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This classical Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was archetypal owned by Michael Caine – earlier the British histrion became an planetary prima acknowledgment to his pb relation successful The Italian Job.
Michael Caine’s first-ever car – a classical Rolls-Royce convertible – has sold for £135,000 ($AU246,000) astatine an auction successful the UK, going nether the hammer connected the British movie star's 90th birthday.
Listed by H&H Classics, this Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two-Door Drophead Coupe was archetypal purchased by Michael Caine successful 1968 for £10,511 – equivalent to much than £147,000 oregon $AU270,000 today.
This Silver Shadow is believed to beryllium 1 of 506 Two-Door Drophead Coupe examples built by Rolls-Royce’s in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner Park Ward.
Mr Caine had reportedly ne'er owned a car (or obtained a driver’s licence) by the clip helium reached 35 years of property successful 1968, but the prima of Zulu and The Ipcress File rectified this erstwhile helium purchased the luxurious and costly convertible.
According to the listing, the histrion walked into 1 London Rolls-Royce dealership with a buying database which work ‘milk, bread, newspaper, cigarettes, Rolls-Royce’, though helium was escorted disconnected the premises arsenic helium was “unkempt, unshaven and a small worse for wear”.
Upon visiting the adjacent dealership, helium recovered this Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and purchased it, reportedly employing a chauffeur to thrust him astir arsenic it was cheaper than insuring the car arsenic a learner driver.
Mr Caine lone concisely owned the Rolls-Royce until 1970 – soon aft his relation successful the cult classical The Italian Job – erstwhile it was sold to his adjacent person and restaurateur, Jack Leach.
According to H&H Classics, Mr Leach owned the Rolls-Royce until his decease successful 2013, wherever the car was enactment into retention until its astir caller proprietor purchased the convertible successful 2018.
The Rolls-Royce’s existent proprietor has reportedly spent “the champion portion of £100,000 ($AU183,000) connected restoring the Silver Shadow to its erstwhile glory, with its odometer presently speechmaking 59,000 miles (95,000km).
Power comes from a 6.2-litre V8 engine, driving the rear wheels done a four-speed automatic transmission.
Jordan Mulach is Canberra/Ngunnawal born, presently residing successful Brisbane/Turrbal. Joining the Drive squad successful 2022, Jordan has antecedently worked for Auto Action, MotorsportM8, The Supercars Collective and TouringCarTimes, WhichCar, Wheels, Motor and Street Machine. Jordan is simply a self-described iRacing addict and tin beryllium recovered connected weekends either down the instrumentality of his Octavia RS oregon swearing astatine his ZH Fairlane.
