Meet Dave, our trusted Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, a vehicle that's more than just a classic car; it's an essential asset in our test and development program. In this blog post, we're excited to share the incredible journey of Dave's part restoration, with a particular focus on the challenge posed by rusty floor panels that led us to take the drastic step of removing the entire interior before sending it to a specialist workshop for the very necessary rust repairs.

The Water Challenge:

Aging gracefully is one thing, but like many classic cars, Dave had started to show signs of wear and tear. The most pressing concern was water ingress, largely caused by the deteriorating door and windscreen seals, which, in turn, had contributed to the pooling of water and the development of rusty floor panels. While restoring Dave's aesthetics was important, ensuring its body integrity was equally crucial for its continued participation in our testing and development efforts.

Interior Removal:

Recognising the gravity of the situation, we decided before sending Dave to the workshop for the repair work to remove the entire interior of the vehicle. This bold step was essential to provide full access to the underlying issues. Precision and attention to detail were paramount throughout the process.

The heart of the repairs lay in the installation of our new floor panels. At Flying Spares, we take immense pride in our commitment to providing the highest quality parts and accessories for Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles. The new floor panels were no exception, seamlessly replacing the old, rusted ones. Once in place, the panels were welded and then treated to ensure that Dave would be free from rust for years to come.

Browse our full range of rust repair panels

They say prevention is better than cure, and we were determined to shield Dave from future rust problems. New windscreen and door window seals were installed to make Dave water-tight and corrosion-free.

Body seals are primarily made of rubber. Over time the elements will dry out the seals, making them brittle, in turn, they will not seal properly. It’s important to check the condition of your seals at least once a year.

Browse our full range of body seals

A New Interior:

With the floor panels repaired, we decided to go a step further. We couldn't resist the opportunity to bring Dave back to its original, pristine condition. As part of the process, we sourced interior components from our very own Recycling department, reducing waste and ensuring authenticity in the restoration.

The interior restoration encompassed the re-upholstering of the seat, installing a new front & back windscreen, and the replacement of any worn or damaged parts. The result was a Silver Shadow that looked and felt just as exquisite as it did when it first graced the road.