Highlights
- Superbly presented and well-specified
- Full service history right back to the 1960s
- Comprehensive older restoration with few miles since
- Over £30,000 of investment since 2003
- Tax, MOT and ULEZ exempt
The Appeal
The Silver Cloud maintained Rolls-Royce’s impeccable reputation for building the world’s very best cars. Handsomely styled and hand-crafted throughout, it evolved through three discreet Series. The final version got a 200bhp version of the firm’s recently introduced 6.2litre V8, giving the Silver Cloud the go to complement the show.
Rolls-Royce continuously improved the cars, the ‘D’ Series of May to October 1963 receiving upgrades to the carburettors, door seals and fueling system.
This low owner, early ‘D’ Series car was restored in 2000, when the current owner acquired it, and has been maintained to an exceptional standard since, at a cost exceeding £30,000. All work has been undertaken by the vendor, a well-respected marque specialist.
With full service history stretching back to the 1960s and in virtually concours condition, this is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the very best Silver Clouds on the market.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 27th May 1963
- Current owner since 8th June 2000
- He acquired the car from the vendor and it has been maintained by them since
- Very extensive service history covering the car’s full life back to the 1960s
- One of 2,044 Series 3 Silver Clouds built
- Chassis number corresponds to early May 1963 build, making this a ‘D’ Series car
- MOT expired 2nd November 2022 but has only covered 71 miles since the test
- No advisories on last MOT
- MOT records show the car has been used sparingly, covering 3,000 miles since 2006
- Mileage verified by MOT records and handwritten notes in history file
- During the seller’s tenure the car has always been stored in a dry, underground car park
History file includes:
- Extensive typewritten correspondence with Rolls-Royce regarding service and repair work
- Typewritten invoices from Jack Barclay, Rolls-Royce dealers, from 1960s and 1970s
- Highly detailed handwritten record of work and mileage from 27th May 1963 to 12th September 1997
- Old tax discs
- Invoices from the 1990s including from the vendor, a marque specialist
In excess of £30,000 investment by the current owner, including:
- All work undertaken by the vendor, a marque specialist
- Vehicle restored by vendor and sold to current owner in 2000
- Annually serviced by the vendor since 2000 irrespective of mileage
- £9,200 on servicing, repairs and MOT at 84,750 miles in 2021
- £5,222 on MOT, servicing and electrical repairs in 2018
- £5,165 for MOT, servicing and wheel cylinder repairs in 2012
- £4,370 on MOT, servicing and bodywork repairs covering sills, doors and wings
- £2,556 on MOT and servicing work and three new tyres in 2006
- £2,238 for brake work in 2004
- Other servicing work exceeding £10,000 over this period
The Interior
- Opulent caramel leather interior in superb condition with gentle patina of age
- Leather seats are gently creased, adding pleasant character
- Extensive walnut veneers carefully handcrafted and in superb condition
- Smiths dials with Rolls-Royce decals with clear faces and clean white decals
- Period correct radio
- Factory tool kit
The subtle caramel/tobacco interior of this Silver Cloud exudes a gentle air of age and character that feels entirely in keeping with its relaxed and opulent feel. It transports one back to an optimistic post-war era when hand-crafted skills still held sway in the face of increasing mechanisation.
It is luxuriously appointed with natural materials, from the deep leather seats to the beautiful and intricately crafted walnut veneers.
As you might expect from a car whose previous owners carefully maintained a handwritten record of its servicing work and mileage from its delivery to the late 1990s, it is exquisitely preserved. The seats show some very light creasing, but this feels entirely in keeping with this most stately of cars. Even the ashtray is unused.
We are told that everything works correctly, including the all-round electric windows.
The Exterior
- Revised ‘quad headlamp’ Series III styling
- Smart black paintwork showing no visible marks or flaws
- Factory correct Avon tyres
- Trickle charger provided with car
- Stainless steel wheel trims with body-colour highlights
The Series II Silver Cloud received the ‘quad headlamp’ arrangement that would characterise Rolls-Royces through subsequent decades, alongside a mildly altered bonnet curve and taller grille. Otherwise the handsome styling remained virtually unchanged.
The beautiful black paintwork of this car cleverly underplays just how svelte those lines are, its hue also enabling the chromework to neatly accent the lines.
This car was restored by the vendor for the seller in 2000 at considerable expense. With few miles since it remains in exceptional condition, thanks in part to careful storage in a dry underground car park throughout the seller’s tenure. Continuous investment and annual checks by the vendor have also played a considerable role.
The chromework and lights reflect the paintwork’s condition. The bright stainless steel hub caps are very lightly kerbed in places but otherwise we could find no issues to note around the car. It sits on quality factory-correct Avon tyres and there is a useful battery trickle charger provided with the car.
The Mechanics
- 6,230cc L-Series Rolls Royce V8 engine
- Series III cars got larger in SU carburettors to raise power to 200bhp
- 4spd General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox
- Full service history annotated back to its day of delivery
- Last serviced by the vendor at 84,750 miles, less than 500 miles ago
- Exhaustive maintenance regime undertaken by the seller, all by Hanwells of London
Later Silver Clouds like this one got the firm’s new 6.2litre V8 engine, Series III models benefitting from a healthy power hike to 200bhp.
The history file is amongst the most detailed and extensive we have ever seen. Alongside the pages of typewritten invoices and correspondence from the likes of Jack Barclay and P and A Wood, both Rolls-Royce dealers, there are handwritten notes recording maintenance work and exact mileages from the day of delivery right through to 1997.
Thereafter the story is picked up by the vendor, which restored this car shortly after and supplied it to the seller. It has been fastidiously maintained by the vendor since then with annual servicing and maintenance work irrespective of mileage totalling tens of thousands of pounds. During this period the car was sparingly used, covering just 3,000 miles.
Summary
The Silver Cloud was the last of the Rolls-Royce designed to be chauffeur-driven. As such, to slip into the cabin of one is to be transported into a different era, one marked by hand-crafted opulence.
Thanks to ULEZ exemption and their sheer drivability these distinctive cars are increasingly in demand. This heavily maintained example is one of the very best we have seen and a treat for the lucky buyer.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
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