“The world’s fastest Rolls-Royce” sounds… oxymoronic. A contradiction in terms. Of course, a Rolls-Royce can have tremendous performance, but it’s somehow poor taste to shout about it. Such things as engine size should be mentioned discreetly.

So, when we were told that Santa Pod’s ‘Flame and Thunder’ event on Saturday 29 October will include Matt Wright’s Crewe-built 1974 Silver Shadow – complete with a 588cu Chevrolet V8 (that’s almost 10 litres, you know) – we raised an eyebrow. Quietly.

And when we learned that this “supercar slayer” claims a 7.94-second quarter-mile sprint, at up to 175mph, we nodded. Gently.

The car, prepared by WG Racing, takes more than two seconds off the time taken by the Bugatti Super Sport to cover the same distance. Apparently, a lightweight chrome-moly twin-tube chassis, suspension and braking system replace the 4775lb of the original components and “make for one hell of a rapid, rockin’ Roller.” Good heavens. Whatever will they think of next?

Should this sort of thing be your cup of tea, you can discover more about Flame and Thunder at www.santapod.co.uk

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Santa Pod