Faults:

The car is a remarkable example, all original and never messed with. However, its low mileage when I acquired it meant that virtually every contacting valve and electrical component was suffering from failing seals or poor connections. Some bushings required replacement, as did the flexible brake lines, A/C compressor, alternator, regulator, A/C and driver warning electrical boards, and often, too, relays (of which the Shadow has many). The much-dreaded brake/self leveling accumulators, and the maze of hydraulic lines and subsidiary valves will be an expensive burden if neglected or inadequately repaired.

All these issues might seem daunting, but because the car is such a remarkably pristine and superlative good car to drive—which also boasts Mulliner cocktail cabinet, special front seat drink stowage, rear seat cocktail fittings, wooden/aluminum steering wheel—together with its gorgeous Caribbean blue paintwork and perfect fittings, clearly this car was someone's treasure. Having persevered a larger-than-I-might-have-wished-for recommissioning, I now have what is surely one of the most spectacular and perfect (mechanically and cosmetically) Shadows in the world, that never fails to astound me by the way it performs. It is very reliable, which goes to show how these cars should be when properly maintained, and still feels completely "modern" in temperament. It might not have the tight handling of a Mercedes S550, for example, but will outdrive such an experience in virtually every meaningful way to its pampered occupants.

The best advice is to seek out the best consistently well-maintained example, for which high mileage is not necessarily a badge of mechanical wear and tear, but of an owner who understood that these cars only do better the more they are regularly driven (and not necessarily over great distances), and above all, maintained without cutting any corner. It's the way the car was intended, when its owners would never have given them anything less than the very best care, and not a car for those people who have no understanding for the need. It is these folks who call RR's "unreliable" and so on, but they have only themselves to blame for buying something they were not prepared, or could not afford, to maintain properly. It has also been said that similar comments come from people who would be the first to buy one if they could afford it! Seriously, though, buy the right one, and you can afford it—but maintain it! Just remember there's nothing more expensive than a cheap RR!

General Comments:

I have no reservations in recommending the experience of owning one of these cars, but beware! Tread only where prepared to go, and it will never fail to delight. Still one of the best motoring pleasures on the planet. Still very much in step with the times.

Faults:

Aside from some servicing, the car has been great!

General Comments:

Sold my '60 Cloud II and decided to upgrade to a Shadow II (always wanted a Shad, but the Cloud came along first and was priced very right).

I got my Shadow from the proverbial little old lady, who owned it for a very long time, and had it serviced by an RR specialist, however the car had sat for a spell since she quit driving, so some remedial recommissioning work was needed when the car came to me.

I replaced all hoses throughout the braking/hydraulic system, rebuilt the rear calipers, cleaned and flushed the fluid reservoirs out, and got the brakes sorted nicely.

Gave the car a major service (oil, transmission, coolant, air filters, plugs, etc..) and have been racking up the miles basically trouble free.

There are some things left that need sorting on the car -- just little fiddly weekend jobs like freeing up seized door lock solenoids and replacing a duff window lift motor, but otherwise the car is fantastic.

I also have a Bentley Turbo R, and although I'd pin that as my favorite all time car from Crewe, it would be a hard decision if I had to choose to keep only one, as the Shadow is much simpler to work on and very DIY-able. And the agreed-upon dictum of drive, drive, drive is very applicable here. My car came to me with 112K miles on it, and runs and drives beautifully.

I did also have to renew some of the front end bushings, and I'm sure a complete rebuild would transform the car, along with some Bilstein shocks in place of the old, wallowy Boge units, but those will have to wait for another season, as the car is performing nicely for now, and is just so relaxing and enjoyable to drive.