Marque: Rolls Royce - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

PAST: Introduced in 1971 this sleeker Shadow was initially available in fixed head two-door guise or cultured drophead. The Corniche replaced the previous two-door Shadow line up (identified by straight rather than ‘coke-bottle’ swept flanks) which ran until then but from 1981 to 1995 only the convertible was offered by which time more power, fivespeed autos and adaptive suspension was fitted.

PRESENT: The ultimate Shadow yet prices remain close to those of the saloon. Of course, this Rolls is more about smooth progress rather than vulgar ‘go’ and on the limit handling (but latter can be improved easily) and the Corniche really impresses when you’re cruising along just watching the world go by.

FUTURE: As Shadows rise in value then expect to see the gap between Corniche widen significantly. So buy one now! Dropheads most desired, coupes the better value.

PAST: This model was launched after the takeover of Bentley by Rolls-Royce and subsequent range rationalisation; the Silver Dawn is actually a Bentley MkIV. Stangely this pre-war car wasn’t offered until well after hostilities had ended and continued in production alongside the Silver Cloud right up until 1959.

PRESENT: If you like your Rolls’ old school then few others typify the upper crust nature of the brand than the Dawn. An acquired, vintage, taste to drive of course but thanks to a detuned Bentley engine the Silver Dawn has entirely respectable performance for its era which matched many sports cars of the day.

FUTURE: Perhaps it’s a fashion thing but values of these rare Rollers do not appear to be soaring and you can pick one up fairly cheaply. Buy on condition as restorations will be costly, especially on the rarer bespoke-built models.

PAST: Launched in 1946, quite rightly the Silver Wraith was one of the world’s best cars. Beautifully crafted and built the Wraith was based upon Dawn mechanicals but featured an all steel bodywork. Automatic made an option in 1952 with a lusty 4.9-litre engine two years later.

PRESENT: As with the Dawn, the Wraith is pure old school values and virtues. An acquired taste to drive of course and performance just about copes with modern roads, but so what – the Silver Wraith is all about steady, civilised motoring and a real sense of occasion comes guaranteed with each trip.

FUTURE: Again it’s a fashion thing again as values of these rare Rollers doesn’t appear to be soaring and you can pick one up pretty cheaply. Buy on condition as repairs will be extremely costly, especially on rarer bespoke-built cars.

The price of being able to blow away Escorts in a turbocharged wing-back armchair was an inheritance-shrinking £101,400. The Escorts are all but gone, but you can buy a 320bhp Bentley Turbo R for the same price you’d have shelled out for an XR3i back in the 80s. Prices start from around £7000 for an early car, which is dangerously tempting. Cheaper and less likely to have grazed its knees in a scrap with hot hatches is the more sedate Rolls Royce Silver Spirit, a car built around the same bodyshell and using the same 6.75-litre V8. That was launched in 1980, with the lengthened Silver Spur following on to provide sir with some extra room to flap the Times in the rear. The chauffeur may have long gone, but so too has the premium pricing. £5000 is all you need for a mechanical lottery, or double it for a decent Roller. You might want to look post-1986 for better build quality along with ABS brakes and fuel injection instead of carburettors, but neither the Bentley or Rolls have much to do with modernity. The engines are mostly reliable, never having done much more than throb lazily (even the Turbo Rs), but they will rust in places like the wheel arches and the wing bottoms. All that weight also puts stresses on suspension components that will eventually give up expensively. But whatever state it’s in, a Roller or Bentley never loses the aroma of riches.

Powered by the same meaty 427 cu.in. Ford V8 engine as used in the Cobra 427, the A. C. 427 of 1965 featured elegant Italian styling (by Frua), and was available in open and fixedhead forms. In 1967 the 427 evolved into the 428, using a Ford V8 of slightly larger cap a c i t y. Only 80 examples in total had been produced by 1973, so these rare A.C.s are guaranteed always to be exclusive. Performance levels are electrifying with 60 mph in appearing in around six seconds and with a top speed capability of 140 mph. With supercar looks and performance, plus price tags far lower than for equivalent Cobras, these civilised A.C.s have much to offer – although running one will invariably prove expensive.

If it’s the ultimate A. C. you are after, then it just has to be a Cobra.Fantastic styling and phenomenal performance made the cars legends intheir own lifetimes, and resulted in high demand. Inevitably too, a wealth of imitation models has follow e d . However, THE REAL THING is ultra scarce, extremely desirable and very expensive! The car owes its existence to motorsport legend American Carroll Shelby. He came to the UK in 1962, and on his return, complete with an engineless Ace, set about installing a V8 Ford motor - initially using a 260 cu.in. Unit. Later cars had 427 cu.in. and 428 cu. in. motors.Want one? Then be prepared to to pay a high price!