1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Chassis SRX 1248 - $25k+ invested in 10 years
Celebrity Owned California Car
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Originally owned by Rat Pack Member and Television Star Joey Bishop
Delivered new to the Harrah's Club in Reno, NV by Hornburg Motors in Los Angeles
122,600 miles - 248th Silver Shadow / Bentley T from the start of production
One of six of the earliest documented Export Model cars to exist
Over $10,000 invested in new Connolly Autolux Leather interior about 5 years ago
Approximately $10,000 invested in new/rebuilt hydraulic brake/suspension work/misc. maintenance
- in last 4 MONTHS! SEE MY SERVICE LOG BELOW!

FREE DELIVERY WITHIN 500 MILES WITH BUY-IT-NOW
DISCOUNTED DELIVERY SLIGHTLY OUTSIDE THAT RANGE

Straight, rust-free California car from new until March, 2005
Most recently owned by a past president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Org 1981-2005
More-or-less lifetime garage kept automobile - lovely original wood and chrome.

Older white respray holding up well, hubcaps just restored with powdercoated and striped rings
Front license plate bracket just powdercoated to look better than new
Restored 1966 VA plates available to Buy it Now purchaser along with various other collection items (see below)

I even cleaned the taillamps, after disassembling the lamp assemblies and repainting the reflectors.

Available to the Buy it Now purchaser - everything you see here in the boot and more - Rolls-Royce factory manual set, tool kit from my collection (car did not arrive here with one), selection of RR factory "Queste" magazines, collection of brochures and documentation including original factory build sheet, autographed picture of Joey Bishop - and a complete RR 1950s-60s vintage monogrammed Thermos picnic set - one of which sold at a Bonham's auction recently for a considerable sum!

The immaculate replacement Connolly Autolux interior. I wish eBay had "scratch-n-sniff". I spent about 15 hours completely cleaning all seats, doorpanels and trim upholstered in Autolux with Gliptone cleaner and conditioner so that it is as good as when it was fitted. There is absolutely no damage to any of the leather. New RR red floormats adorn the rust-free floorpans and original carpet. Original wood dash and all working instrumentation with perfect backlighting.

Power windows are shown down in these pictures and work flawlessly up and down, quickly and quietly.

Another view of the driver's seat. Why buy a car for which you cannot even obtain the original hides that has a dried out old interior?

From the other side. Note original early lap belts - front and rear - required in the USA in 1966.

The dash was also redone in the same top grade Connolly leather. 1960s era Blaupunkt must have been hinted to Joey by Frank Sinatra over the original Pye radio - still works great. I overhauled the power antenna and it goes up and down on the switch you see here.

Original Owners Handbook (not even filled out!) and original Service book with "Mr. J. Bishop" filled out inside.

Original A/C system works flawlessly with cold R-12 air conditioning - not converted! New suction throttling valve - the weak link in the A/C plumbing - done in 1993. Yes, the clock and all switchgear works with the exception of the test light/oil level button which is stuck in and I think disabled - the fuel gauge reads the tank level.

The rear seat is as nice as the front, with original drop-down picnic tables unique to the earliest Silver Shadows and Bentley Ts. Here shown are pieces of the RR monogrammed Thermos picnic set available to the Buy it Now purchaser as well as a selection of Queste magazines.

The other side with a collection of literature similarly available to the Buy it Now purchaser.

Oh - the grab handles are new for the rear seats - as is the entire "mouse-hair" headliner, front to rear.

Much mechanical work has been completed - see below - but some remains to be done. The rear brake/suspension pump has been overhauled twice and started to seep again and not make pressure even after working and making perfect pressure for 15 miles. I think you'll need to start with another core. The pushrod is knocking against the pump to the best of my knowledge since an unusual noise has returned since the pressure dropped on that system. The car can be driven due to redundant systems; it drives at 80mph and stops at a dime. (I'm lying, officer, but if you're not part of the Finest, I'm telling the truth!) Note that the front levelling suspension has recently been disconnected and the front pump works perfectly along with the brakes. Both accumulators and the rest of the hydraulic suspension componentry have just been overhauled and do not leak and were exhibiting proper operation until the failure of the rear pump. The hydraulic reservoir was cleaned and resealed. Most hoses in this system were changed in the last few years along with both accumulator pressure hoses.

