ROLLS ROYCE - Silver Shadow I Lot n° 1

IT'S THE STORY OF A GUY ...WHO OFFERED A ROLL TO MADEMOISELLE The story The famous actress Marie Bell (1900-1985) had more than one string to her bow: tragedienne, comedienne, director of the Théâtre du Gymnase; it was she who gave Coluche his favorite scene. But how did the friendship between the celebrated Phèdre, Sociétaire de la Comédie Française and the most beloved of acrobats come about? Why did he give her a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow in 1973? Here's the story behind this luxury vehicle. In the early 70's, visionary Marie Bell took the gamble of welcoming a solo comedian to the theater she was directing, which had until then been dedicated to classical authors and boulevard shows. The rest is history: Coluche au Gymnase gave a new impetus to the performing arts and to attendance at private theaters. Michel Colucci knows how much he owes him, and his gratitude is, in his image, generous: "Every day he gave her roses, and one day he gave her a Rolls", testifies a close friend of Marie Bell and regular passenger in the Silver Shadow that took her to the theater, as well as on vacation in Monaco. This model is famous, not only for this story of friendship, but also because it helped the luxury brand reach new heights before production ceased in 1980. Remarkably, 65% of Silver Shadows are still in circulation today, a testament, if any were needed, to the quality of the cars adorned with the Spirit of Ecstasy (the brand's famous radiator cap). In previous auctions, Marie Bell's jewels and personal effects won record bids and were pre-empted by museums. The buyer of the car given by Coluche to his benefactress will take with him this story and many others that the Rolls will tell him in the hollow of his ear. But that's another story! The model It's true that, when one thinks of this brand, one immediately thinks of the pleasure of sitting in the rear seats, comfortably and softly on a full-grain leather bench, with one's feet resting on a thick carpet, rather than behind the wheel. Well, the Silver Shadow is more of a Rolls to drive, which may explain its commercial success - the first of its kind for Rolls Royce. With its lowered, angular silhouette, the Silver Shadow is Rolls Royce's transition to the pontoon line, twenty years after the pioneers who had already opted for this solution. The modernized, Europeanized design is symbolized by its rectilinear beltline, which abandons the semi-integrated wings of the Silver Wraith. This surrender to the prevailing fashion and the abandonment of its very British styling was decried by purists, as the Silver Shadow proved less representative of a certain culture. Presented in October 1965 after ten years of design and development, the Silver Shadow was the first Rolls Royce monohull. It was a veritable revolution for the brand. The engine and Hydramatic gearbox were retained from the Silver Cloud, but the rear suspension was fitted with coil springs, and braking was assisted at all 4 wheels. This Shadow was therefore technically and aesthetically modern. The engine was a 6.2-liter V8, which was upgraded to a 6.75-liter unit in 1980. As usual, power is estimated at 200 hp, since no official figures have been released. The engine is mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox. During its career, which spanned 1965 to 1980, it enjoyed unpredictable commercial success until 1976, when over 30,000 units were sold. The Silver Shadow II was presented in 1977 for the last three years of production, with a few minor modifications. Technical data This is a 1971 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Series I with 31,882 km on the 5-figure odometer. The vehicle presents itself well. It has been inspected externally and then on an elevator. The vehicle identification conforms to the elements presented, the cold-stamped number and the plate are not conform. The cold-stamped number reads SRH10344, while the plate number reads SRX10344. The paintwork has been repainted. Note the presence of appearance defects in various areas of the bodywork: blisters, chips, minor corrosion, visible repairs, impacts, dents, deformations... Chromes show friction, deformation and surface corrosion. Paint thicknesses have been measured, and are high in some areas, reflecting the excessive presence of body coatings. The days and flushes of the bodywork elements show asymmetries. The vehicle's upper structure is free of any visible signs of previous repair or apparent deformation, and there is no surface corrosion.