Early ’80s barn find Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II desperate to be saved, but getting it back on the road is no easy task
- A 1980s Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II proved difficult to restore
- Discontinued parts can be more expensive than the car
- However, the team persevered with the classic luxury barn find
Published on Jan 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Jan 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A content creator from London, UK, had a 1980s Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II brought into the shop from a barn find that proved difficult to restore.
Hailing from the early part of the decade, it had been non-functional for years.
The car is generally known for its luxurious features and celebrity fans.
However, issues with its fueling, spark, and faulty distributor meant it could possibly have been too far gone to save.
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Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II barn find
When the car arrives at the Farringdon shop of Alex Kersten of Autoalex Cars several red flags are waved.
The team diagnosed issues with the ignition system, distributor cap, and carburetor.
While Alex is ‘dedicated to automotive financial mistakes’ – this could be a step too far even for him.
“Every electrical system seemed to have its own unique gremlin — it was like playing whack-a-mole with faults,” Kersten admits.
Plus its age means ousting these gremlins will be no easy feat – although it’s a surer bet than the cheapest Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye that was bought for $19,000.
“Getting parts for a car like this is a scavenger hunt—some components are rarer than the car itself,” he said.
Previously mechanics have come up with ingenious solutions for the missing parts of the luxury cars.
The restoration
After several issues and multiple attempts, they were able to replace components including the seized engine, hydraulic suspension system, and the entire braking system.
If that’s not enough, the team also rebuilt the carburetor, adjusted the timing, and addressed electrical problems to get the car back on the road.
Frustratingly, the vintage Rolls-Royce failed to start at a crucial moment while at a classic car show.
Back to the drawing board and the team persisted with new spark plugs, fuel, and repairs, before they’re finally able to fire it up.
As for owner Lewis, who’s owned five or six cars from the luxury brand that hadn’t run: “I’m honestly ecstatic,” he admitted.
The love for the luxury car brand is universal like the Sultan of Brunei’s 600-strong Rolls-Royce collection.
London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
