1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow – Bentley T Unique & rare multiple award winning show example by the Park-Ward Motors Museum

Bentley T
A stunning “garish 70’s” factory
order from
Crewe
1974
Very
rare gold “
Savoy
Velour” interior option – the epitome of the 1970s
.
W
here ostentatious tastes saw bell-bottom plaid suits,
Marlboro man moustaches and Studio 54 night-clubs. When the films of the era
were “Clockwork
Orange
“,
“Annie Hall” and “Taxi Driver”, the broadway show was
“Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Chicago” and Liza Minnelli
won best actress Oscar for Cabaret. TV was all about “Charlie’s
Angels” in the
US
whilst we watched “The Sweeney” and “Minder” in the
UK
. On opposing
sides of that big pond we laughed at Richard Pryor and the Morecambe & Wise
duo. Whilst some loved Liberace with all his glitz and glamour, so did others
fan to Elton John displaying similarly outrageous stage get-up and showmanship.
America
had boat-sized
Cadillacs whilst the
UK
had groovy Minis and sexy E-type Jaguars. The world was changing
towards
atomized
individualism
and away from
communitarianism
.
The 1970s was
all about being showy and flashy – for one’s self – with big statements and
plenty of pizzazz – where “too much” was just enough.
In the midst of all this, this one Bentley surely spoke out
– in every bit of the language – she is the epitome of the 1970s.
This is a striking combination Bentley T, finished in Regency
Bronze (a rich gold colour) with a deep brown Everflex top and hand-painted
fine lines in matching brown to the waist lines and hub-cap beauty rings. The
Savoy
velvet interior is
finished in a very rich and well over the top gold-tan colour with contrasting dark
cigar brown carpeting and dash. The
Savoy
velvet option was a factory one and rarely ordered – no doubt because of its
rather flamboyant presentation.
The colour combination is completely 1970s and if you are
not into the 70s look, you will most likely find it in poor taste. But this is
for the lover of that era and you have to “get it”.
The Bentley was designed to be the conservative man’s
Rolls-Royce, so we can well visualise its original purchaser ordering this
“over-stated understatement” with its strong gold colour scheme. Not
nouveau riche because it is a Bentley after all. But a young man from old
money. Ordered by Saville Row from
Berkley
Square
, the Bentley of Bentleys of the 70s.
To those in the Rolls-Royce &
Bentley club and circles, this car needs little introduction and is extremely
well known as a multiple show winning car owned by Mr David Irvine, renowned
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T enthusiast. David founded and
administers the very successful Facebook forum; “Eccentric
Hobbyists”, dedicated exclusively to these 4-door
Crewe
cars. And, which to date, features over 30,000 photographs of these great cars
from all over the world.
This Bentley T has also been featured in various magazine and articles around
the world and I can’t tell you how many awards she has won.
This is a European delivered example that has been incredibly well maintained
over the years.
As the most obvious alteration
from what might be expected to be found on a Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor car
from this time could be considered that the seats are not trimmed with leather.
As specified by the customer these are “gold Parkertex Savoy Velvet”, a velvet
cloth of the finest quality to be used throughout the interior. The interior of
the car is quite original; make no mistake, the velour interior came this way
from the
Crewe
factory. And even though we are
some 45 years on, it remains without a single mark or blemish nor sign of wear
(as you might otherwise expect on such a fabric). The headlining, carpets,
leather dash and console are all in the most stunning original condition
.
Only the wood has been redone, but at what a blessing. At a
cost of some $4,000 it is finished like glass with no less than 25 coats of
clear lacquer each wet-sanded and buffed between coats to deliver a very deep
and rich finish. It is the dark Milanese Burl walnut with a straight walnut
crossbanding. Absolutely flawless in presentation.
In keeping with the flare design choice of its first owner,
the car has a 70s “state of the art” Blaupunkt cassette player option
fitted in concert with its Blue Dot Blaupunkt push-button radio. These were
only just available. And, a set of factory fitted air horns. Of course it
would!
This Bentley T is truly described as a spectacular example.
