Sir Michael Caine is a man who knows how to enjoy the finer things in life, from his exceptionally rare solid gold Rolex Oysterquartz to the stunning coach-built vehicle that served as his first car. Now, that same car has arrived on the market through H&H Classics, who are offering the quintessentially English 1968 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two-Door Drophead Coupé that 35-year-old Michael Caine purchased from a Dover St dealer in Haymarket.
As the story goes, a dishevelled young Michael Caine walked into London’s prestigious Mayfair Rolls-Royce dealership with a handwritten shopping list that read: “milk, bread, cigarette, Rolls-Royce.” Thanks to his unusual presentation, and possibly the fact that he didn’t have a driver’s license, Caine was quietly escorted back through the door he came in. Shortly after, he made his way to Dover St and purchased the Silver Shadow originally ordered by playwright Sir Terence Rattigan for a cool £80,000.
Hand-built by Rolls-Royce’s in-house coachbuilder Mulliner Park Ward, the specific model is one of just 506 examples that were ever produced and was eventually purchased from Caine by businessman Jack Leach in 1970, who owned the car for 43 years until his death and kept it in impressive condition with 59,000 miles on the clock. A decade on, the Rolls Royce that Michael Caine famously owned has returned to the market and is set to go under the hammer on the 15th of March with an estimate of between £100,000 – £150,000 (AU$174,609 – $261,913).
