Think back to the late 1980s and early 1990s custom car scene for a second. What do you remember? Neon colors? Center Line wheels everywhere? Tweed interiors and graphic equalizers nearly the size of the head unit? For me, it’s what falls under the term of “Pro Fairground”: the Pro Street look but better suited for cruising down the road instead of ripping up the strip. Was it cheesy? Oh, it was melted Cheddar all over, baby…if you were lucky you simply had something like a clean Chevelle SS rolling around. But if you wanted the whole hog, you had a soft purple late-model Caprice with tweed interior, covered rollcage, billet wheels, and two fat dump pipes from under the bumper cover out back. I liked the era for one reason, though: no model was ever off-limits. Ford EXP? I can think of two right now. Dodge Omni? Of course. Any GM FWD Xerox-copy car of the 1980s? I think every last version got the tubbed and blown treatment.

But those are lower-class cars for lower-class people, if I’m to use the rule of thumb that my Economics professor taught me. At some point, you have to either remain with the lower class or step up fully to the upper class, and expect nothing less. And what says “you’ve made it” quite like a Rolls-Royce? That upright waterfall grille, the brick-like shape that didn’t give a damn about aerodynamics because you didn’t give a damn about fuel cost, the interior that taught you what “luxury” could and should feel like. Did they get the treatment? A couple did, of course. But search “pro street rolls royce” on Google and you will see one car more than any other…this one. Why? When Speedhunters covered this car back in 2013, Bryn Musselwhite noted:

“I know of at least two other custom Rolls Royce Shadows in the world: one in the States which deviates even further from original than this one and a drag-specific one in the UK. What I don’t think either of those do though  is keep the Crewe (where they were made) spirit so intact. There’s just something about the way the guys can cut out the inner rear arch to expose the Hoosier tyre, yet make it feel natural, that works for me.“

And it’s true. From the 462ci Chevrolet mill to the exquisitely stitched interior (complete with bottle holder and flute glass, because of course), there is just as much an appreciation of what a Rolls is meant to be, that is equal to the parts of heresy that was involved in undertaking such a project in the first place. The big blower and steamrollers take away, but the highly detailed ‘cage adds.

The question is…cruise it or hit the first burnout contest we can find?

Finn.no Link: 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow