Photos provided by the vendor

Highlights

A beautiful, coach-built example of the Silver Cloud III Fixed Head Coupe
Featuring a Mulliner Park Ward body style number 2041
Believed to be one of only around 70 of this configuration built in RHD

The Appeal

By the time this Silver Cloud was built, the “new” Silver Shadow was already in the hands of its first owners. Whilst the Shadow was more advanced and modern in many ways, Rolls Royce didn’t want to be too hasty ringing the changes and so overlapped the Silver Shadow production with the Silver Cloud III for around a year. The Silver Cloud sat on a very robust box section chassis which lent itself perfectly to artisan coach builders adding their bespoke designs to a Rolls Royce rolling chassis.

Our example features a fixed head coupe body by Mulliner Park Ward to their design number 2041. A total of 107 of these were believed to have been built with only 70 of those understood to have been right hand drive models. This example looks breath taking in Regal Red and a very presentable interior in black leather. Surely now a very rare car indeed and a “once-in-a-blue-moon” ownership opportunity.

The History and Paperwork

A factory right-hand drive example of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III
Built as a rolling chassis and then coach built
Coach built by specialists Mulliner Park Ward to design 2041
Understood to have been first registered in 1965
The car was understood to be a resident of the USA during its early years
It was later bought by a Middle Eastern collector and enthusiast
Believed to have subsequently undergone a restoration
The car was reimported to the UK in late 2022
It was first registered here in November 2022
Only the current V5 in the name of the owner is on hand by way of paperwork
The Rolls Royce is registered as a Historic Vehicle
As such it is both MOT and VED exempt

The Interior

A capacious and luxurious interior awash with soft leather and walnut veneer
A fine overall condition with a past retrim likely in recent years
A light and airy cabin in the unusual but appealing fixed head coupe configuration

By this time Rolls Royce had started to grudgingly accept that the “modern” Rolls Royce owner may want to take the helm themselves and not just be a perennial passenger. Mulliner Park Ward seemingly grasped this too with their body number 2041 and its fixed head coupe design. This is a car much more likely to be enjoyed by its lucky owner from behind the steering wheel than the more conservative Silver Cloud saloon. Sufficient space was on hand, however, to accommodate rear passengers very comfortably, if and when required.

The separate front seats appear quite compact and almost sporting compared with Rolls Royce saloons of the period. They are well trimmed in black leather and are upholstered into neat, vertical box pleats. The condition appears to be excellent, further suggesting a recent retrim. The column mounted gear selector allows for an open front footwell and for a slim storage cubby to sit between the front seats.

The front seats fold forward to allow access to the rear cabin. The accommodation here consists of a large bench seat, similarly upholstered in black leather and box pleats. A centre, folding armrest is fitted and outer armrests are built into the side panels.

Carpets throughout are deep lambswool items in black. They are edge bound in leather for additional durability and to further enhance the luxury ambiance of the cabin. The suede headlining appears to be original and in decent condition. There is some sagging noted in places, however.

The dashboard is finished in a varnished walnut veneer. This extends around the cabin, through the door cappings and into the side panels of the rear cabin. The instrument cluster is a minimal affair with the familiar twin, white on black gauges facing the driver. A smattering of knobs and buttons take care of the car’s other functions. The veneer is in decent shape but may further benefit from some attention or refinishing. An air conditioning unit, which may have been a period, retrofitted item, sits underneath the dashboard.

The large boot is trimmed in a fitted red carpet and is home to a period, stirrup type air pump. The battery is located under the boot floor.

The Exterior

Our example is finished in Regal Red and features ample chromed accents
The big “Pantheon” grill and horizontally arranged quad headlights are a fine feature
Overall condition is very good with a few areas worthy of further improvement

The ethos of the coach built Rolls Royce gave owners access to the legendary luxury and refinement of the of the marque but with the potential to create something very less common than a “standard” model. Our car’s Mulliner Park Ward body is a perfect case in point and would help the owner avoid the possible “indignity” of seeing an identical model.

It’s a striking design in its fixed head coupe configuration. It doesn’t strike a sporty road presence, exactly, but it is lower, sleeker and more exclusive than the saloons of the period. The Regal Red suits the car very well and the unusual front-end treatment with its upswept quad lights is very distinctive indeed.

Condition is generally very good. There are a couple of small areas of lacquer deterioration noted on the bonnet and boot panels, but these could likely be addressed in isolation by a specialist firm. The chrome of the large bumpers, grill and headlamp surrounds look bright and lustrous.

The 15-inch steel wheels are fitted with the familiar chrome and body-coloured wheel trims. These feature an embossed “double R” logo at there centre. These are fitted with a matching set of 225/75 BF Goodrich Control T/A tyres which appear to be nearly new.

The Mechanics

The Silver Cloud III was fitted with a 6.2L V8 engine
Larger carburettors made for slightly more power than before
Power was transmitted via a four speed GM Hydramatic gearbox

By the time our example hit the roads, the Silver Cloud was already a ten year old model and had already been superseded by the Silver Shadow. Despite this, the mechanical specification was surprisingly generous. Most of this specification was focussed on refinement, of course. Suspension was courtesy of independent coil and wishbone front suspension and a leaf sprung, semi-floating rear axle and shock absorbers were hydraulic. Power steering and hydraulically operated drum brakes were also included.

Whilst not too much is knowns about the mechanical history of our car, the vendor does confirm that it starts, runs, drives an stops very well indeed with no issues reported.

Under the centrally hinged bonnet sits the big 6.2L V8 engine. At this period Rolls Royce were reluctant to reveal the power output of their engines but it was likely to have been around 220bhp. The presentation under here is good with all expected data plates and labelling in place. The underside of the car looks to be very solid and well protected by underseal. A well cared for life in the USA and Middle East has, no doubt, helped to preserve this fine car.

Summary

The Silver Cloud III in “standard” factory form is an increasingly rare and stately example of Rolls Royce saloon. This Mulliner Park Ward dressed example doubles down on that rarity and exclusivity still further. Its fixed head coupe configuration is somewhat reminiscent of, and perhaps the inspiration for, the later Camargue.

This example presents in a great condition overall. Both the interior and exterior are in a very useable, “ready to go” condition. There is the potential to relatively easily further improve the condition of this example, too. That, for some, will make it all the more interesting, allowing a new owner to put their own stamp on it. A rare and beautiful car ready to drive away and enjoy.

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