1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow – Wraith II Desirable black beauty with rich red hides ~ a superb example of a Wraith II

Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith
II
1978
A beautiful original example in desirable Masons
black!
H
ere is a really fine and
original example of a Silver Wraith II. Finished in much sought-after Masons
black with blood red fine lines to the waist-rails. The interior has handsome
rich St. James red Connolly hides and matching
Wilton
carpets. The same rich burgundy theme
carries through to the boot.
The Silver Wraith II is the long wheel base version of the Silver Shadow II.
Easily identified by the same rear window (opera window) and standard fitment
Everflex vinyl top, it is 4” longer in the rear door. This provides a
noticeable increase in rear passenger space.
This is an unmolested example
that has been conscientiously maintained and presents in very beautiful and excellent
condition. She is primarily all original to include her factory fitment
Blaupunkt push-button radio and Pioneer 8-track. This was originally a Texan
car and then
Florida
for the rest of the time, so a “dry” car that has had a garaged environment. As
a result, it has been freed from the perils of harsh weather and is very clean
underneath. It has always been well maintained and serviced and comes with its original
manual.
The Silver Wraith II presented here has been recently work-shop inspected
with all work needed carried out. Important costly items such as the hydraulics
and brakes have been fully inspected and serviced as required. This included brake
pumps, accumulators, calipers, all brake hoses and then final system pressure
tested and bled. Subject to our “Predelivery Commissioning” process,
it is ready to drive and enjoy. The odometer shows a low 48,000 and although
this is not verifiable, the mileage is commensurate with the condition. It is very
quiet and smooth on the road without any of the typical “thumps” and “rattles”
typical of poor (or even averagely) maintained examples of this model.
The interior is excellent. The
leather is in very nice original condition with no cracks, tears nor fading and
very supple and soft – true to its Connolly characteristics. It has been
lightly reconnolised at some stage but done extremely well and in a way to keep its original
patina. Any of the “lines” you see in the leather are for some reason
accentuated in the photos and are far more subtle in real-life. These are just
the natural creases Connolly hides develop with gentle use. You will see more
of these “crease lines” on the driver seat but overall the leather is
lovingly preserved. The burr walnut wood throughout the car is stunning. All
the dash, door cappings and console were redone by the previous owner and are
very close to “factory standard”. This is an expensive process to do, typically
costing in the range of $3-4,000. This particular example has a very rich grain
with heavy knots with deep ochres and browns that simply look stunning.
The head lining is original
and in good condition. The original carpets are in good condition. Likewise is
the leather finish to the dash and top-roll. The boot (trunk) carpet with the burgundy-
red finish is in excellent condition.
The body on this Wraith II is
very straight indeed, and the paint is shiny and lustrous. The car was
repainted some 5 years ago and was a high quality job ($18,000). The finish is entirely
consistent. When you look down the sides of the car, they are very straight and
true. The paint presents absolutely beautifully with only the most tiny and minor
little mark here and there from use. But any are barely noticeable and only
mentioned out of “clear disclosure”. There is certainly nothing in
need of repair and all one needs to do is maintain it with a good polish and wax
from time-to-time. The Everflex top is its original fitment and in very fine
condition.
The tyres are Toyo 235/75-15 whitewalls in good condition with plenty of
tread. The hubcaps are excellent with no major imperfections in the stainless. All
remaining bright-work is in good condition as is glass, electrics and
instruments. All electrics on our cars are checked and serviced as needed,
right down to the smallest and insignificant dash and courtesy light.
Under the bonnet, the presentation is very clean and original. It has not
been precision detailed but simply kept clean and tidy throughout its life.
The car has its original jack, correct tools and operating manual.
The car is of very high
standard and is an easy 10 out of 10 driver rating.
~~ This stately Silver Wraith II is an excellent
condition representation of the marque that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. It
ranks much higher than the typical example and is priced accordingly. Her
condition is such that you could take her as-is to your next Rolls-Royce meet
and attract notable attention! ~~
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 150 high resolution photos
Click HERE to see some 150 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 to.
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: 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. 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. 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 ~~
*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.
**PLEASE read auction terms and conditions below BEFORE making an offer.**
~~ 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 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 30 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. I cannot accept PayPal for the balance unless you are willing to
meet the cost of transfer fees. 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, 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. 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. By comparison, my cars are
generally 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 a 40 year old car 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. 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 change a
brake line because it appears aged or faulty, we do NOT at the same time
replace all other lines 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 some 40 years 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.
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.
~~oo00oo~~
~~ **
IMPORTANT NOTE
: As a professional collector and experienced restorer, I have my own Rolls-Royce & Bentley 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 Bentley 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 or Bentley 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 200 Rolls-Royces restored to varying levels over the last few years ~~
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:
1977-1980
Make:
Rolls-Royce
Model:
Silver Shadow II
Show car:
$55,000+
Exceptional:
$45-55,000
Excellent:
$35-45,000
Good:
$25-35,000
Average:
$20-25000
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.