 1957 Silver Cloud | 1959 Silver Cloud I  |
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1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Drophead Coupe Coachwork: Mulliner Chassis Num: LSFE 451 Engine Num: SE 225 |
| Sold for $451,000 at 2011 Gooding & Company. | |||
It is believed that less than twenty-five examples of the drophead coupe were built, of which 11 were originally specified in the left-hand drive configuration.
This example, chassis number LSFE 451, is a left-hand drive example that was delivered to its first owner, Lillie Hall, in November of 1957. It was finished in Black Pearl with scarlet Connolly hides and a black convertible top. It was registered UGU 935 and sent to Ferryfield Airport on June 21st of 1958, fully outfitted with power-assisted steering, door-lock weather shields, Dunlop whitewall tires, a Continental spares kit and a radio, as well as an RAC badge and a 'Made in England' plate.
Upon its arrival in the United States, this Rolls-Royce was delivered to the RKO Building in Rockefeller Center for Chappell & Co. Inc., the famed music publishing company. A short time later it was presented to musical theater composer Frederick Loewe in appreciation of his award-winning work on My Fair Lady.
Ownership later passed to Joseph V. Nash. In 1977, a short time after Mr. Nash purchased the vehicle, it was offered for sale in The Flying Lady where it was described as having 59,000 miles.
Jim Toole of Los Angeles purchased it in 1979. The car was treated to a ground-up restoration that began in 1980. When the work was completed, the vehicle won more than 60 first place awards at various concours and club meets.
In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $400,000 - $550,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $451,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011
 |  | Drophead Coupé Coachwork: Freestone & Webb Chassis Num: SGE270 |
| Sold for $917,253 (€710,000) at 2012 RM Auctions. High bid of €917,253 at 2012 RM Auctions. (did not sell) | ||
The first owner of SGE270 was Arnold Moreton of Manchester, England. Moreton was Supreme Ruler, Intendent Ruler of the Lancashire Province Western Division and later became Deputy Grand Supreme Ruler of the Freemasons.
The Rolls-Royce rolling chassis was delivered to Freestone & Webb in London on March 11th of 1958. Moreton took delivery of the car on June 16th. The Freestone & Webb 'Honeymoon Express' has graceful, gently rounded side panels, with body sides of this car featured concave coves that stretched from stem to stern. There are rear wings that feature aggressive vertical tail fins. The interior is designed for two passengers, and the bucket seats had a pair of fold-down armrests with adjustable seat backs.
The car is finished in two-tone Lugano blue with Silver Chalice coves. Each door features a round pull-out ashtray. Another smoker's tray slides out from under the original radio. A pair of cocktail cabinets flanks the rear storage area and each contains a cocktail shaker and four crystal whiskey tumblers. A tilt-up vanity mirror is fitted to the left-side cubby box door, and a pair of gallery posts front the driver's side open cubby box. There is power-assisted steering and power windows. It has an original Radiomobile medium- and long-wave radio with power antenna. There is a spacious luggage compartment fitted with scarlet wool carpet and leather binding, and an extensive hand tool tray. The car was fitted with a pair of unique gauges, an outside temperature thermometer and an altimeter. A tachometer is paired with the speedometer.
Inside, there is scarlet red Connolly leather interior and matching red carpets are fitted with British Wilton wool broadloom. Burled Circassian walnut veneers define the fascia, trim and window sills. There is a hydraulic top that raises and lowers the navy blue canvas power top. When lowered, it disappears below the belt line, completely hidden under the electrically operated metal cover.
Power is from an F-head six-cylinder engine breathing through two SU carburetors and offering 178 horsepower. There is a four-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission and power-assisted hydraulic front and hydro-mechanical rear drum brakes
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the RM Auction's Monaco sale. Bidding reached €710.000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicle's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2012
The next major model change took place in 1955 wîth the introductions of the Silver Cloud. It was fitted wîth 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 wîth an automatic gearbox although a few were manual.
The rear brakes were combined hydraulic and mechanical wîth the usual Rolls-Royce gearbox-driven servo. Front suspension was by unequal length wishbones and coil springs wîth 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, wîth 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 wîth 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 SÚ 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 wîth the usual Rolls-Royce gearbox-driven servo. Front suspension was by unequal length wishbones and coil springs wîth 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, wîth 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 wîth 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 SÚ 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.By Jessica Donaldson
For more information and related vehicles, click hereWith 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.By Jessica Donaldson
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 1958
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| 1957 Silver Cloud | 1959 Silver Cloud I |