It was meticulously repainted in recent years by the
Park-Ward
Museum
to an extremely highly level at a
cost to its current owner of some $20,000. Of course, done so in its exact
original colour – Regency Bronze. The body and paint on the car today is truly
flawless and exceeds factory original specifications. In addition, all new
rubbers were fitted, a brand new factory correct Everflex* top and the bespoke
addition of stainless mouldings on the top of the doors as used in most (but
not all) Silver Wraith II cars. These were modified by Park-Ward craftsmen to
suit this Bentley T as a 1-off fitment and yet they appear as they belong there
from the factory. Similarly, the Everlex roof finishing moulding was fitted
from the Long Wheel Base cars. Simply stunning with this attention to detail
entirely in tune with this very unique motor car and in the
Crewe
tradition (see close up photos). The hand-painted fine lines to the waist-rails
and hub cap beauty rings were applied by the old craftsman art using the finest
of squirrel brushes and steady hand.
Chrome, glass and finishes are all excellent. Being a 1974
European delivery
Crewe
product, this example
would have originally had chrome bumpers. They were master-craft changed to the
North American impact bumpers when the car was imported here some 20 years ago.
The work was carried out by a UK Rolls-Royce specialist so it was done in
accordance with the European standard Silver Shadow II series cars – which were
closer fitted to the car as opposed to the silly looking protruding
shock-absorber mounted American version. The stream-line look is complemented
by the mainland
Europe
style of colour-coded
front air dam, fully functioning Lucas front spot lights and rear number plate and
under bumper fog lights. The overall look and stance is stunning.
This very fine example of a Bentley has been the subject of such
detailed inspection, maintenance and all major and minor services by Park-Ward
Motors that we couldn’t possibly list everything that has been done, other than
to say; nothing has been overlooked and nothing is outstanding. Such work was
rigorous to ensure this Bentley met the strict judging standard by the RROC at
the national event each year since 2015. And to the point, the car has won a
prize every single year since. The most notable being the Best of Show at the
2019 Rolls-Royce and Bentley meet in
Detroit
(Best of show means it beat every single car at the show – that is some 250 of
America’s best or every Rolls-Royce and Bentley model from 1909 thru to 2020!).
You will truly not find a single feature or function in this example that does
not work properly. A good way to summarise the work done; this beautiful
bentley T has been treated as Park-Ward Motors’ master-piece and
“show-car”. We estimate some $50-$60,000 in meticulous maintenance
has been dedicated to her in the last 5 years.
Only a very small number of Bentley Ts were made. They are
the twin sister to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. It is differentiated by a
Bentley radiator grille, mascot and “Flying B”. It has a slightly
lower bonnet (hood) with different shaping in the sheet metal and sported
“Bentley” hubcaps, boot and head-light brow badging – and for the European
market only; Bentley badged engine valve covers, brake pedal and speedometer. This
example is also fitted with a front air-dam (that usually “go missing” as a
result of curb knocks).
Their limited number is notable; out of the 30,000 odd Silver
Shadows manufactured only some 8% were Bentley Ts. They were rarer in the
US
. This makes
them highly desirable in their category. Especially when you consider the even
smaller amount that are left remaining – probably only some 100 remaining in
the
US
.
With this car presenting so ostentatiously, she is most likely the only one in
the
US
!
This example of a Bentley T is in extremely beautiful condition
and well in advance of typical examples. It is in outstanding driving condition
and is a proven show winner. It easily ranks a 10 out of 10 placing her amongst
the world’s best example Bentley T available.
As expected of a fine example, the car rides on a near new
set of Avon Turbosteel tyres, comes with its correct jack, tools and operating
manual. It even has its original set of Yale keys!
* Everflex top: Some photos show the car before the facory correct Everflex was fitted.
~~ This very statement of
a Bentley T, 1970s fashioned in Regency Bronze with gold velour is in very fine
condition and would make for a wonderful collectible classic and weekend
driver. It is an award winning show car and as such can be driven as-is to your
next Rolls-Royce & Bentley meet with continued pride and enthusiasm! ~~
International bidders are always welcome.
