HOME      SITEMAP      MY S. SHADOW      ALL MODELS      YOUR S. SHADOW      GALLERY of PICs      TECHNICS      CONTACT

 

About the models:

All 33 models
Numbers of production by model
Numbers of production by year

Periodes of production schematically
Modelchanges
The Silver Shadow II Anniversary

In the Gallery of pictures:
Pictures of every model in every modelyear

 


Model changes



During the 30 years that Silver Shadow models were produced, many model changes were carried through. On this page those changes are mentioned in chronological order. The periods in which the models were in production are schematically outlined on the page Periods of production schematically.
A complete view on all technical changes you can find on the pages of the chassisnumbers.

Year

Model introduction

Model changes and major technical changes

1965

- RR Silver Shadow
- Bentley T

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T were shown to the international public on the Paris Motor Show on the 7th October 1965. The first British appearance was some weeks later on the London Motor Show.

1966

- RR Silver Shadow James Young 2-door saloon
- Bentley T James Young 2-door saloon
- RR Silver Shadow MPW 2-door saloon
- Bentley T MPW 2-door saloon

A two-door saloon design was introduced by James Young in January 1966. Two months later (March 1966) the Mulliner, Park Ward two-door Saloon was introduced.

1967

- RR Silver Shadow MPW Convertible
- Bentley T MPW Convertible
- RR Silver Shadow Long Wheelbase (pilot of 10 pieces)

The Mulliner, Park Ward Convertible was introduced.
Further on as a pilot the first 10 Long Wheelbase saloons (LWB) were introduced. One of these was specially built for HRH Princess Margaret. The LWB was launched to market not before 1969.

1969

- RR Silver Shadow Long Wheelbase
- Bentley T Long Wheelbase

The Long Wheelbase cars were launched definitely in the spring of 1969. An optional feature was the provision of a division between the front and the rear compartments which, when fitted, took up the entire extra floorpan length.
The height control which was fitted to all four wheels until now, was deleted for the front wheels.
The optional airconditioning was specified for all cars now.

1971

- RR Corniche convertible
- RR Corniche 2-door saloon
- Bentley Corniche convertible
- Bentley Corniche 2-door saloon

The two-door saloons of Mulliner, Park Ward got a number of modifications and were renamed to Corniche.

1973

Special Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T models for the American market

Cars for The North-American and Canadian market were specified with special impact absorbing bumpers, a slightly restyled radiator shell (shorter and thicker), deletion of the rectangular air intakes, a parking brake pedal, etc. Because of these changes the cars looked like the series II that were produced from 1977. An example of an American car from 1974 is shown at the bottom of this page.

1975

Rolls-Royce Camargue

The Camargue was launched in March 1975. The car was designed by Pininfarina and became the topmodel of Rolls-Royce. The Camargue was fitted with a split level airconditioning.

1977

- RR Silver Shadow II
- RR Silver Wraith II
- Bentley T2
- Bentley T2 Long Wheelbase

The Silver Shadow II, the Bentley T2 and T2 LWB and the Silver Wraith II were launched. The Camargue and Corniche were similarly upgraded but didn't get a name change.

1980

End of the Silver Shadow II and Bentley T2

Production of the Silver Shadow II, the T2, the Silver Wraith II and the two-door saloons was stopped in October 1980. Only the Corniche convertible and the Camargue were continued (besides the production of the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur).

1985

Bentley Continental

The Bentley Corniche was renamed into Bentley Continental.

1986

RR Corniche II

The Corniche II was launched on the North American market. The rest of the world had to wait for the Corniche II until 1988. The Bentley Continental was upgraded in the same way, but didn't get a name change.

1990

RR Corniche III

The Corniche III was introduced. The Bentley Continental was upgraded in the same way, but didn't get a name change.

1992

RR Corniche IV

The Corniche IV was introduced. The Bentley Continental was upgraded in the same way, but didn't get a name change.

1995

- RR Corniche S
- Bentley Continental Turbo

The Corniche S and Bentley Continental Turbo were introduced. At the same time this was the last year a Corniche and a Continental were built.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow from 1974 for the American market.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow from 1974, built for the American market.



 TOP OF PAGE ↑ 


© Marinus Rijkers.   Disclaimer