1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

“ The Cloud arguably remains the most recognisable Rolls-Royce of all time. There was nothing on the road like them, before or since. ”
Being offered as part of our curated auction in conjunction with the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club Annual Rally at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire on the 26th – 28th June’26.

Background
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud first broke cover in April 1955 as the much-awaited replacement for the Silver Dawn.

The design, by J.P. Blatchley (gentlemen weren’t given first names back then, just initials), was much more modern than the pre-war designs customers had become familiar with and for which the firm had become known.

Featuring a pressed steel body (from the somewhat prosaically named Pressed Steel Company) sitting atop a straightforward box-section chassis, the doors, bonnet and boot lid were all formed of aluminium rather than steel to save weight.

Thus, the Silver Cloud was a transitional combination of the old and the new: an automotive metaphor for Britain’s painful but necessary journey towards a brave new post-war world where technology and efficiency would light the path to success.

Or something like that.

The 155bhp straight-six engine might not have been the last word in power but it was exceptionally smooth and capable of propelling the vehicle along at impressive speeds for such a large unit.

That said, with drum brakes all-round and semi-elliptic springs at the rear, it’s clear that the Silver Cloud’s forte was the straight road rather than the sort of twisty country lanes favoured by more sporting types in their Jaguars and Austin-Healeys.

The Silver Cloud II arrived in 1959. Now boasting the soon-to-be-venerable Rolls-Royce V8 engine under the bonnet, its extra power made its presence felt with a new top speed of 114mph and a 0-60mph time of just under 11 seconds.

Now weighing well over two tonnes, the Rolls-Royce was available as both a coupé and a convertible as well as a standard and a long wheelbase.

The Silver Cloud III arrived in October 1962. Just 2,376 were built between then and 1965.

More than 100kgs lighter than the car it replaced, it featured some subtle stylistic tweaks - the most obvious being the introduction of twin headlights.

However, its improved aesthetics were somewhat overshadowed by the fact that the V8 engine now produced even more power (thought to have been around 7% more, but by then Rolls-Royce had started its rather self-conscious coyness about exact performance figures).

The Silver Cloud’s chassis was made available to individual coachbuilders throughout its life and, while some were more successful than others, those from Mulliner Park Ward, with their distinctive twin headlights, were stunning.

In all, just 328 coachbuilt Silver Clouds were made, against 6,699 standard wheelbase models, and 549 LWB.

The Silver Cloud was succeeded by the Silver Shadow in March 1966.

Overview
We know this magnificent car because it’s passed through our portals before.

Back then it was an excellent example of a very well cared-for and maintained Silver Cloud III; one that that had been expertly steered safety away from the usual perils to which these cars succumb – rust, rot and structural grottiness being the worst and most terminal of them.

Thanks to the fastidious attention to detail, knowledge and technical know-how of the vendor, it is even better now than it was then.

The car’s long term owner must be loudly applauded for his diligent curation of the car over his 48 years of ownership. The vendor has continued this work.

Mr. Joe Peters owned a repair and restoration garage in Osmondthorpe near Leeds. His business had a very good reputation in the area for its workmanship, so it’s no surprise that the Silver Cloud was Mr. Peters’ pride and joy and a vehicle he serviced and maintained himself throughout its near half-century with him.

This work included having four new original equipment wings fitted in the 90’s, along with new inner and outer sills.

However, like all wise experts, he wasn’t afraid to call in people who were more expert than him when necessary, and it’s our understanding that the gearbox was professionally rebuilt by specialists at this time.

The next owner bought the car from the deceased estate of Mr. Peters and promptly set about having the car’s interior and upholstery retrimmed and carpets and headlining replaced.The wood was refurbished as appropriate.

Again, the work was done to an exceptionally high standard, as even the briefest glance at the photographs of the interior will confirm.

We have driven the car and can report that it is as impressive dynamically and mechanically as it is aesthetically.

It starts without coercion, purrs along regally on waves of quiet power, handles better than a car of this age, size and weight has any right to, stops promptly when invited, and generally performs and behaves like the pedigree luxury automobile it undoubtedly is.

Estimate: £22,000 - £27,000

View the current bid price here: https://www.themarket.co.uk/listings/rolls-royce/silver-cloud-iii/93d60a54-89e9-4d7d-8958-7a5db1465670