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos are of super high resolution so if you right-click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see some 200+ high resolution photos
Click HERE to see some 200+ high resolution photos
A note from RRMOTORSINC:
For those Rolls-Royce enthusiasts who have followed my auctions in the past I welcome you all. For those who are new to my adverts and/or the marque, please note that as a serious collector of some 30 years, all my cars are truly described examples. I have my own private Rolls-Royce workshop (not open to the public but dedicated to my own cars and fellow RR enthusiasts) with trained Rolls-Royce craftsmen who are proficient in all aspects. As a team, we are dedicated to the preservation of the marque and as such, any car that leaves the stable is completely inspected and work-shopped to ensure mechanical and operational items are maintained appropriately. We adopt a “keep it original” mentality with pride and confidence, offering after sales technical support and assistance well beyond the sale. Because most of my cars are offered for the pleasures of driving enjoyment it is not always possible or practical to seek perfection (in the true sense of the word) but we do always uphold excellence in whatever we do. Our cars are by no means cheap priced cars but we like to think they are amongst the best. To this end, I firmly believe in the famous adage; “
Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”
We hope you do too.”
RRMOTORSINC is a division of Park-Ward Motors and The Park-Ward Motors Museum. We can always be reached at
+1-312-320-6996
.
We at Park-Ward Motors – the things we do.
When our Rolls-Royces are commissioned for resale, they are indeed professionally and correctly “fully work-shopped”. No corners are cut. And it is all addressed in true Crewe tradition. There is way too much to list here but to give you an example of our commitment to excellence of
the various processes, this is one such example of what we do:
Doors and windows:-
Every car has its interior door panels removed. If the wood is in need of repair (as most are) it is refinished in-house by trained and talented craftsmen at Park-Ward Motors. This is a detailed process of stripping the wood of its old lacquer, repairing the veneer if there is damage, staining the top surface as per Rolls-Royce methodology and refinishing with no less than 25 coats of clear lacquer. Hand wet-sanded and polished between all of its last 15 coats. New window felt guides and wood-to-glass foam seals are fitted. All window mechanisms are checked and serviced for smooth and efficient up and down movement. This includes an electrical modification to rectify the typical “slow window syndrome”. All tracks, chains and gears are lubricated. Where central locking is fitted, these are all serviced to ensure no “solenoid sticking”, another common problem. Units are repaired and or changed as required for refurbished units. Door wiring and door-to-body wiring is checked, repaired and/or replaced as required. The splash plastic on the inside of the doors to protect the leather panels from rain splash from inside the door is replaced with correct specification black plastic as used by the factory. Cut to shape and glued in position as per original. All door hardware is checked and repaired as required including locks, handles and scuttle finishes. The door is reassembled with all items cleaned and polished. The wood refitted and the leather panels are re-Connollised before final fitment.
Take this example and apply it to the many, many different aspects of Rolls-Royce restoration, service and maintenance and you have our dedication to correct and professional vehicle pre-delivery preparation and commissioning.
*Please note this exclusion: the advertised or
“Buy it Now” price is a price whereby we are committed to do repair
work on the car if we see something “not right”. This may occur after
the sale and before delivery. It is our commitment to excellence. So, to be
clear, if the agreed selling price is less than 85% of the initial asking
price, then the sale is considered a wholesale “as-is” sale. To put
it simply, and to be fair, a buyer cannot expect to buy “cheap” and
get all the benefits otherwise associated with a retail value type.
~~ Important note: the $2,000 deposit is
due within 24 hours. If not paid, or if no contact is received within that
period, we reserve the right to offer the car to any other party.~~
~~oo00oo~~
This Rolls-Royce or Bentley is part of a private collection.
Although licensed and bonded, I am not a main-stream retail car dealer or
broker; I am a professional car collector of some 40 years with considerable
experience and knowledge of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars. I have a long
standing reputation being associated with the marque which I take seriously. I
take pride in my cars and have fun in collecting and restoring them. However,
auctions are not a game so when you place a bid or offer, and you are the
winning bidder, please understand you have entered a binding contract. You
cannot bid and win the auction and expect not to meet the terms and conditions.
Bidding and/or winning does not mean you are expecting me to “hold” the car
until you have the opportunity to inspect it. Any inspection contemplated must
be undertaken BEFORE you bid or make an offer and I openly welcome any
potential buyer to come and personally inspect the car. Please note, however,
we do NOT allow 3rd party inspectors because history has sadly proven, they are
not worth their weight in salt. Do not waste your time nor money – come
yourself and we will go over the car in detail with you. Once you bid or make
an offer, you are doing so to buy WITHOUT conditions. Your bid can not be
subject to anything. A $2000.00 deposit (non-refundable) is required within 24
hours of the close of the auction and payable by PayPal. The balance of funds
are required within 7 days of the close of the auction and must be provided by
cashier’s check or bank wire (unless, and only, if agreed otherwise in
writing). I cannot accept PayPal for the balance unless you are willing to meet
the cost of transfer fees or you are happy to pay via “pay a friend”.
