1973 ROLLS SILVER SHADOW 1 - THE ABSOLUTE BEST - 29K MILES

Offered for sale is this beautifully preserved 1973 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. This low-owner (two from the same family) example has covered only 29, 000 miles in forty nine years.
The car was originally ordered by a Mr. F. Farey of Girton, Cambridgeshire from Murkett Brothers, the Rolls-Royce Distributors of Peterborough. A letter in the history file to Mr. Farey dated May 1972 states that Murkett Brothers were unable deliver a new Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow for sixteen months, a testament to the high demand for the model at the time.
Mr. Farey ordered his new car in a particularly attractive and unusual specification. At extra cost the car received bespoke features rarely seen on the Silver Shadow and are normally associated with the Phantom VI and Corniche models; non-metallic Coffee Bean Brown paint, West of England cloth headlining in ‘Fawn’ rather than the standard Ambla vinyl and nylon overlays (rugs) in Cumberland Stone in place of the standard lambswool items.

As with the contemporary Phantom VI, the nylon rug to the rear is of a single piece rather than the standard two individual lambswool rugs. Even the footstools have removable nylon covers. In addition, beige Connolly hide was specified for the seats and door cards along with Cumberland Stone carpets. Pragmatically, an internally-adjustable driver’s door mirror was also specified. On completion the new car was registered NEW 70M on the 1st August 1973, the number it retains to this day.

Sadly, according to a handwritten note in the history file Mr. Farey died shortly after taking delivery and the car passed to his nephew, Mr. R. Everdell of Huntingdon. It is believed Mr. Everdell stored the Rolls-Royce in a clean and heated extension to his house which contributed to the preservation of the car.
Stamps in the service schedule show that Murkett Brothers maintained the Silver Shadow until 2004 when, with 20,000 miles showing on the odometer, it was purchased by its last owner, a Professor residing in Peterborough. Maintenance responsibilities passed to Rolls-Royce Specialists Colbrook, also of Peterborough.
A new complete stainless-steel exhaust system was fitted by Colbrook in 2012 and in November 2018 the car was also fully recommissioned by Colbrook. Works at that time included new front and rear brake calipers and pads, new front dampers, four new tyres and a service. Invoices totalled £5, 600.

This lovely Silver Shadow comes with an extensive history file that contains many original documents, invoices, MOT certificates and tax discs. Also present is the original sales brochure with a Murkett Brothers stamp to the front cover. The car also has its large and small toolkits and the keys and spare keys are the originals.

In the glovebox is the original handbook wallet containing hardback Owner’s Handbook, stamped Service Schedule, Warranty card, Rolls-Royce Sales & Service booklet, Owner’s Information booklet, Radiomobile Car Radio instructions and guarantee card.
The air conditioning has recently been overhauled  with a remanufactured compressor, new receiver drier and conversion to the latest environmentally friendly gas. Today the car is a wonderfully well-preserved and original example in a particularly attractive colour scheme. The interior smells just right and the leather has never been connollised. In over 25 years dealing in RR and Bentley, I can genuinely say this is one of the purist and nicest example I have ever seen. 

On the road the car drives simply like new.  The suspenstion is soft & undulating.  The power steering finger tip light.  The car has ample power & drove beutifully on the 400 odd mile trip to our premises.  Always garaged, the car is absolutely corrosion free & solid.  The Coffee Brown paint polishes up beutifully to a deep lustre & all chrome is in really fine condition.  A full set of MOT certifiactes come with the car to warrant the very low miles.  But you really have to drive this car to appreciate how good it is.  It was sold previously by noted dealer Derek Mowat to the current owner for £39,900 pounds.

Mileage history:
30/ 07/ 1974, Service (Murkett Brothers), 2, 707 miles
03/ 05/ 1976, Service (Murkett Brothers), 6, 439 miles
15/ 05/ 1980, Service (Murkett Brothers), 13, 111 miles
01/ 08/ 1984, Service (Murkett Brothers), 17, 225 miles
23/ 05/ 1994, MOT, 19, 755 miles
05/ 07/ 2001, Service (Colbrook), ? miles
05/ 05/ 2004, Service (Colbrook), 20, 270 miles
10/ 12/ 2008, Service (Colbrook), 21, 043 miles
10/ 12/ 2008, Service (Colbrook), 21, 309 miles
19/ 08/ 2005, MOT, 20, 655 miles
15/ 08/ 2006, MOT, 20, 765 miles
02/ 05/ 2007, MOT, 20, 771 miles
03/ 05/ 2007, Service (Colbrook), 20, 765 miles
18/ 08/ 2008, MOT, 20, 947 miles
10/ 12/ 2008, Service (Colbrook), 21, 043 miles
30/ 10/ 2009, MOT, 21, 142 miles
10/ 11/ 2010, MOT, 21, 213 miles
06/ 11/ 2012, MOT, 21, 220 miles
01/ 08/ 2014, Service (Colbrook), 21, 494 miles
19/ 11/ 2018, Service (Colbrook), 21, 536 miles
19/ 11/ 2018, MOT, 21, 547 miles
28/ 11/ 2018, Service (Colbrook), 21, 536 miles
19/ 12/ 2018, Service (Colbrook), 21, 549 miles
12/ 07/ 2019, Service (Phantom Motor Cars Ltd), 21, 903 miles
12/ 11/ 2019, MOT, 21, 943 miles
02/ 11/ 2020 Service (Mulsanne Motors) 22484 miles

31/05/2023 Service at 28721 miles V And P Northampton.