Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II
1977-1980 · Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II — Luxury Saloon, V8, designed by John Blatchley.
The Story
The 1977 Silver Shadow II was the final, most refined evolution of Rolls-Royce’s best-selling car. The big changes were dynamic: rack-and-pinion steering and a reworked front suspension sharpened the handling, while a front air dam and the split-level, fully-automatic air-conditioning (first seen on the Camargue) improved comfort. The long-wheelbase version was sold as the Silver Wraith II, often with an Everflex roof.
It carried the Shadow’s accessible glamour to the end of the line in 1980, before the Silver Spirit took over. Among its owners, Princess Margaret kept a 1980 Silver Wraith II for 22 years – its passengers over the decades included the Reagans, Paul Getty and Lady Diana Spencer.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
John Blatchley
John Polwhele Blatchley was Rolls-Royce/Bentley’s chief stylist from the late 1940s to 1969 — responsible for the standard-steel saloons, the celebrated R-Type Continental fastback (aerodynamics by Ivan Evernden) and, as his last design, the Silver Shadow/T-Series.
Studio Motors POV
The Silver Shadow II is the one to have in the Shadow family – the dynamic upgrades make it the best to drive, and it’s still the most accessible ‘real’ Rolls-Royce, provided you buy a sorted car.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Silver Shadow II
Worth Knowing About the Silver Shadow II
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1) The headline upgrades were dynamic – rack-and-pinion steering and a reworked front end made it the best-handling Shadow. 2) It adopted the Camargue's split-level, fully-automatic air-conditioning. 3) Princess Margaret's long-wheelbase Silver Wraith II – kept 22 years – carried passengers from Ronald and Nancy Reagan to Lady Diana Spencer.
5 Fast Facts
- 1) 6.75L V8, 189 bhp / 393 lb-ft. 2) 8,425 built, 1977-1980. 3) Rack-and-pinion steering plus a front air dam. 4) Long-wheelbase version = Silver Wraith II. 5) ~126 mph.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Princess Margaret (a 1980 Silver Wraith II, owned for 22 years; passengers included Ronald & Nancy Reagan, Paul Getty, Lady Diana Spencer and the Queen Mother). The guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh ordered a stretched Silver Wraith II in 1979.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The best-driving Shadow thanks to the new steering. Buy on condition – hydraulics, rust and brakes are the costs. Silver Wraith II LWB cars and documented provenance add appeal. Cheap to buy, never cheap to fix.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 1977-1980
- Units built
- 8,425
- Variants
- Silver Wraith II (long-wheelbase)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
- Displacement
- 6.75L (6,750 cc)
- Power
- 189 hp
- Torque
- 393 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 9.9 s
- Top speed
- 126 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 89 hp/tonne · 24.9 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 3-speed automatic (GM400)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-wheel drive · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4700 lb
Questions
Silver Shadow II FAQ
What improvements did the Silver Shadow II add?
The Silver Shadow II introduced rack-and-pinion steering, a reworked front suspension, and a front air dam for sharper dynamics. It also adopted the split-level automatic air-conditioning first seen on the Camargue.
How many Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow IIs were built?
8,425 standard Silver Shadow II saloons were built between 1977 and 1980, plus 2,135 long-wheelbase Silver Wraith II cars. Combined Shadow I + II standard saloons total 25,142; the full Silver Shadow family reaches 30,057 cars.
How much does a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II cost today?
Silver Shadow II values vary widely — Classic.com averages cluster around the mid-teens and Hagerty good-condition value is approximately $11,700. Excellent or low-mileage examples can go significantly higher.
What engine does the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II have?
The Silver Shadow II uses the 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce V8 paired with a 3-speed GM400 automatic. Rolls-Royce did not officially quote power; widely cited estimates put output around 189 bhp and 393 lb-ft of torque, with 0-60 mph in approximately 9.9 seconds.
Who owned notable Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow IIs?
Princess Margaret’s long-wheelbase Silver Wraith II, kept for 22 years, carried Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Paul Getty, Lady Diana Spencer, and the Queen Mother among its documented passengers.
The Rolls-Royce Lineup
Explore every Rolls-Royce
Silver Wraith ’46Silver Dawn ’49
Phantom IV ’50Silver Cloud I ’55Phantom V ’59Silver Cloud II ’59
Silver Cloud III ’62Silver Shadow I ’65Phantom VI ’68
Corniche (1971) ’71Camargue ’75Silver Shadow II ’77
Silver Spirit / Silver Spur ’80
Corniche (2000) ’00Phantom VII ’03Ghost (1st Gen) ’09
Wraith ’13Dawn ’15Phantom VIII ’17Sweptail ’17Cullinan ’18
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