Otherwise, steering is good and quiet, front end is tight, brakes are smooth and solid.

I just overhauled the carburettors and resealed the float bowls with new Joe Curto needle-and-seats. The ignition system has been upgraded to a Pertronix Ignitor II and Flamethrower II coil. New Kingsborne wires and Platinum plugs round out the tuneup along with new air and fuel filters. New radiator hoses, thermostat, fresh coolant keep it from overheating or not getting up to temperature, and in traffic the car stays cool even with the A/C on full blast.

The alternator was upgraded in the car's past to an 80 Amp Delcotron, replacing the pesky dated externally regulated Lucas. I used to do this to all my cars I used regularly.

Down the side of the fender, note the freshly reconditioned stainless wheelcovers with white powdercoated rings and hand-painted red lines. Nearly-new Goodyear Regattas ride well. The car was originally specced out for whitewall tyres (on the build sheet) and they were retained.

SERVICE LOG (ALL RECORDS HERE AVAILABLE UNLESS WORK DONE BY ME):

26 NOV 1996 - 10,065 - REAR CALIPERS OVERHAULED, 4 REAR HOSES REPLACED, #1 ACCUMULATOR - $1,139.22
13 DEC 1996 - 10,140 - ACCELERATOR LINKAGE SPACER, ALL LINKAGE ADJUSTED, P/S BELTS - $210.76
9 SEPT 1998 - 10,501 - SPEEDO CABLE, GAS TANK FILLER HOSE, LOF, A/C, FRONT SEAT ELEC - $793.65
29 JUL 1999 - 12,497 - LOF, BRAKE FLUID, FUSE BOX REPAIR - $194.46
17 JAN 2000 - 13,200 - LOF, FUEL LEVEL SENDER GASKET, FRONT PADS, BRAKE FLUID - $367.17
3 MAR 2000 - 13,347 - 2 GOODYEAR REGATTA TIRES, LIFETIME BALANCE, ROAD HAZARD - $189.55 (GY S.M.CA)
18 JUL 2000 - 13,884 - PLUGS, CARB ADJ, MINOR TUNE, A/C SCHRADER V. BAD, REPL., 3.5# FREON - $591.42
26 JUN 2001 - 16,721 - POINTS ADJUSTED, NEW COIL WIRE - $182.17
15 APR 2002 - 17,924 - GAS TANK R&REPLACED WITH GOOD-USED, LOF, PLUGS - $2,006.27 LESS 10% - $1,805.64
1 MAY 2002 - 18,007 - REPLACE TRUNK SEAL - $172.62
1 APR 2003 - 19,733 - LOF, #2 ACCUMULATOR OVERHAULED WITH BOTH RETURN HOSES, REAR PADS,
RADIATOR HEADER TANK REPAIRED, EXHAUST PIPE REPAIR, 2 QTS RR363 -
$1,665.42 LESS 10% LABOUR $1,572.47
21 APR 2003 - - BOTH HYDRAULIC RESTRICTOR VALVES CLEANED, 2 O-RINGS REPLACED - $273.68
8 JUN 2004 - 21,487 - LOF, #2 ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE HOSE, BLEED SYSTEM, 2 QTS RR363 - $538.96 LESS 10% $489
14 SEPT 2004 - - 1000CA/850CCA BATTERY AA65-72 - AAA - $113.66

MY OWNERSHIP:

