Lot details
Registration No: ABH 71C
Chassis No: CSC29B
Mot Expiry: Nov 2003

The Silver Dawn's successor was the Silver Cloud, once again with Pressed Steel made body designed by Rolls-Royce themselves, with more flowing lines than its predecessor model and with auto-shift as standard and optional power-assisted steering from 1957. In fact, radiator surround treatment apart, badging and £130 price increase, the Cloud I was identical to the Bentley S Type saloon. It was also supplied in rolling chassis form to coachbuilders such as Freestone & Webb, Hooper and H J Mulliner.
In 1959, the first big spec-change came with the employment of the all new 6230cc V8 underbonnet. Larger than the 4887cc engine it replaced, but, thanks to many alloy components, actually 10lbs lighter. The resultant Silver Cloud II was therefore potentially 15mph faster than the otherwise bodily and mechanically identical Cloud I.
In 1963, an extra pair of headlights were added to what was then the Cloud III, which, like the Cloud I from 1957 and II, could be purchased in longer wheelbase limo form for the diplomat market as well as in drophead coupe form. 2238 Cloud Is were made, 121 of them being lwb cars, 2417 Cloud IIs including 299 lwb and 2044 Cloud IIIs with 253 being lwb, making total Cloud production 7365 cars before the replacement Silver Shadow came out at the end of 1965. Being the first Rolls-Royce to be of unitary construction, the Silver Cloud III is therefore the last to employ the separate chassis.
We understand from the entrant of the very late Silver Cloud III being auctioned that it is a beautiful example of the H J Mulliner Park Ward coachbuilt convertible with the 123,000 miles indicated reckoned to be the correct total mileage driven from new in 1965. The Chinese Eye body and paintwork in Silver Chalice are said to be good and the blue hood and leather interior trimmed in Parchment with blue piping excellent following a carefully executed restoration in 1997/8, a full pictorial record of which is included within the history file. The entrant, who is acting on behalf of the lady owner, tells us that the original build specification, together with the former green logbook, which shows that Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees was one of the previous owners, will be made available by her in due course.
This is a real Rolls, a coachbuilt open car too, with separate chassis remember, and with some nice showbiz provenance. Such quality, style, elegance. What more could you possibly want?