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Hello to everyone

2K views 6 replies 6 participants last post by  Scots Pine 
#1 ·
Hi everyone out there, new to the forum but not new to my little Rolls. We have been together since around 1983, her name is 'Ronnie' after my late Father Ronald Arthur Edgecombe. Her chassis number is SRH 38304, as a 1979 Shadow II in Le Mans Blue, she is one of the 75 made to celebrate 75 years of Rolls Royce Motor Cars. Her orignal build was to include many special other features, such things as, Everflex dyed a special dark blue, the interior leather the same blue as were the carpets and lambswool mats, the doors had a hand applied monogram in Gold with twin coachlines (one above the Stainless trim and one below), twin Gold coachlines added to the centre painted wheel trim, rear headrests, rear picnic tables, leather headliner, leather knee roll and dash top, obviously all the badges were finished in Garnet Red rather than the normal Black but an additional pair of RR badges were requested on the rear C pillars. Other items that were factory fit were a pair of Air Horns with a foot button where a clutch pedal would be, finally the request was for highly figured darker wood and the two spokes of the steering wheel to be trimmed in matching dark Blue leather.

From the build list, I cannot belive how many times the body was rejected for minor flaws, the other item of note was that after testing it would seem the engine was also rejected, it does not elaborate as to exactly why, but rejected nonetheless, I wonder if today the attention to detail extends to the same degree?

At present I am undertaking the replacemnt of the Everflex roof covering, why you may ask? well the simple answer is, I spotted a couple of minor raised tiny bubbles in the centre of the centre of the roof, so I thought it may be corrosion, what did I do.......I removed the Everflex, oh bugger!! it was not corrosion at all, it was simply that a very small area of the glue had obviously let go, shrunk and balled up. The only option then was to commision a new roll of Everflex in the right colour and get it made up into a new roof covering, next month I have an old vinyl roof specialist coming to put the new roof covering on. If any of you KNOW the answer to this question, please let me know. Did the orignal roof have any form of felt in the centre section, or was it not stuck down in the centre? Anyone ACTUALLY know for sure? The other thing I am told is odd is that the entire roof appears to be made of non ferrous metal, aluminium it appears, well its not magnetic anyway, I am told this is very unusual, is it?

Next job on the agenda is the wood which I require refinishing, the one problem I have is that some swine has stolen the plaque from the inside of the glovebox lid, this is the one that stated 'This car is one of the 75 for our UK customers to celebrate 75 years of Rolls Royce'. If anyone else out there has one of the 75 cars for the UK, would you PLEASE be willing to take a really good high resolution photograph straight on so I can get one reproduced PLEASE!!

I have replaced ALL the brake components, calipers, hoses, pipes, pads linkages and all new fluid (the right one) and also the top of the engine has been stripped and hydraulic lifters replaced, rocker cover vapour blasted and powder coated. Once I have found someone with the good image for the glovebox plaque, I can get the wood back in and I hope to enjoy 'Ronnie' again really soon. I will REALLY enjoy going to the garage and FILLING her up with fuel again, am I mad?

So, sorry I hope I have not bored you all with my little story, but it was said I should introduce myself and my car, well the car is more interesting than me, I just do things like have to line screws screw heads up, now I am into lining up the nus and bolts as well..........am I sad or what? Kindest regards to you all, Simon
 
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#3 ·
Welcome to the forum Simon, interesting story and history. Sorry I can't help with your enquiries but I would suggest that you will be more likely to get technical help if you post your technical questions in the technical forum as only introductions are anticipated in the new member's forum. Good luck with your restoration.
 
#5 ·
UPDATE: Hi again everyone, it is now 13th October 2019, and I am still breathing in and out, so there is a bonus. OK, I found a supplier in India who was able to remake the 75th Anniversary badge for me, and a superb job they did as well, totally indistinguishable from the original. So if anyone out there were to need one in the future, I am sure they could help, obviously cheaper now as they have it set up in their system from doing my one. I wish you all well out there and as we head towards BREXIT here in the UK at some point no doubt before 2050, and of course Christmas, happy motoring all of you in your Rolls Royce's. Kindest regards, Simon
 
#6 · (Edited)
Hi Simon,


You have a rare car there it would be nice to see some pictures and pictures of the badge you had done.


What annoyance removing the badge. I got fed up of people pinching the chrome cigar lighters so have a few spare.


Sorry I was not around when you asked the question on the everflex roof. I have done a few over the years.


The centre did have a thin foam on many but I hated it. Often even though covered the foam would turn to dust. Also unless it had been done well often the press forms in the roof panel would be slightly offset from the seams. I would have assumed as yours was factory it should have been good. You obviously know it is a big job with front rear screens to be removed and a lot of trim removal too to do that.


I did mine a few years ago as we lived in South France for 15 years and the sun had really faded the paint as well as thinning through over the years with polishing. I intended to paint the car myself but could not face doing the roof so decided to fit an everflex. Not liking the centre padding and the change in style of the roof the way the seam folded outward I decided to make my own everflex. I have an industrial sewing machine and did do a lot of trim work years ago. I made it so the seams were the opposite way and fitted exactly into the form lines in the roof panel. This meant the seams could be glued tightly down and the rest of the whole skin too in the centre panel direct onto the metal. I also used the special activated adhesive down the seams and into the gutters as so many after a few years the vinyl shrinks and pulls out of the gutters and can look awful. Even when done at factory I have seen this on many cars.



How has yours faired after the years now?



On the rear finishing trim so the glass would not have to be removed again if ever paint was needed I fitted the full wrap around wraith stainless finisher. I made thin stainless finishers then to put into the door shuts.



Eventually I bottled out to paint the car myself so brought the car back to UK to have painted and that was done a couple of years ago now. I did the stripping down and all the trim and just had it primed and top coat then built it back up myself.



Like to see some pictures of your car uploaded


Don't how my underbonnet got in there but I can't delete it......something else I need to know how to do now on the forum:devil



All the best


Steve
 

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#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi there, I am very pleased to read your intro, you are very welcome. I did not know about the 75 Anniversary cars, I would love to some photos. That reminds me are now on the 120th Anniversary of the meeting of Mr Rolls and Mr Royce at was the then newly built Midland Hotel in Manchester in 1904, we are going to be lucky enough to be able attend a celebratory dinner on 4th May 2024 at the very same venue organised by the Silver Ghost Register of the RREC, 120 years later . Back to your query, I have a 1980 Wraith II which recent had a new Everflex Roof. Yes, i can confirm the central section is foam padded to help retain moisture and promote rust! However, the roof was steel, I was wondering whether the longer wheelbase cars might show signs of a tacked on extension but it was one single pressed steel panel. I have photos during the prep but it really does not show anything other than that the roof was specifically designed for the Wraith. A couple of photos are included of the finished job. Good luck with the ongoing rebuild!

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