Lot 340: 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Saloon

Facing increasing competition from faster rivals and with development of its aging six-cylinder engine nearing its end, Rolls-Royce turned to V8 power as the 1960s approached. The V8 was, of course, the predominant power unit in Rolls-Royce’s most important export market - the USA - so it was only natural that the Crewe firm would study the best American designs - principally those of Chrysler and Cadillac - for inspiration. Introduced in the autumn of 1959, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 appeared externally unchanged from their ’Cloud and S-Type predecessors, though the duo’s performance was considerably enhanced by the new 6,230cc aluminum-alloy V8 engine. Although wider and shorter than the ‘six’ it replaced, the new power unit fitted relatively easily within the engine bay, re-location of the steering box from inside to outside of the chassis frame being the most obvious alteration to the previous arrangements. Externally the new models appeared virtually unchanged, while beneath the skin Rolls-Royce’s own four-speed automatic transmission was now the only one on offer and power steering was standardized. Immensely successful both at home and abroad, the Silver Cloud II and Bentley S2 remained in production until the autumn of 1962.

This Silver Cloud II sedan wears the factory’s ‘standard steel’ coachwork and has enjoyed just three owners from new, covering 72,000 miles. Regularly garaged and presented in good condition, it benefits from a recent (last three years) repaint in Sand over Black Pearl, while the dashboard has been re-lacquered. The red leather-upholstered interior boasts individual front seats, power windows, after-market radio, discretely located speakers, rear window de-fogger and Inskip air conditioning. Carpets, woodwork and glass are all in very good condition and the gauges are reported as in full working order. All five tires are new Coker ‘whitewall’ radials. The vehicle comes with tool kit (95 percent complete), circa $32,000 in restoration receipts and original Inskip bill of sale.