From RROCA-info
Car Serial Number System
In October 1965 when the Silver Shadow and Bentley T-Series cars were introduced, a new system of
chassis numbering was adopted using the a prefix of three letters, each of which had a particular meaning,
followed by a four-digit (later five-digit) serial number. For the first time Rolls-Royce and Bentley models
were integrated into a common numbering system rather than each having a separate system as before.
Later derivatives such as the Corniche and Camargue were also incorporated into this system, as was the
Phantom VI. The sample number shown is that of the first Silver Shadow II.
| S | R | H | 30001 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
- body type
S = Saloon
C = Coachbuilt (including Drophead Coupe cars prior to serial number 6646)
D = Drophead Coupe (or Convertible) from serial number 6646)
L = Long wheelbase
J = Camargue
P = Phantom VI - marque
R = Rolls-Royce
B = Bentley - steering position/year*
H = Home (right-hand drive)
X = export (Left-hand drive) - serial number (commenced with 1001 in 1965)
<p>
- From 1972, for North American specification cars, the third digit became a year letter,
commencing A for 1972, in place of the X for left-hand drive. Cars exported to Australia, as well as those for the home market, continued to use the letter H to denote right-hand drive.
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ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW II, CORNICHE, CAMARGUE, PHANTOM VI, BENTLEY T & T2
Original specification: 8 cylinders (V-8), overhead valves, 6230 c.c., 4-speed automatic gearbox, power steering, hydraulic disc brakes and mechanical handbrake, independent suspension front and rear, automatic height control. <p> In 1965 with the introduction of the Silver Shadow/T, a new system of chassis numbering began using three letters and four or five numbers. The letters did not denote small series or batches of cars as earlier chassis letters had. Rather, these three letters were codes following the pattern below. The numbers were just sequence numbers. <p>
SUMMARY HISTORY
| CHANGE/FEATURE introduced at | Sequence No. |
| First Silver Shadow/Bentley T | 1001 |
| 2 door coupe | 1148 |
| 2 door drophead | 1698 |
| U.S. Federal Safety Standards | 6000 |
| lwb saloon | 6599 |
| engine size increased from 6230 to 6750 c.c. | 9200-9350 |
| Corniche two-door saloon | 9770 |
| Corniche convertible | 9919 |
| Camargue | 16648 |
| Silver Shadow II (rack & pinion steering, revised facia, lwb version named Silver Wraith II) | 30001 |
| Corniche/Camargue with mineral-oil hydraulics | 50001 |