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| LWB Saloon Park Ward Coachwork: Park Ward & Co. Chassis Num: LALC24 |
The Long Wheelbase versions rested on a platform that was four-inches longer than it standard size. Park Ward (soon to become H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward) was Rolls-Royce in-house coachbuilder who was tasked with creating the bodies for the LWB vehicles. Between 1957 and 1959, only 122 customers opted for the LWB sedan.
This example is a Park Ward long-wheelbase sedan with left-hand drive. It was sold new to the US and later acquired by the current owner in 2006. In 2007 it was brought to the Bonhams Auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia, held at the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California. The lot was estimated to sell for $80,000 - $100,000 but failed to find an interested buyer willing to satisfy the cars reserve.
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 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
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
| Photos grouped by event | |
|
Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia |
 2006 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Car Show |
1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud |
|
| Year | 1957 |
| Make | Rolls-Royce |
| Model | Silver Cloud |
| Body Style | Saloon |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Steel body on steel frame |
| Production Years for Series | 1950 - 1965 |
| Coach Work | Park Ward & Co., James Young, Mulliner |
| Weight | 4200 lbs | 1905.1 kg |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | LALC24 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Flat Head | |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Solid valve lifters | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 298.20 CU IN. | 4887.5 cc. | 4.9 L. |
| Horsepower | 180.00 HP (132.5 KW) |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 23.3 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 36.7 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 6.8:1 |
| Main Bearings | 7 |
| Engine Electronics | 12-volt electrical system |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| 2 SU carburetors | |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Head | Aluminum |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Gear Ratios | |
| 1st Gear | 13.06:1 |
| 2nd Gear | 9.00:1 |
| 3rd Gear | 4.96:1 |
| 4th Gear | 3.42:1 |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Similar Automakers |
| Add Review |
| Other models by Rolls-Royce |
| View Specifications |
 |
| Articles and Event Coverage |
| Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia |
| 2006 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Car Show |
| Additional Resources and Links |
| Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Car Show Official Website |
| Bonhams & Butterfields Official Website |
| 1957 Rolls-Royce models |
| Silver Wraith |
| Vehicle Spotlight | ||
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com