There were no changes to this Rolls Royce Silver Shadow over 14 years
This Rolls Royce Silver Shadow was build and sold around the world from 1966 until 1980 and the standard Rolls Royce was the Silver Shadow with very modern lines and for the first time a monocoque chassis-body construction was used as a response to claims that the Rolls Royce company were falling behind the times technically.
This car attracted a host of new-generation of owners like footballer George Best, the ‘Who’ drummer Keith Moon, singer Paul McCartney, Elton John and Freddie Mercury, who each commissioned them in era-appropriate shades such as gold, aubergine and beige.
Interestingly, Andy Warhol who was considered as a leading artist of the 20th Century and the figurehead of the Pop Art movement had one. Warhol was extraordinarily successful mixing his artistic talent with commercial success.
During his most commercial period, Warhol decided to buy himself the most luxurious car money can buy which was a 1974 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. Warhol’s Silver Shadow was ordered on October 14th, 1974 from an American New Jersey dealer with specifications of Walnut over Black paint and a Black Leather interior.
Warhol never had a driver’s license. Many notorious stories abound of Warhol as a passenger in his Rolls Royce. Famous celebrities, such as Truman Capote, Liza Minnelli, and others acted as chauffeur. This Silver Shadow was a prized possession of Warhol for his life and was fastidiously maintained in his Park Avenue, Manhattan New York City garage.
Warhol’s Rolls Royce was offered for auction sale on eBay Motors by the Pennsylvania-based owner in May 2014 with a starting bid price of $89,000.
Meanwhile, with several styling cues from the Silver Cloud it was given a straight horizontal beltline and large horizontal boot.
It was in fact the first Rolls Royce specifically designed to be driven by the owner rather than a chauffeur.
In 1977 the Silver Shadow II got rack and pinion steering and alloy and rubber bumpers. It was replaced in 1980 by the Silver Spirit.
