Rolls Royce Silver Shadow DHC.

A convertible version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door saloon was introduced in late 1967and, in common with the saloon, was assembled and finished in London at Mulliner Park Ward. It was powered by the same 6,230cc silky smooth V8 as its solid-topped sister and was marketed as the Silver Shadow Drophead Coupé for the next three or four years. In late 1970, a more powerful, 6,750cc engine began to be fitted and in March 1971 after a slight facelift including a rev counter, new exhaust system etc, the Corniche name was applied. The Corniche was externally very similar and continued to use the 6.7-litre V8 engine mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission and featured independent suspension with coil springs and hydraulic self-levelling for the rest of its days with production finally tapering out in 1996. During its lifetime, a total of only 1,306 Drophead Coupés and Corniche would glide smoothly out the doors of Mulliner PW.

According to its chassis number ('DRH 6571'), this Shadow DHC would have been 'in build' during late '68 and probably first registered in 1969. It spent some time in the ownership of Joe Kelly in Co.Wicklow as a part of his extensive collection of rare and expensive cars including Lamborghini, Ferrari, and other Rolls-Royce, before ending up in Denmark in the mid-eighties. Joe is best known amongst fans of motor racing for being the first Irishman to be invited to compete in the British Grand Prix and, in his privately entered Alta, he acquitted himself well in 1950 and 1951 here at Silverstone. This lovely Rolls-Royce is being brought to auction by CC-Cars of Bodalen in Denmark, and a quick look at their website will demonstrate the quality of Classic Cars in which they deal, and their excellent standard of presentation.

With the odometer indicating 58,000 miles this lovely car looks superb and is finished in the head turning colour combination of Tudor Red with Cream Leather and Coffee carpets. Anyone who saw one of these with the top down when they were first introduced, would have found it difficult to conceive that a collection of Steel, Glass, Plastic, Leather, and Rubber could have been formed into something so ultimately desirable.

We welcome any inspection of this delightful Silver Shadow Drophead Coupé.