1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupé

This Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, with its extravagant body, is one of three similar cars built by London coachbuilder Freestone & Webb. The car is also the last car built by Freestone & Webb. With rakish styling and rear fins, two seats, luxurious accouterments, and cavernous trunk space, the design was dubbed the 'Honeymoon Express.' Alas, only three were built, two Rolls-Royce motor cars and one Bentley. The twin to this Rolls-Royce was showcased at 1957 British International Motor Show at Earls Court, where it was the star of the show.

This car was delivered June 1958 to Arnold Morton who passed away in 1982 after selling the car to Charles Atman of New York in 1975. It was on display and cared for by Michael Schudroff for many years before passing to its third owner. Since 2017, the two sisters have been reunited in the Lee Automobile Collection.

One of only one percent of all Silver Clouds were truly given bespoke coachwork. This drophead coupe wears coachwork by Freestone & Webb and is one of just three with this body style, two produced for the Cloud I and a third on a Bentley S1 chassis.

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