Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Bentley T-Series: The Essential Buyer's Guide
Praeclarum, April 2008Review by David NeelyThe National Journal of the Rolls-Royce Owner's Club ofAustralia"STOP! Don't buy a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or Bentley T-Series without buying this book first!" This is the first piece of advice offered with this slim volume and heeding this warning will allow both new and established Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiasts to appraise a potential purchase with confidence, identifying what to look for in order to acquire the right car at the right price.The description on the cover, "Your marque expert: Malcolm Bobbitt", is well supported as Malcolm Bobbitt is acclaimed for his work on Rolls-Royce and Bentley. In particular, the models covered in this Buyer's Guide are separately the subject of his book 'Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow/Bentley T-Series, Camargue and Corniche', which has been published by Veloce.Clear and concise advice is provided with information and illustrations that will guide a prospective purchaser. Does it live up to its claim to be, "The Essential Buyer's Guide" for these models? Definitely.The Flying Lady, July 2008USmagazineThis book is the latest in 'The Essential Buyer’s Guide' series. Its relatively small size makes it ideal to slip into your car’s glove box – you never know when you will stumble across a Bentley T hubs down in some farmer’s field, or, more realistically, when you decide to answer an 'FL' ad for a Silver Shadow. The book is quite practical – it gives the potential buyer an explanation of the chassis number, what items to bring when checking out a car (overalls, flashlight, magnet etc.), the good and bad points of owning this model, and pages of photographs of potential rust areas, veneer problems and the like.Maintenance schedules and production figures are given, along with sources for spares and information concerning where to find qualified assistance. Various checklists are provided as is the too often unheeded advice of when to walk awayfrom a purchase as well as an explanation of the pitfalls of not using the car regularly.Perhaps the best feature of the book is that it does not hide the complexity of these cars. The book points out the many opportunities for outlandish expense in maintaining or restoring them. Bobbitt is almost brutally honest in this; there is no sugarcoating, there is no clever admonition to 'follow your heart.'If there is a downside to this series, and the Shadow book in particular, it is that the companionable size of the book does not allow for larger, clearer photographs. But this should not be a deterrent. Considering the low price and its portability, and the clearly marked chapter headings, this book is ideal for its purpose: an easy-to-carry, handy and useful guide to take with you when you go searching for that Silver Shadow, Camargue, or T."If you are contemplating what could be a life-changing experience, it's probably the best ten quids-worth you'll ever spend." – Gay Classic Car Group