Vehicle Description
This 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II was unquestionably the finest
car in the world when it was built, and today it still puts many
luxury machines to shame. With an unrivaled old world presence,
these are pretty much the last of the coachbuilt cars that were
hand-tailored to their owners' tastes, making it a very special
machine in today's mass-produced world.
When you show up in this car, there's no question what it is, and
even someone who's never seen a Rolls-Royce before will innately
recognize that this is an important car with an important person
inside. The elegant Silver paint on this royal was about as flashy
as Rolls-Royce got in the 1960s, and it highlights the most
interesting aspects of the car quite nicely, particularly that long
hood. The paint job was redone several years ago, and although it
does show some signs of use and age today, it lost none of the
hand-crafted details that make Rolls-Royce motorcars so special.
Over the Silver Cloud II's three-year production run, only 2417
were built, so it's unlikely you'll ever see another one at a red
light, and even at shows, this car will draw a crowd because
everyone recognizes that towering grille and Spirit of Ecstasy hood
ornament. And speaking of the grille, it shines up beautifully and
might be the most recognizable shape in the automotive world, and
there's enough chrome and brightwork on the rest of the car to make
it look very substantial.
The opulent blue leather interior is every bit as magnificent as
you would hope in a car like this, even with a few minor comfort
marks. For some, the blue may seem out of character, but it was
actually a very popular choice, giving these big cars a sporting
feel without compromising luxury. As far as we can tell, most of
the cabin is still original (or at the very least an old
restoration that used OEM materials) The seats and headliner were
re-covered a few years ago, and the door panels are simply too nice
to be original, so they must have been done at the same time.
That's real burled walnut trim on the doors and instrument panel,
and while it shows some lights signs of age, it also has a
wonderful, warm patina that would be a shame to erase.
Centrally-mounted Smiths gauges look the same as they did for
decades, with crisp white numbers on a black background and their
unique upside-down orientation. All the handles and switches are
substantial chrome pieces that feel expensive and when it's closed
up, the interior is as quiet as a tomb. Rear seat passengers are
treated to fold-down tables and there's a well-shaped trunk with a
full-sized spare and plenty of luggage space.
The major difference between the Silver Cloud I and Silver Cloud II
is the engine. The II debuted the 6.2-litre OHV V8 that is still in
use in certain Bentleys today, and even in 1960, it was a fine
performer. It looks a bit complex in the engine bay, but works
superbly and idles almost silently, moving the car with a
sophisticated hum that's perfect for the big sedan. It has been
well-maintained, which is critical in a car like this, and thanks
to a GM-sourced Hydra-Matic automatic transmission (which was fully
rebuilt in the last year; along with the steering box), most
mechanical parts are easy to find and relatively affordable. GM
experts may also find the front suspension familiar, while the rear
axle hangs on leather-wrapped leaf springs. Handsome chrome wheel
covers are fitted inside 235/75/15 Coker wide white-wall radials
that finish the look perfectly.
Nothing in the world can touch this car for upscale image, and it
turns out that these are fine road machines as well. I'm also
confident that they won't remain this affordable forever. Call
today!
