Lot 030: Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB

The Silver Cloud III is a car which sets out to do a job, and does it to near perfection. Conservative in approach to a degree which some critics call old-fashioned, it is nevertheless a vehicle which impresses uniquely by its refinement and quality of construction. Furthermore - and this is what most interested us - it is a machine that responds as much to the sporting driver as to the kid-gloved chauffeur. Sporting Motorist, 1964.Launched in 1962, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III employed the same 6.2-litre V8 engine as its Cloud II predecessor but had even better performance thanks to larger carburettors, new distributor, raised compression ratio and a smaller frontal area. Top speed went up to 116mph with the 0-60 dash coming up in a very respectable 10.8 seconds. Apart from its lower radiator grille, other obvious styling changes included the adoption of quad headlamps and the deletion of sidelights from the wing tops. Interior accommodation was improved and a four-speed automatic transmission became standard. The last mainstream Rolls-Royce to employ a separate chassis, the Cloud III was replaced by the Silver Shadow in 1965 after a total of 2,044 cars had been built.This particular car is one of just 253 long wheelbase models produced, the Park Ward coachwork being stretched by four inches to give extra room in the rear passenger compartment. As copies of the original factory build sheets in the history file show, it was built to order for Viscount Astor of Cliveden House, Bucks, and delivered to HA Fox Ltd on 29th November 1963. Features ordered by Astor included special front and rear seating by WM Parke Ltd; electric glass partition and windows; air conditioning; pencil beam reading lamps to each rear quarter; Rotoflare foglamps; green perspex sunvisors and a speedo in both kmh and mph. In addition, "Lord Astor complains of sharp edges on the division pillars encountered when entering the rear compartment and asks for these to be rounded and padded as on his previous car."After four years Astor sold the car to FJ Kirkland of Crowborough and it was subsequently exported to America from whence it returned to these shores in 1998 and was reunited with its original 462 GYL registration number. In the current ownership ever since, the car was treated to a full brake and suspension overhaul by marque specialists RR&B less than 3,000 miles ago and further benefits from a full stainless steel exhaust system, nearly new radial tyres and Harvey-Bailey anti-roll bars. Said to be in very good condition throughout and to drive beautifully, the car also took part in the Queen's Golden Jubilee Parade at Windsor Castle in 2002. Still accompanied by its original buff log book and Rolls-Royce toolkit, this well maintained car has an MOT until May 2008, a fascinating history and many bespoke features. What more could you ask for?