made me appreciate the Pre war, EPW, and Shadow interiors. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Prolific User Username: patrick_r Post Number: 218 Registered: 4-2016 |
That's a shocker Christian. Its one of the joys in life taking in the sights and smells inside one of these beautiful cars. Saying that, I think most new Bentleys ordered have gone for the hi tech interiors, stainless steel, granite (yes it's actually stone) and of course carbon fibre. So I understand the Bentleys have the younger and maybe more sports orientated market in mind. And of course a car that has its roof down more than it is up will not keep that lovely smell intact. Also the sun must take its toll as well. Sometimes I make coffee, and just go sit in the back of my Shadow take my shoes off and just revel in the smell of the amazing interior, while running my toes through the heavy thick wool carpet overlays. While playing with the lights etc LOL. My car has a very unusual original fitting which is a stainless steel pencil beam reading lamp with a heavy convex glass lens in a separate threaded end piece fitted to the left hand rear seat, above the mirror with a Lucas stamped stainless steel switch above the middle of the door opening on the Ambla side part of the roof lining. That's where I can read the paper in peace   | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 511 Registered: 4-2012 |
Patrick and why not the original owners of these wonderful cars sat in the back while their chauffeur drove them to their place of business, On their journey he would have read the papers and sucked on a very large cigar, In the evening he might have had some female company traveling in the back of the car. So have another cup of coffee enjoy yourself. Richard. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Prolific User Username: patrick_r Post Number: 219 Registered: 4-2016 |
Hi Richard, The wife keeps refusing my invites to the back seat Sigh  | ||
| Nick Adlam Experienced User Username: crewes_control Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2015 |
Hi Pat, Christian and Richard Glad to hear I'm not the only one who loves to sit in the back and savour the aroma and absolute luxury of my Shadow. Without exception, I'm always left feeling better after a journey than before it. Admit to enjoying a Romeo y Julieta cigar when I bought her. Was VERY careful where the ash went!. Still waiting for that special lady in the back seat!. | ||
| Patrick Ryan Prolific User Username: patrick_r Post Number: 220 Registered: 4-2016 |
I have to admit Nick, It's a great place to just get away from it all even for just half an hour or so. I work for a major truck manufacturer, and the job can get pretty full on. Just retreating to the back seat with a coffee really does make my head clear, and the huge smile helps. |
