1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II news, pictures, and information

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Chassis Num: LSXC271

Rolls-Royce: A Background

Charles Steward Rolls, the aristocrat, and Frederick Henry Royce, the engineer, had this in common: they both believed that they could build a far superior automobile to the ones on the market in 1903 and proceeded to do so in the following year. They not only achieved their goals, they set a standard of elegance and refinement that has lasted for over a century - thereby making Rolls-Royce Motor Cars the paradigm of comparison for all who strive for excellence in the automotive world.

This Car
The differences between the Silver Cloud I and the Silver Cloud II are not immediately evident, even when the two stand side by side. The air intake grills under the headlamps were no black; the steering wheel was slightly smaller in diameter and positioned nearer to the dashboard, and behind the wheel arch in the right-hand fender, the factory air conditioning unit was mounted. Visually the two were identical, but it was the mechanics that enjoyed the major changes, the first and foremost being the all-aluminum 6.23-liter V-8 that replaced the straight six of the Silver Cloud I.

It is important to remember that it was this model that was tremendously successful in the United States; sales were spurred on by David Ogilvy's now classic slogan: 'At 60 mph the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.'

Of all the Silver Cloud IIs originally produced by Rolls Royce (nearly 3,000), this car offers the best of the best and the rarest of the rare. With left-hand drive designated for export and air conditioning installed by the factory, this car has become one of the most desirable of Silver Clouds to grace the roads.

Source - Gooding & Company

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Chassis Num: LSVB451
Engine Num: 475 BS

This car is built to USA specifications and delivered through J.S. Inskip to a Mr. H. Reedman of Trenton, New Jersey i 1960. it has many unique features like, white wall tires, electric windows and aerial, an altimeter, lambs wool rugs, fitted suitcases and an extra rear speaker with volume control in the rear.

Chassis Num: SZD415
Engine Num: P4529

The Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce and the Bentley S-Type, both introduced in early 1955, were built with unitary construction. They had improved brakes and suspension. The engine was enlarged to 4887cc and modified with a six-port cylinder head which gave an increase in power. An automatic gearbox was now offered as standard equipment and power-assisted steering was optional. As the 1960s came into sight, Rolls-Royce employed V8 power in place of the six. This series of the Silver Cloud and S2 Bentley was introduced in the autumn of 1959. The external appearance was unchanged from their predecessors, but under-hood lurked a much more potent powerplant. The aluminum-alloy unit displaced 6230cc and offered a considerable improvement in performance. It was wider and shorter than its six-cylinder predecessor, but was relatively easy to fit in the engine bay. The steering box was relocated from inside to outside of the chassis frame. The Rolls-Royce four-speed automatic was the only transmission used; power steering was now standard.

Rolls-Royce offered factory bodies, along with custom-creations by James Young, H.J. Mulliner, and Park Ward Ltd. The factory bodies did not include drophead coupes or convertibles. These body-styles were only available through coachbuilders.

This example was originally a right-hand drive Silver Cloud II Convertible. It is painted in silver over black with dark red upholstery and black hood. There is a spare wheel, jack and pump. In 2007 it was brought to Carmel, California where it was offered for sale at Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia, and estimated to sell for $275,000 - 325,000. The lot failed to find an interested buyer willing to satisfy the car's reserve. It left the auction unsold.

The next major model change took place in 1955 with the introductions of the Silver Cloud. It was fitted with the current 4,887cc engine, but a totally new pressed-steel body was designed and the streamlined, elegant and perfectly balanced look of this car made it an instant success. Most cars were fitted with an automatic gearbox although a few were manual.

The rear brakes were combined hydraulic and mechanical with the usual Rolls-Royce gearbox-driven servo. Front suspension was by unequal length wishbones and coil springs with rear semi-elliptic electrically controlled dampers. A top speed of 106 mph was possible.

The press called the new Silver Cloud the 'finest car in the world' and said, 'There is little doubt that these find new cars will carry on the maker's tradition and reputation.' They were right: orders came from all around the world, with an unprecedented number from America, where it proved to be extremely popular in Hollywood.

The Silver Cloud II, launched in 1959, retained the same body as the Silver Cloud I, but was powered by a completely new V8 engine of 6,230cc. Coupled with automatic transmission as standard, the Silver Cloud II set new standards of refinement and performance. The 'Autocar' wrote: 'Only by adopting advanced production methods and thereby increasing yearly output can a superlative machine like this be made today at a price its clientele can afford. The Rolls-Royce is one of very few surviving top quality cars; the maintained standard of overall excellence is rewarded by full order books, and a world reputation which has never stood higher.'

In 1962, a lower bonnet line and twin headlamps were introduced and the Cloud III was born. Engine power was upped by 15% and the top speed rose to 117 mph. The compression ratio was increased and the 1-inch SU carburetors replaced by 2-inch units.

A 1963 road test stated: 'It is a pity that a connoisseur's car like the Rolls-Royce remains far beyond the dreams of the vast majority of the World's motorists, but good to know that cars of this quality can be built still and that there is a healthy market for them. They set a standard that is really appreciated best when one returns to driving lesser cars.'

The Silver Cloud range prompted the immortal line used in its advertising, 'At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.'

Source - Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The last of the Rolls-Royce separate-chassis cars from Crewe, the Silver Cloud was the main vehicle manufactured by Rolls-Royce from April 1955 until March 1966. The Silver Cloud replaced the Silver Dawn and was eventually replaced by the Silver Shadow. A major update from the pre-war models, the main design work was accomplished by J.P. Blatchley.

With a simple steel box section, the chassis was welded together and was very rigid while construction was still split into chassis and pressed steel and aluminum coachwork. It wasn't until the Silver Shadow that the uni-body construction arrived.

Weighing a total of 1.95 ton's, the Silver Cloud measured 5.38 m long and 1.90 m wide. Transmission was a four-speed automatic with an engine that was a 4.9 L six-cylinder unit. Suspension was independent coils at the front and semi-elliptic springs at the rear while the brakes were servo-assisted hydraulic drums.

In 1959 the Silver Cloud II was introduced with minor changes externally, but with the addition of a 6.2 L V8 engine with now pushed the vehicles weight to 2.11 tons. The top speed jumped to 183 km/h while the biggest improvements were showcased in acceleration and torque. Essentially the Silver Cloud with a different engine, the Rolls-Royce new 6.2-liter light-alloy V8 has been said to have been inspired by Cadillac's 1949 OHV unit.

Identical in everything but the nameplate, and of course, the Rolls-Royce radiator and mascot, the Silver Cloud II favored the companion Bentley S-Type Series II. 229 units of this model were long-wheelbase limo's with division window and handcrafted coachwork, though most of these vehicles had the ‘standard steel' sedan body. Though falling behind the rising standard of chassis refinement, the 1959-1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II was still the ‘Best Car in the World'.

In 1963 the Silver Cloud III was unveiled with slightly updated external tweaks and a remodeled interior. The weight of this newest model was reduced by almost 100 kg which resulted in boosted engine speed and slight performance. Very similar to the later Silver Shadow, the headlights were updated to a four-headlamp layout.

A total of 2,238 units of the Silver Cloud were produced during its production time.

Jessica Donaldson

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