1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo pictures and wallpaper 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo pictures and wallpaper 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo pictures and wallpaper 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo pictures and wallpaper

View more photos
Chassis Num: LCAL 1
Engine Num: CL1A
 
This James Young Touring Limousine is the first Silver Cloud III long wheelbase made. It was taken straight from the factory to the Paris Salon, where it was displayed by the French importer Franco Britannic Autos. It was delivered in September 1962 to its first owner a Mrs. H. Worms of Paris, France. The car came to the USA in 1977 when Mr. William Whitehouse of New Jersey purchased it. Some of the wonderful features on this car are: rear division window, electric aerial and windows, rear reading lamps, Speedo in KPH, lambs-wool rugs, and vanity accessories.
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.

Elizabeth Johnson

1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo

Year1963
MakeRolls-Royce
ModelSilver Cloud III SCT 100 James Young Touring Limo
Engine LocationFront
Drive TypeRear Wheel
Body / ChassisSteel body on steel frame
Production Years for Series1950 - 1965
Coach WorkJames Young
Combined MPG0.00

Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown
Chassis NumberLCAL 1
Engine NumberCL1A

Engine  
Engine ConfigurationV
90-degree
Cylinders8
Aspiration/InductionNormal
Displacement380.00 CU IN. | 6228.2 cc. | 6.2 L.
Valves16 valves.
2 valves per cylinder.
ValvetrainOHV
Horsepower200.00 BHP (147.2 KW)
HP / Liter32.3 BHP / Liter
Compression Ratio9.0:1
Main Bearings5
Engine Electronics12-volt
Fuel TypeGasoline - Petrol
Fuel FeedCarburetor
2 SU Diaphragm-type carburetors
BlockAluminum
HeadAluminum

Standard Transmission
Gears4
TransmissionAutomatic


 
Similar Automakers
Add Review
Other models by Rolls-Royce
View Specifications
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Articles and Event Coverage
2006 Blackhawk Collection

Additional Resources and Links
Blackhawk Collection at Pebble Beach Official Website

1963 Rolls-Royce models
Silver Cloud III

Vehicle Spotlight
Mazda Kiyora Concept2009 Hyundai i201912 Mercedes Race Car
2009 Kia Borrego Images and Info2009 Chevrolet CorvetteMazda Kazamai Concept
Fiat Fiorino Portofino ConceptJetstream SC250Mitsubishi Racing Lancer Debut
Trident IceniChevrolet Cruze2009 Lexus SC 430 Pebble Beach Edition
2009 Lexus LS 600h L Pebble Beach Edition2009 Infiniti G37 ConvertibleIFR Automotive Aspid
Lotus EvoraRolls-Royce Pininfarina Hyperion2008 Lamborghini Reventon