1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud LWB Limousine by James Young
1 of 17 bodied to SC12 specification

Registration No: T.B.A
Chassis No: ALC 4
MOT: Exempt

• One of seventeen bodied to James Young's design number SC12
• Supplied new viâ Jack Barclay Ltd. to C. C. Wakefield & Co. Ltd. (makers of Castrol oil)
• Recently rediscovered after almost forty years in dry storage
• Now offered as a running project that would benefit from further recommissioning
• Currently undergoing re-registration with the DVLA to unite it with its original registration number, 'UXU 385'

PLEASE NOTE: The registration number and plates displayed in the photographs are not included in the sale of the vehicle.

Launched in April, 1955, the Silver Cloud was based on a completely new closed box-section frame that was reputedly fifty per cent. stiffer than that of the outgoing Silver Dawn. The newcomer's elegant Standard Steel Saloon body was penned by in-house designer John Polwhele Blatchley, the proportions of which belied its considerable overall length of 17ft. 8in. Though the retention of a separate chassis allowed for the production of bespoke coachwork, all but 157 of the 2,360 Cloud Is produced featured the in-house offering. Powered by an alloy-headed, 4,887cc straight-six engine mated to four-speed automatic transmission, the model utilised servo-assisted drum brakes all-round. The suspension was independent with coil springs at the front and featured a live axle hung on semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. Changes introduced in 1956 included the incorporation of twin brake master cylinders and the options of power steering and air conditioning. A test by The Motor magazine in 1956 recorded a top speed of 102.9mph and a time of 13.5secs. for the 0-60mph dash.

When Rolls-Royce launched the long-wheelbase Silver Cloud at the 1957 Paris Motor Show, it only took a few weeks for James Young to showcase their elegantly proportioned SC12 design that outshone the factory 'Standard Steel' designs by some margin. In effect a "baby Phantom," the SC12 was every bit the touring limousine. Constructed from lightweight alloy, it was designed for the owner-driver or chauffeur and could be had with or without an electric division.

The SC12 body featured attractively modest tail fins that echoed those of the more sporting Continental chassis cars, and slim pillars with wide rear quarterlights to give a light, airy feel to the cabin. James Young built a total of seventeen LWB Silver Clouds to the SC12 design, fourteen of which were RHD and all but one of these had a chauffeur division. Therefore chassis ALC4 is one of only thirteen RHD examples supplied with an electric division.

Ordered in May, 1957, chassis ALC4 was specified with power steering, special-order features such as an aerial on the offside wing (instead of on the roof) and a steering column shortened by 1in. but with the wheel at standard height, and further options including a 200X radio and Dunlop tubeless tyres. Passengers in the rear were well and truly cosseted, having two picnic tables with mirrors, cigarette lighters, two footstools, two reading lights, and a drinks compartment for a bottle and six glasses at their disposal. The chassis retains its original engine, number C4A.

Once James Young had completed the bodywork, ALC4 was registered ‘UXU 385’ and retailed through Jack Barclay Ltd. The first owner was C. C. Wakefield Ltd. of Grosvenor Street, makers of Castrol oil. The second owner, from February 14th, 1959, was the Belco Manufacturing Co. (1939) Ltd. of Ebury Street, but by July 31st it belonged to the Production Tool Alloy Co. of Sharpenhoe, Bedfordshire. Ownership then passed between a string of London-based companies up to 1966. By 1985, the Cloud had been shipped to America, but it was back on British roads by 1989, after which it was placed in storage for almost forty years as part of a large collection of 1940s-1960s Rolls-Royces and Bentleys.

It emerged from its warehouse earlier this year, and minimal work was required to make it driveable, and the engine “runs beautifully,” but further recommissioning will be required, especially to the brakes. The lights, horn, electric fuel cap, electric division and electric aerial are all in working order. The body is in good order with some minor cosmetic flaws, and the original interior is in an exemplary state of preservation. A great opportunity for sympathetic renovation, this Cloud is supplied with a current V5C, two keys and copies of the factory build sheets.