Vehicle Description
Words cannot describe this stunning 1962 Silver Cloud II. Finished
in Midnight blue with Champagne (cream) interior combining Connolly
leather with West of England cloth upholstery. The most notable
feature of this car, besides being a superb condition example of a
Silver Cloud II - Long Wheel Base ("LWB") with factory glass
division, is the very unique fitment of a rear seat dash-board
containing full instrumentation; speedometer, tachometer, fuel
gauge, clock, altimeter, compass and clock. Along with other
switches and control functions. The car has a host of special
fitments and these are listed below. Recently acquired from an
estate where the owner was an avid and life-time collector of
Rolls-Royces, this Silver Cloud II is in simply superb condition
and certainly the best of the collection. Its provinance is equally
impressive, adding to its uniqueness. Once owned by well-known
Hollywood actor - Nicholas Cage - its history is as follows: LLCD22
was ordered by Charles F Urschel, a Texas oil tycoon. The car was
sent to Harold Radford Ltd for the various fittings, with the
exception of the rear instrument panel, which was done at Park Ward
Coachwork Ltd in London. Mr Urschel was a prolific motoring
enthusiast and often drove the car himself. He employed an equally
enthusiastic chauffeur for those occasions when he needed to be
driven, hence the rear instrument panel. LLCD22, in addition to
being uniquely bespoke, is an historically important car. Mr
Urschel was kidnapped by "Machine Gun" Kelly in 1933. After Mr
Urschel's death in 1970, LLCD22 was acquired by his old friend,
Nathan "Available" Jones, who kept it until his death, at which
time noted collector Jerry Moore acquired the car. Mr Moore kept
LLCD22 until he passed away, at which time Nicholas Cage bought the
car. Mr Cage kept the car until his tax issues got the best of him.
In 2002, noted Rolls-Royce enthusiast N Craig Bryant bought the
car, which he had known since new, as he was friends with both Mr
Urschel and "Available" Jones. LLCD22 was ordered finished in
Midnight Blue with Brick finelines, which were changed to beige
upon delivery as per Mr Urschel's request. The interior is
upholstered in a combination of special pigskin-grained
Champagne-coloured Connolly hide and Beige Bedford cord cloth.
Purchased by its most recent owner in 2002, she has remained in the
same ownership and been the product of a healthy and loving
stewardship. So original is the car, it still sports the original
black on yellow number plates right down to an original "1962"
license sticker. Body and paint is excellent. She was repainted
some 20 years ago, in the same original colour, at the cost back
then of over $25,000. It is painted in 2 stage clear over base and
looks stunning. She is finished off with beige fine-lines in the
hand-painted tradition to the waist-rail and hubcap beauty rings.
All bright work is in excellent condition with minimal pitting,
dents or marks. The interior is simply stunning with all its
original fitments. The Connolly leather is supple and soft showing
only the very modest of wear. She does show all the lovely signs of
gentle use and the warm "patina" that makes these Rolls-Royce
interiors what they are (The word "patina" is used literally here,
and not as a means to explain old dry and cracked leather!). The
Circassian burl walnut wood-work throughout is to die for and I
highly recommend viewing of all the close-up photos in the link
provided. The Wilton wool carpets are all original, as are the
head-liner and lambswool mouton rugs. Mechanically, the car is
superb. She has been put through Park-Ward's fully appointed
facility and anything needing doing was attended to. This aside,
the car was excellent to begin with. As testimony, we received the
car after more than 3 years of her not being started. - after doing
all the necessary commissioning procedures, she fired up
instantly...... Read more; go to: www.park-ward.c
