In the gallery of chassisnumbers:   Main menu of the chassisnumbers The meaning of chassisnumbers up to 1980 The meaning of chassisnumbers from 1981 The chassisnumbers of the modelchanges The chassisnumbers of the technical changes The details of the production

The meaning of the chassisnumbers up to 1980

In the beginning the chassisnumbers of the Silver Shadows consisted of 3 letters followed by 4 digits. For instance the Silver Shadow of my own has the chassisnumber: SRH6839. After some years, in 1971, the number of digits has been enlarged from 4 to 5. In 1980 there has existed a suffix, an extra letter behind the 5 digits. I start my explanation with the letters and end it with the digits. At the end of this page you find some examples. The chassisnumber, fitted to the dashboard, directly in the left corner under the front screen. This Silver Shadow is from 1979. 1. The letters The first letter points out the body-variant. In the first years, until the spring of 1969, the next letters occurred: S = Standard 4-doors saloon C = 2-doors saloon and 2-doors convertible, as well James Young as Mulliner Park Ward L = Long Wheelbase (series of 10 in 1967, before introduction in 1969) Up to the chassisnummer 6646 (watch the numbers further on this page) in 1969 the letter C was used for as well the 2-doors saloon- as the convertible-coaches. From 6646 on the convertible got the letter D. Therefore from 1969 the next letters can occur: S = Standard 4-doors saloon C = 2-doors saloon (in the US called Coupé) D = Convertible (in England called Drophead coupé) L = Long Wheelbase 4-doors saloon J = Camargue The second letter points out whether the car is a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. The next letters can occur: R = Rolls-Royce B = Bentley The third letter points out whether the car is left hand driven or right hand driven or whether the car was destined for the american market. The next letters can occur: H = Right-hand drive, RHD, Home-market X = Left-hand drive, LHD, Export A = North-American model, year of model 1972 B = North-American model, year of model 1973 C = North-American model, year of model 1974 D = North-American model, year of model 1975 E = North-American model, year of model 1976 F = North-American model, year of model 1977 G = North-American model, year of model 1978 K = North-American model, year of model 1979 L = North-American model, year of model 1980 In 1980 an extra suffix C could occur in a chassisnumber behind the digits. For instance SRL40595C. This pointed out that the car was destined for the Californian market. This meant that the car was fitted with the Bosch Jetronic fuel-injection-system. The identification plate on the door-post of the left front door. This plate is of the same Silver Shadow II as on the picture above. 2. The digits In the beginning the chassisnumber existed of 4 digits, starting with the number 1001. At 10000 the enumeration went on and the number was lengthened to 5 digits. In principle one counted from low to high without interruption. In the course of the years there were several reasons to deviate from the normal order. The introduction of a new model for instance. Or the introduction of a technical change. The next table contains the chassisnumbers that have NOT been used. Series of numbers Explanation 4108 and some other separate numbers These numbers were assigned to the Phantom VI models 4549 - 4669 These numbers were assigned to the Phantom VI models 4670 - 4699 Not used 4700 - 4874 These numbers were assigned to the Phantom VI models 4875 - 5000 Not used 5604 - 6000 Not used 8862 - 9000 Not used 26709 - 30000 The not-used numbers between the Shadow and the Shadow II 41687 - 50000 Not used 37000 and- 50001 From march 1979 until autumn 1980 the coachbuilders got the 50001- series whilst the 37000-series was simultaniously used for the Silver Shadow II and Silver Wraith II 3. Particularities and examples In the next table there are some examples of chassisnumbers. All those numbers are really existing numbers. Chassisnumber Explanation CBH2267 Bentley T James Young 2 doors saloon from 1966 C=2-doors saloon; B=Bentley; H=Home-market (RHD). CRX2275 Rolls-Royce Corniche 2-doors Saloon from 1967 C=2-doors saloon; R=Rolls-Royce; X=Export (LHD). DRX11385 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible from 1971 D=Convertible; R=Rolls-Royce; X=LHD. SRX12901 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow from 1972 S=Standard 4-doors saloon; R=Rolls-Royce; X=LHD (not the American market for in that case it would have been an A). DRH17362 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible from 1974 D=Convertible; R=Rolls-Royce; H=RHD. JRH19088 Rolls-Royce Camargue from 1975 J=Camargue; R=Rolls-Royce; H=RHD. LBX19566 Bentley T Long Wheelbase from 1975 L=Long Wheelbase 4-doors saloon; B=Bentley; X=LHD (not the American market for in that case it would have been a D). CRH23535 Rolls-Royce Corniche 2-doors Saloon from 1976 C=2-doors saloon; R=Rolls-Royce; H=RHD. SRH41167 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II from 1980 S=Standard 4-doors saloon; R=Rolls-Royce; H=RHD. LRL41346 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II from 1980 L=Long Wheelbase 4-doors saloon; R=Rolls-Royce; L=North-American model, modelyear 1980.