1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

The Silver Cloud was the zenith of prestige and luxury, wearing the Rolls-Royce name from 1955 to 1965, and its John P. Blatchley design represented a departure from the pre-war models. Similarly styled to the Bentley S1, and in production for nearly eleven years, a total of 7,372 examples were built. By 1962, it had gone through its third and final iteration, the Silver Cloud III, and 2,809 examples were built through 1965.

As the world approached the 1960s, the venerable Rolls-Royce six-cylinder engine was nearing its end. A new V8 unit was chosen (for the Silver Cloud II) as it was the predominant power unit in the United States, the Crewe firm's most important export market. With styling inspired by America's best designs, principally those of Chrysler and Cadillac, the stately Silver Cloud had a high waistline and long proportions.

Utilizing body-on-frame construction, the Silver Cloud was given a generous 123-inch wheelbase, a length of 212 inches, a width of 74.75 inches, and a height of 64 inches. The steel box section chassis was welded together, offering strength and rigidity. This platform accommodated special-bodied versions from independent coachbuilders, but the majority received the standard Pressed Steel Company manufactured steel body shell. Weight-saving measures included the use of aluminum alloy for the doors, bonnet (hood), and boot (trunk) lid.

The front suspension was independent of coil and wishbones, while the rear relied on a leaf-sprung semi-floating axle with adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers. There was power steering, and the 11-inch brakes were hydraulic and assisted by the Rolls-Royce mechanical servo. By April of 1956, the brakes had been upgraded with twin master cylinders. In that same year, power steering and air conditioning became available as optional equipment.

In September 1957, a long-wheelbase (LWB) version arrived with a 4-inch longer wheelbase, now measuring 127-inches.

A total of 2,238 examples of the Silver Cloud were produced through 1959. Rolls-Royce built 2,417 examples of the Silver Cloud II and 2,044 of the Silver Cloud III.

Rolls-Royce introduced the Silver Cloud in 1959 and it was produced through 1962 with a total of 2,417 examples built. Notably, the Silver Cloud came equipped with a new Rolls-Royce-developed 6.2-liter (380 CID) V8 engine, replacing the prior straight-six. The new wet-linered V8 had hydraulic tappet operation, an 8.0:1 compression ratio, and developed an unpublished (estimated) 185 horsepower at 4,500 RPM. The operation was not as smooth or as quiet as the six, it had very little room in the engine bay, and changing the spark plugs was a complicated process that required the removal of wheel on the car's right side. Early examples of the engine often suffered from breakage of the crankshaft due to insufficient lubrication of the bearings. This issue was soon rectified, along with improvements to the ventilation system.

In 1961, the interior adopted blue instrument lighting, a handbrake warning light, and a combined indicator / headlamp flasher switch.

In May 1962, the Silver Cloud II received a remodeled rear light assembly; in August 1962, the front headlamp was updated with a single sealed-beam assembly.

Unveiled in October of 1962 at the Paris Salon, the Silver Cloud III would be the final iteration of the Silver Cloud, and a total of 2,044 were produced. The standard wheelbase now measured 127 inches, the previous 'LWB' (long wheelbase) platform, and had an overall length of 211.7 inches, a width of 74 inches, and a height of 64 inches.

The engine was given a 2-inch SU carburetor in place of the previous 1.75-inch unit, and the compression ratio increased to 9:1. The higher compression was a result of higher octane levels of premium fuel in many markets, but the lower (8:1) compression ratio was still available for markets where fuels were an issue. Again, output was not disclosed but was estimated at 220 bhp. The engines were mated to a GM HydraMatic transmission which Rolls-Royce used under licence.

The engine's higher horsepower output was complemented by the vehicle's reduction in weight by approximately 220 lbs. (100 kg).

Along with factory-bodied 'standard steel' cars, bespoke creations from James Young and the merged firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd (now Rolls-Royce-owned) continued to be available on the Cloud III chassis. The factory did not offer a convertible or drophead coupe; a coachbuilt car was the only option if one's preference was Rolls-Royce-style fresh-air motoring. The most successful of its type were those of H.J. Mulliner, first arriving in 1958 and continuing through 1963.

A total of 328 examples of the Silver Cloud III received custom coachwork.

The Silver Cloud III had a four-headlamp layout, a lowered (by 1.5 inches) radiator grille height, and a slightly increased slope of the bonnet. The chrome-plated wheels were replaced by stainless steel wheel trims in April 1963, an improved rear window demister was introduced a few months later (in November), and wider front seats were installed in January 1964. By June of that year, the revised headlamp surround housed a small RR monogram.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2025