Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon type II 1970

History and Background

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II belongs to a model series that played a significant role in Rolls-Royce’s post-war history starting in 1965. The Silver Shadow was the model with which the brand transitioned to a more compact body than the large, traditionally built preceding models, while retaining the character of a quiet, comfortable luxury car. The Silver Shadow became Rolls-Royce’s flagship model in the 1960s and 1970s and accounted for a large portion of the brand’s production during that period.

The Type II version appeared as a further development of the original Silver Shadow. In this second phase, technical and practical changes were implemented to further refine the model’s usability and finish. The 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II thus falls within a period in which Rolls-Royce had firmly established its position in the segment of British top-class sedans. The model was known in the market as a car for a broad international audience that valued prestige, tradition, and technically refined luxury.

Within the history of Rolls-Royce, the Silver Shadow also marks a transition to more modern production methods. The monocoque body was an important step for Rolls-Royce, as was the emphasis on handling and comfort combined with a more contemporary design. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II thus remained recognizable as a Rolls-Royce, but was better suited to the demands of 1970s road traffic.

Features and details

This Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II features a two-tone color scheme, which gives the model a distinctive visual appeal amidst the often subdued factory colors of this generation. The exterior generally looks neat. The interior has a few imperfections but retains its original character. This Silver Shadow thus fits the typical image of a luxury sedan in which the use of materials and finish play a central role.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II was a technically significant car for the brand, in part due to the use of an advanced chassis and an automatic transmission as the standard configuration in this class. The 6.8-liter V8 was one of Rolls-Royce’s signature engines from this period and formed the basis for the “6.8” designation in the model name. The Silver Shadow Type II also received various updates compared to the first series, further tailoring the model for use in the upper luxury segment.

Currently, the car is not roadworthy. This fact makes this Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II particularly relevant as a representative of a specific generation of Rolls-Royce sedans from the early 1970s, with the corresponding technical and stylistic features. The combination of the original interior presentation, the neat overall impression of the exterior, and the two-tone finish makes it an example that clearly fits within the characteristic line of the model.

Summary

The 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 6.8 Saloon Type II is a Type II of the important Silver Shadow model, finished in a two-tone color scheme and featuring an original interior with a single imperfection. The exterior looks generally neat, and the car is currently not roadworthy. To get a good idea of the lot, we recommend that you attend the viewing day.