Sir Michael Caine’s Rolls-Royce heads to auction

The very first car purchased by British actor Sir Michael Caine CBE will cross the auction block next month. 

A Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Drophead Coupe is already a desirable car to collectors, but the story behind this particular example makes it even more appealing. 

Due to be sold at the H&H Auctions Imperial War Museum event, the Silver Shadow will be the star of the auction.

‘Not a lot of people know that‘

Despite starring in the Italian Job, with one of the greatest car chases ever filmed, Sir Michael Caine reached the age of 35 without owning a car or even having a driving licence. 

When he received a large pay cheque after Gambit in 1966, Caine sought to put this right, buying the Rolls-Royce in 1968.

Allegedly given short shrift by one Mayfair-based Rolls-Royce dealership, Caine purchased the Silver Shadow from H.A. Fox on Dover Street. The car was a cancelled order for Terence Rattigan, the screenwriter and playwright. 

Finished in black with magnolia leather, Caine opted to employ a chauffeur rather than put L-plates on his Rolls-Royce. The car appeared in the 1969 documentary Candid Caine: A Self-Portrait of Michael Caine.

Doors not blown off

Owned by Caine for two years, the Drophead Coupe later became the property of Jack Leach. Owner of the infamous Gasworks restaurant in Fulham, Leach kept the Rolls-Royce until his death in 2013. 

Purchased from Leach’s estate in 2018, the Rolls-Royce underwent an extensive restoration at a cost of £100,000 – rather more than the £10,500 it cost to buy a Silver Shadow Drophead Coupe in 1967. 

Handcrafted bodywork by Mulliner Park Ward will have contributed to the high list price. Power comes from a 6.2-litre V8, which is connected to a four-speed automatic transmission. Hydropneumatic suspension, licensed from Citroen, ensured a smooth ride.

‘Hang on a minute lads, I’ve got a great idea’

The substantial cost ensured that only 506 Drophead Coupes were produced, making them rare even compared to the overall number of Silver Shadows made. Such scarcity alone would see the Rolls-Royce command a healthy price at auction. 

However, being owned by Sir Michael Caine CBE broadens the appeal of this particular car. It means the Silver Shadow has a hefty pre-auction estimate of between £100,000 and £150,000. 

We’ll have to wait until the Rolls is sold at auction, on 15 March 2023, to discover the final selling price.

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