Michael Caine’s Rolls-Royce is for sale

Famous faces

When it comes to famous British actors, few are as well known as Sir Michael Caine CBE – and the same could be said for British car manufacturer Rolls-Royce.

This 1968 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two-Door Drophead Coupé was supplied new to Michael and is set to cross the block on 15 March in Cambridgeshire with H&H Classics, where it has a pre-sale estimate of £100-150,000.

Here’s this classic’s story.

Strong start

And here is the car with its famous first owner.

Indeed, this was Michael’s first ever car, bought when he didn’t have a driving licence and he kept it for around two years.

Shopping list

According to H&H Classics, the story is as follows.

It was 1968 and Michael walked into the Jack Barclay showroom on Berkeley Square in Mayfair, in London’s West End, with a handwritten shopping list which read ‘milk, bread, newspaper, cigarettes, Rolls-Royce’.

The untidy, unshaven actor was ushered off the premises, so he went to HA Fox on nearby Dover Street and bought this Silver Shadow, which had been taken into stock after playwright and screenwriter Terence Rattigan cancelled his order for it.

Silver-screen star

When it was launched, this model had an eye-watering £10,511 price-tag, a figure that could at the time have bought both an Aston Martin DB6 Volante and a Ferrari 330GTS.

But by 1968, Michael Caine was a well-known film star, following his break-through appearance in 1964’s Zulu and other work including The Ipcress File – indeed, The Italian Job was released just the following year.

Back-seat driver

According to H&H, Michael was aware he was 35 and without a car or a driving licence.

The purchase of this Rolls-Royce ticked one of those boxes, however he’s said to have found it more cost effective to pay for a chauffeur, than to fork out for the insurance premium of driving the car as a learner driver.

A tall story?

Also according to H&H Classics, which is selling this car on 15 March, the day after Sir Michael Caine turns 90, there is a story that may or not be true…

It is said that, following his purchase from HA Fox, Michael used to ask his chauffeur to drive him past Mayfair’s other Rolls-Royce dealer, Jack Barclay, the one he’d originally approached, and as they went by he would be flicking the V-sign.

Hey, good looking

It is not hard to see why the actor fell for this now classic car.

Its sophisticated lines still dazzle today and it was handbuilt by the manufacturer’s in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner Park Ward.

The uncommon touch

The two-door saloon version of this car was brought to market in early 1966, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two-Door Drophead Coupé following it in ’67.

The latter was in production for four years and it’s thought that 506 were built.

Great eight

Superb refinement was on the cards for those lucky customers, thanks to the 6230cc V8 under the bonnet with 172bhp, mated to an automatic gearbox.

Fuel efficient it was not, but as a statement of having made it, there were surely few to rival it.

The lap of luxury

And what a place from which to drive or to be driven.

With soft leather upholstery, deep lambswool carpets and rich wood veneers, this was a seriously luxurious place from which to watch the world go by.

Style icon

Today as in 1968, this classic Rolls-Royce exudes effortless elegance.

Much like its famous first owner, it is a style icon, albeit without the thick, horn-rimmed glasses and with an unforgettable voice of a different kind.

As seen on screen

This car also appeared in the 45-minute 1969 TV film Candid Caine: A Self Portrait of Michael Caine, directed by Charles Squires.

At that point the car was wearing its original numberplate, UGN 842F.

Dressed for the part

Today, this classic car’s registration number is ALO 182H.

However, for display purposes because of this sale, as you can see it has dummy plates to match those fitted when Michael Caine was its custodian.

Moving on

Fewer than two years after he bought this car, Michael Caine passed it on in 1970 to an acquaintance of his.

This person was John Leonard Ernest Leach, also known as Jack Leach, who, with wife Shirley, owned and ran the green-painted Gasworks Restaurant in Fulham, London.

Star appeal

Both famous and infamous, the Gasworks was a well-known haunt of celebrities and, allegedly, royalty.

The Rolling Stones and Princess Margaret are just some of the famous people said to have frequented this venue.

Long-term relationship

Jack Leach must have liked his Rolls-Royce because after acquiring it in 1970 he never let it go, and it was a familiar sight outside his business and on the surrounding London roads.

When he passed away in 2013, 43 years later, the car was put into storage.

Big money

Its next keeper bought it around five years later and embarked on a comprehensive restoration.

According to H&H Classics, despite a professional bodyshop being one of the owner’s business interests, this work has still cost around £100,000.

A numbers game

As you can see here, according to this Rolls-Royce’s odometer, this car has covered around 59,000 miles.

H&H Classics describes this figure as ‘highly credible but unwarranted’.

Specialist care

The restorative work carried out on this classic Rolls included mechanical refurbishment at marque specialists.

Hopefully this means its winning bidder at March’s H&H Classics sale will have little to worry about as far as this car’s condition is concerned.

Raise the roof

Its black fabric roof, seen here raised, certainly appears to be in good condition.

The paintwork has been refinished in the car’s original colour, the cream leather trim likewise as it was when it left the factory.

With and without you

The eagle-eyed among you might have noticed that there’s just a single front headrest.

The chauffeur had to do without one, it seems.

Fully documented

When the hammer falls on this Rolls-Royce, the winning bidder will also get paperwork including the V5C, Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club copy chassis cards, lots of receipts and photographs of its recent restoration.

One hopes that perhaps the dummy numberplates bearing its registration when owned by Michael Caine might be sold, too, for display purposes.

Time for the next chapter

“Appearing in more than 160 films across seven decades, Sir Michael Caine is a true British icon, so it’s a pleasure to be able to offer his very first car for sale, which in itself is another great British classic,” said Damian Jones, Senior Motorcar Specialist, H&H Classics.

“The car’s history is truly captivating and one which I’m sure will delight and fascinate the new owner.”

What next?

Who knows what’s next for this classic Rolls-Royce.

It might have been Sir Michael Caine’s first car, but it is also a fine machine that would be wonderful for long road trips in serious comfort.

Practical performer

As you can see, it also has a good-sized boot, perfect for holding your luggage on that dream classic getaway.

Or perhaps this car’s famous first and, to a lesser degree, second owners will mean this Rolls-Royce’s future will be as a cosseted exhibit.

The clock is ticking

Either way, after all the work – not to mention money – that has been invested in this car in recent years, let’s hope a safe and cared-for future is on the cards.

And we don’t have long to wait…

Looming deadline

This ex-Sir Michael Caine 1968 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Two-Door Drophead Coupé has been consigned to H&H Classics’ auction on 15 March 2023 at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, with a £100-150,000 pre-sale estimate, and in-person, telephone and online bids are welcome.

To find out more and view the full lot list, please click here.