Just £1,000 could buy a Rolls-Royce that's a mere Shadow of its old self

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was bought by its current owner in 1982 after it was reported stolen and found in a shipping container on the south coast.

He drove the Roller for two years but got bored of all the attention so he parked it on his farm in 1984, never to drive it again. The luxury car was left exposed to the elements for more than 30 years and is now a tired wreck, covered in moss.

It is a far cry from 1978 when it cost its first owner £27,000 – around twice the price of the average home in England.

The Rolls-Royce, which has a 6.75-litre engine which would have given it a top speed of 118mph in the early 1980s, has now been removed from the farm ahead of its sale later this month.

And it is only expected to sell for around £1,000 when it goes under the hammer at Sheffield Auction Gallery’s sale on February 24.

A Silver Shadow in good condition is currently worth around £10,000 to £15,000.

Ben Johnson, a specialist valuer at Sheffield Auction Gallery, said: “It has been exposed to the elements for the past 30 years.

“People might want to buy it as an ornament, to restore it or use it for parts. The owner went to the south coast to the container where it was discovered and drove it back up to Yorkshire.

“Inside it is in relatively good condition; the leather is all there. There is a bit of rot on the bodywork but the rest is quite solid. The Spirit of Ecstasy and grille are both in good condition.”

When Ben went to view the Rolls-Royce he also found a 1984 Lotus Excel which had been hiding away under a thick layer of dust since 1989. It is expected to sell for £1,000 at the same auction.