Full payment must be made (and payments cleared) before the title and/or the
vehicle is released. All payments are non-refundable. Payments as described
above form an important part of this purchase contract and so, if all the funds
are not received as outlined above, I reserve the right to terminate the
transaction without notice. If there has been any deposit or other part
payments received and I elect to terminate the contract and/or if you fail to
complete the transaction, I reserve the right to keep any such deposits or
payments and resell the vehicle to another bidder or interested party or
re-list the vehicle at any time. To be clear, if you change your mind for ANY
reason and do not complete the transaction in the time-frame required, you will
forfeit your deposit and any other monies paid. And, to make it very clear,
paying by credit card, if so accepted, does not mean you can unilaterally elect
to seek a refund from your credit card provider and/or lender. I am happy to
assist with shipping arrangements on a national and worldwide basis but the
winning bidder takes full responsibility for pickup and/or shipping and at his
cost.
As a collector and experienced restorer of the marque, I make every
effort to bring my cars to a high standard, both before and after the sale. By
comparison, my cars are generally far superior to others available but they are
by no means perfect. You must expect some issues. Unless specifically stated,
the car is not of show standard but of nice “driver” condition.
Please understand, show cars of this model cost hundreds of thousands of
dollars to achieve and sell for prices commensurate, so the sale price of this
car reflects its relative condition. You are buying “condition”
accordingly. Buyers should not expect to receive concours quality or
“perfect” cars at these prices. Please also understand, the very
nature of these classic Rolls-Royces is such that it is not always possible to
attend to every item, or perhaps I may have inadvertently overlooked items.
Further, and very importantly, these cars are classic cars also because they
are old. So this means if a car is 40 years old, then it is predominantly
comprised of 40 year old parts. And old parts will fail. All buyers must
understand and expect that things can or will wear out, break and/or stop
functioning without notice, even if we have inspected it. This is even more likely
with hand-built English cars of early technology when compared to the typical
American car of the same vintage. Please note, fitted radio/stereo systems are
usually subject to upgrade by purchasers so I do not ensure operation of these.
Similarly, cruise control systems fitted to these classics were of an inferior
design and I do not check or warrant the operation of these. Suspension and
brakes on these cars are complex. We thoroughly check them and replace things
that are identified faulty. But please understand, by example; if we refurbish
or replace a brake caliper because it appears aged or faulty, we do NOT at the
same time refurbish or place all other brake calipers because they are of
similar age. This is considered “preventative maintenance”. We do not
do this unless specifically requested and is not included in the purchase
price. Feel free to ask for this additional service. Further, a feature or
function that is working perfectly one moment, may decide to play-up the next.
After all, it is several decades old. This is the nature of any classic car and
especially a Rolls-Royce which was very “complicated” for its era.
For this reason it is necessary for the following condition:
The vehicle is being sold “as-is/where-is” with no warranty
expressed, written or implied. Any descriptions or representations are made
with reasonable judgment and all efforts are made to ensure fair assessment and
accuracy but they are for descriptive and identification purposes only and are
not to be construed as a warranty of any type. The seller shall not be
responsible for errors in description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects
herein and makes no warranty in connection therewith. If any aspect of the
description contradicts what can be seen in the photos, then the photos shall
prevail as the reference point. No allowance or set aside will be made on
account of any incorrectness, unforeseen imperfection, defect or damage. It is
the responsibility of the buyer to have satisfied himself as to the condition
and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will
make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects at the buyer’s
request prior to the close of the auction. Seller assumes no responsibility for
any repairs regardless of any written or oral statements about the
vehicle.
Being a classic car in excess of 10 years of age, in
most
US
states,
the mileage may be recorded as “exempt”. In this regard the seller makes no
warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown and accepts no
responsibility for any discrepancy with independent reports such as Carfax,
AutoCheck, etc.
