Launched in 1965, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was a bold departure for the Crewe company.

Their first monocoque design, it also benefited from olio-pneumatic rear suspension, power disc brakes and GM's silken 400 series automatic gearbox (though the latter was not adopted until 1968).

Such 'new technology' did not encroach on the luxurious interior with its sumptuous leather hides, rich wood veneers and deep lambswool carpets.

Performance from the smooth 6,230cc V8 engine (upgraded to 6,750cc in 1970) was assured, the car wafting forward on a seemingly unstoppable wave of torque.

Still immensely cosseting to drive, Shadows offer a genuinely different ownership experience to their mass-made peers.

Silver Shadows were built in relatively large numbers for a Rolls-Royce and they have a high survival rate, so finding a good example should not be difficult.

We very much doubt another one will come to the market that’s as good as this one, though – as an all-original, supremely well-...