16 MAR 05 - 22,460 - PAPER AIR FILTER, TAPED AIR MUFFLER HOSE, TOPPED OFF RR363 IN RESERVOIR
18 MAR 05 - 22,460 - 2 NEW FUSEWIRE HOLDERS - PILCHER
19 MAR 05 - 22,468 - 2 NEW REGATTA 2 TIRES 215/75/SR15 - JASON, GOODYEAR THREE CHOPT
20 MAR 05 - 22,474 - OF CHANGE, CROSLAND FILTER, 7 QTS GTX20W50 HI-MI, 2 QTS LUCAS
23 MAR 05 - 22,490 - DOORJAMB SWITCHES REBUILT, NEW GASKETS MADE FROM SCRATCH
28 MAR 05 - 22,490 - PERTRONIX IGNITOR/FLAMETHROWER COIL/PLUGS
1 APR 05 - 22,490 - KINGSBORNE PLUG WIRES MODIFIED TO FIT EARLY LOOM, NEW CAP & ROTOR,
NEW WIRE END WASHERS AND THUMBSCREW NUTS - POWER ANTENNA OVERHAUL
4 APR 05 - 22,490 - NEW UPPER/LOWER RADIATOR HOSES, BYPASS HOSE TO TANK, THERMOSTAT, A/F
CLEANED CARB PISTONS, FILLED DAMPERS TO SPEC
5 APR 05 - 22,500 - LICENSE PLATE BRACKET, HUBCAP RINGS POWDERCOATED
10 APR 05 - 22,574 - OIL AND FILTER 7 QTS GTX HI-MI 20W50/2 QTS RISLONE
15 APR 05 - 22,592 - CLEAN AND RESEAL FLOAT BOWLS, VITON NEEDLES & SEATS
2 JUN 05 - 22,592 - BOTH ACCUMULATORS OVERHAULED - CLEANED, OVERHAULED, RECHARGED.
BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCHES REPLACED
REAR HEIGHT CONTROL RAMS OVERHAULED.
RIGHT REAR RESTRICTOR VALVE OVERHAULED.
FRONT LEVELLING CONTROL BLANKED OFF WITH FACTORY RR KIT
REAR BRAKE PUMP OVERHAULED TWICE (!!) - STILL FAULTY
TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGE
FUEL FILTER CHANGE

Who am I? Why am I selling?

I'm Chip Lamb, owner of a small niche vintage car restoration parts business. Some years ago, I used to buy and sell these cars and have a good time. The picnic set and other items from my collection seen above are from an ownership of numerous RRs and an enthusiasm for the marque which has not dulled over the years. So... I thought I'd get back into Rolls-Royces again - but I haven't got the patience, time or space any longer with my burgeoning business. I bought the earliest rot-free Silver Shadow I could find with the best ownership history so that I could own a Silver Shadow above and beyond the usual car. I also looked for the best interior I could find - in an early car - so to prevent having the typical dried out interior more and more common as the years pile up on these cars.

I hit the mark on all of the above, and if I were in my early 20s again, I'd be thrilled. But I'm not. I just bought a vintage racecar which came up for absolute sale that I COULDN'T PASS UP, I'm building a new shop, and storage is at a premium. I can't give this car what it needs at this point. My patience and my pocketbook at are an end on this project, since I can't seem to rely on myself or local RR/B specialists to do what I need done and I feel ashamed having to lean on them and pay them to do what I could do - if I wanted to concentrate on this project.

eBay seems like a lousy market for this car, and I should probably put this car back where it needs to be before I sell it, but time is running out, and the fellow who just did an unbelievable amount of the above hydraulic overhaul is out of action for the next few months with knee surgery. The sound of a game show buzzer is going off in my head - time is up. My blood pressure rises whenever I think about this car as a result, and after about 48 hours during which I had the whole re-re-project planned out, I decided to sell the car as-is.

On the opposite side of this sheet is Joey Bishop's address and information. Copy was acquired from Philip Hall of the RR foundation in the UK.

payment / shipping / questions

If you hit the Buy it Now, you will get all the memorabilia and all of my RR stuff pictured in this auction - and more - I have some other things I did not put in the pictures which are equally cool. I think I'm all done with this vintage of RR and B and you are not. You will also get the car delivered to you on my car hauler (big Chevrolet diesel with a 20 foot fixed bed) if you live within 500 miles; if you are a little further afield, we can talk.

If you have an interesting trade - say a Bentley Mk VI, R-Type, Flathead/early OHV Cadillac or LaSalle, 1960s era Cadillac, vintage racecar or other interesting vehicle, try me. I'd like a ready runner - my '40 LaSalle recently spun a rod bearing and that's next on the list of things to do. If I take a car in trade, it has to be faultless and very presentable, which this is.

In these or any other event, payment is due within seven days of auction close, and car must be picked up within fourteen days. No goofing around. This is not a game. The reserve is low and the Buy it Now is worth the price of the leather and a few parts with an entirely free car wrapped around it.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? E-mail me here!

In any event - Bid With Confidence - See My Feedback - Click on my "me" page - and THANKS FOR LOOKING!