In this regard the seller makes no warranties as
to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown. I can hold the vehicle up to
30 days while you arrange shipping but you must immediately insure it. I will
not bear any responsibility for any additional costs including storage,
transportation, or repair after the close of the auction. Whereas I am happy to
store the car in excess of 30 days from auction end, a cost of $35 per day
shall apply beyond 30 days of auction end. Also, you must remember that this is
a classic +40 year old vehicle, and while it is up to you, I do not recommend
that you just “hop in and drive it across the country”until you have familiarised
yourself with the car. At least, I have never done that. I have always
professionally transported the cars in enclosed carriers from where I bought
them to my home.
PLEASE; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, CONTACT ME BEFORE
YOU CONTEMPLATE DOING SO AS, RESPECTFULLY, THERE CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
Finally, the advertised or “Buy it Now” price is a price
whereby we are committed to do repair work on the car if we see something
“not right”. This may occur after the sale and before delivery. It is
our commitment to excellence. So, to be clear, if the agreed selling price is
less than 85% of the initial asking price, then the sale is considered a
wholesale “as-is” sale. To put it simply, and to be fair, a buyer
cannot expect to buy “cheap” and get all the benefits otherwise
associated with a retail value type sale.
I am sorry if these terms seem harsh but there seem to be some very
unrealistic buyers out there – fortunately, only few of these people exist but
those that do can make life difficult, so it appears EVERYTHING needs to
spelled out. Very simply put, this is an old car being offered for sale. It is
not new and is subject to the perils of age. Further, Rolls-Royces are not
without nuances, idiosyncrasies and they are renown for a host of design issues
which can make them not inexpensive to maintain. This is well documented in
many circles. You need to be a special and considerate type of purchaser to own
a
Rolls-Royce.
Their down-side is part of the fun in owning them! As the old saying goes;
“we love to hate them and hate to love them!” So, please respect the
terms and conditions when you bid.
~~ **
IMPORTANT NOTE
: As a professional collector and experienced restorer,
I have my own Rolls-Royce dedicated workshop with qualified craftsmen on hand;
The
Park-Ward
Motor
Museum
.
As a passionate collector of the marque I take great pride and pleasure in
passing on any of these great cars to its next owner (“caretaker”). In so
doing, once this Rolls-Royce is sold, I will put the car thru my workshop to
ensure that it is mechanically sound and all major features and functions are
operating as described even though the car is contractually being sold
“as-is”. Certain items such as final electrical tests and hydraulic
pressure checks are usually left for this stage as these are considered
“commissioning procedures”. In this case, this will include the air
conditioning system of this car. This and considerable other work will be
performed after the sale and before delivery. This is all done at NO CHARGE. We
call this; “Predelivery Commissioning”. Who else selling a
Rolls-Royce on eBay does this?! Depending on our work load, please allow
approximately 14-21 business days for this procedure. We will keep you posted
every step of the way. For more information on the Park-Ward Motor Museum and
our skills, please eBay message me and I would be happy to show you some 100
Rolls-Royces restored to varying levels over the last few years ~~
~~oo00oo~~
VALUES:
Rolls-Royce values vary wildly, entirely dependent on their condition. There are, of course, other aspects that add or subtract from their values – Long Wheel Base versus regular, the year which dictated certain technical changes, etc. The colour alone, for example can make a big difference. So for the benefit of new-comers to the marque please see the approximate guide to values based on a particular model below. Please remember, these are “plus-or-minus” figures:
Year:
1973-1976
Make:
Rolls-Royce
Model:
Silver Shadow
Show car:
In this case, “sky is the limit”
Exceptional:
$45-60,000
Excellent:
$35-45,000
Good:
$25-35,000
Average:
$20-25,000
Fair:
$10-20,000
Basket case:
< $10,000
Hopefully this will provide a reference point for the Rolls-Royce being featured in this listing as it compares to the range of different condition examples.
Please note, a very poor condition example that is tired and not maintained can easily demand some $30,000 in restoration to make it a “nice” example but remember, it will be no longer original. So don’t be fooled by “cheap buys”. For any specific questions about this unique example of a Rolls-Royce, please do not hesitate to contact me.
According to the London based investment research firm; Historic Automobile Group International, classic cars have appreciated on average, 13% per year since 1980, whilst overall stock values averaged an 11% gain over the same period. The following graph charts the value of collectible cars vs. the S&P500.