In 1965, Rolls-Royce replaced the Silver Cloud with the smaller Silver Shadow saloon. The Silver Cloud had been in production since April 1955 and was developed over three versions known as marks I, II and III. The Silver Cloud III remained in production until March 1966.
The Silver Cloud was constructed by adding the car’s body to a rigid frame. The frame would carry the engine and suspension, allowing it to be propelled without a body. The body would be mounted on the frame separately and could be customised independently. This was the traditional “body on frame” coach-building method.
The Silver Shadow was constructed using the “unibody” method, whereby major chassis structural support elements, the floorplan, and the body of the car form a single unit that is then welded, bonded, or otherwise fixed to a single structure element designed for the body. This allowed the car to be lighter and more rigid, although opportunities for body-style customisation are limited.
The Silver Shadow was narrower and shorter than its predecessor, making it easier to drive on narrower, more congested roads while offering more interior and luggage space thanks to the efficiency of the unibody construction.
Other technical advances included disc brakes replacing drums and independent rear suspension replacing a live rear axle.
The Silver Shadow had two marks: Silver Shadow I, produced between 1965 and 1976, and Silver Shadow II, produced between 1977 and 1980.
