1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drop Head Coupe

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and its sibling, the Bentley S model, were introduced in 1955 and replaced the Silver Dawn and the R-Type. The Silver Cloud I was the last series to be fitted with the inline six-cylinder F-head engine. Early examples had a 6.6:1 compression ratio, but later Silver Cloud I models, and all those built for the North American market, were given an 8:1 ratio. The General Motors Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, now standard with the Silver Cloud, was mated to a servo-boost system to enhance braking.

This Rolls-Royce wears coachwork by H.J. Mulliner and design number 7504. Mulliner fitted several convertible designs onto the Silver Cloud chassis, but this was their most popular. The design was introduced in April of 1959 at the New York Auto Show and most of the models were built with left-hand drive for export to the United States. Only 13 examples were created, of which 10 were in left-hand drive configuration, and this is the 4th completed.

The car has air conditioning, an automatic transmission, a Spirit of Ecstasy hood mascot, and rides on a set of Firestone gum-dipped wide whitewall tires. The AC unit is an after-market unit, albeit correct R12 Chrysler, boot-mounted, AirTemp air-conditioning system. It has a rare Yale master key, master key blank, and two Yale valet key blanks. Additionally, there is a 'Continental Touring Kit.'

It was delivered new through dealer J.S. Inskip of Manhattan, New York, to business heir George Baekeland of Southport, Connecticut, and later becoming part of the Ted Mintz Rolls-Royce Collection. P

This car has won several awards including a first place at the RROC National Meet in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1980. It won a 2nd in Class at the 976 National Meet in Toronto, Ontario and a 2nd at the 1984 RROC National Meet in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

It was given a cosmetic restoration and has just over 48,000 miles on its odometer. The interior was re-trimmed in its original beige Connolly hides. The original paint color 'Morris Beige,' a delightful butterscotch color, was repainted around 2015. At that time, all major chrome was re-plated. Other work included new leather spring gaiters and exhaust system, an auxiliary electric radiator fan, electronic ignition, and new Firestone Deluxe Champion whitewall tires

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2019