Chance to buy the Best Roller
ANYONE looking for a motoring class with great provenance and a connection to Manchester United could do no better than to head across the water next month when George Best’s 1972 white Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow goes up for sale.
H&H Classics will be selling it at their Duxford sale on October 12 at the Imperial War Museum in England. It is estimated to sell for £10,000 to £15,000 (€13,000 to €19,800).
Best became one of the first celebrity footballers, but ultimately fell victim to his alcoholism in 2005 aged 59. He scored 137 times for United in 361 appearances. He helped his team to victory in the European Cup and was crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1968, but to some he was more famous for his off-field behaviour.
He was once quoted as saying: ‘I spent 90 per cent of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted’.
Launched in 1965, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was a bold departure for the Crewe-based company.
Their first monocoque design, it also benefited from olio-pneumatic rear suspension, power disc brakes and, from 1968, GM’s silken 400 series automatic gearbox.
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 6230cc V8 engine (upgraded to 6750cc 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.
According to its accompanying RREC copy chassis records, this particular example – chassis number SRH 13549 – was built in accordance with ‘Page 16 Issue 12 SVR.1067 of the Special Vehicles requirement brochure’.
Factory finished in Acrylic White with Black leather upholstery, Grey Ambla headlining and Black carpets, the luxury saloon was supplied new to Grassicks Garage Limited of Perth, Scotland as a ‘ Trials Car’ on June 27, 1972.
As well as ‘Plain Sundym Glass throughout’ and an ‘internally adjustable mirror to the driver’s door’, optional equipment also included ‘Automatic Speed Control’ (better known these days as cruise control).
A letter on file from Tony Clark of Grassicks Ltd reveals that the Silver Shadow was sold to ‘ the internationally renowned football player George Best’ before the Scottish Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Ferrari distributor had had the chance to open a Service Record for it.
No stranger to publicity, George Best and his new acquisition were photographed by the Daily Mirror in the showrooms of Ian Anthony Car Sales on December 4, 1972.
The car has sported various registration numbers over the past 44 years but on that occasion wore plates advertising Mr. Anthony’s Manchester-based dealership.
George is understood to have been only too happy to promote his friend Mr Anthony’s business.
The Acrylic White Rolls-Royce was also pictured outside Manchester United’s Old Trafford grounds with its surprised owner turning round just as he was about to open the driver’s door (doubtless in response to a shouted paparazzi request).