1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Project Listed No Reserve

A 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow project is offered no reserve on Bring a Trailer, with brake system issues disclosed. Explore the details and bidding activity.

A 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow has surfaced on Bring a Trailer as a no-reserve listing, instantly putting it on the radar of classic British car enthusiasts looking for something both ambitious and unusually attainable.

Described as a running-and-driving project, this Silver Shadow is said to start, drive, and stop under its own power, but it comes with a major caveat: the braking system needs attention. According to the seller, three brake warning lights illuminate once the car is started and remain on while it is running. While the car does stop, the brakes reportedly feel noticeably weaker than they should, making brake service the most immediate priority for the next owner.

The car’s ownership history is unusually clear for a project listing. It was reportedly first owned by a doctor in Louisiana, before being purchased by the current owner in 1984. The seller notes that it was driven regularly until around 2000, after which it was started periodically but seldom driven for roughly 15 years. The odometer shows 73,000 miles, with approximately 35,000 added under current ownership.

Finished in a two-tone combination of Walnut and Willow Gold, the Silver Shadow features a tan Connolly leather interior with wood trim throughout the cabin. Period-correct details add to its character, including a Pioneer eight-track cassette player and a Centel car phone, alongside luxury features such as power-adjustable front seats, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, rear-seat headrests, and rear passenger footrests.

Power comes from Rolls-Royce’s familiar 6.75-liter V8, equipped with dual SU carburetors and paired with a three-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. The listing states that in February 2026 a fuel leak at the carburetors was repaired, the battery was replaced, and the oil was changed, suggesting the car has received at least basic recommissioning work despite its long period of limited use.

Mechanically, the Silver Shadow retains the model’s well-known engineering complexity, including four-wheel disc brakes and a suspension setup incorporating a hydraulic self-leveling system. Unsurprisingly, discussion in the auction comments has focused heavily on potential brake repair costs, with some bidders noting that returning the system to full performance could easily exceed the purchase price.

Even so, interest appears strong. The listing has drawn thousands of views and hundreds of watchers, and bidding has continued to climb as the end of the auction approaches. That reaction is easy to understand: few cars deliver the presence of a Silver Shadow, even in project form, and the no-reserve format makes the final result impossible to predict. For the right buyer, it could be an entry point into classic Rolls-Royce ownership at a figure rarely associated with the marque.