Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present and absolutely stunning
and exceptionally rare example of this mostly unrestored 1963 Rolls
Royce Silver Cloud III V8 4 door saloon, with only 2,044 of these
completely hand built cars ever built (1962-65) and with very few
fine examples remaining anywhere! This particular example boasts
only two registered owners since new and has rare options of air
conditioning, 'Sundym' reflective tinted glass, White sided
tubeless tires, power brakes and power windows. Finished in an
exceptionally striking color of 'Royal Blue' with 'Red' pin-stripes
matching a virtually flawless 'Dark Red' color Connolly hides
interior with a light gray carpeting and mohair headliner showing
superb maintenance and care from its two long time owners.For those
who are unfamiliar, the Bentley S3 and the Silver Cloud III were
absolutely identical with both vehicles hand built at the Rolls
Royce factory in Crewe, England with the only differences being
their nameplates, radiator and mascots. The Silver Cloud III was
introduced in 1962 and lasted until 1965. Little changed externally
from the Silver Cloud II with the same improved 6.2 L V8 Series II
engine from the original Series I but performance was greatly
improved though in the new upgraded Series III models with the top
speed raised to 183 km/h (114 mph), with the main improvements
being in acceleration and torque and the inclusion of larger SU
carburetors. Separate front seats now replaced the bench seat and
there was more legroom in the rear. Power steering had already
become standard with the Series II but electrically operated
windows and air conditioning were now available as an option.In
autumn 1962 the Series II production cars were given a facelift and
the Silver Cloud III and Bentley S3 were introduced. The most
obvious visual feature was the twin headlamp arrangement in what
was virtually an unchanged body style. Four headlamps provided more
illumination and made it easier for Rolls-Royce to pass the latest
North American lighting regulations. Also this layout had been
chosen for the next generation Silver Shadow and this provided a
convenient way of bridging the visual gap between the old and the
new. The side lamps and flashers were combined and mounted in the
noses of the front mudguards: the earlier cars had separate side
lamps on the top of the mudguards and used the fog lamps also as
flashers. Internally, individual front seats became standard and
there was some reshaping of the rear seats. The heating/
ventilation system was upgraded, there were extra radio controls
and a number of other such details were improved. The engine had a
new compression ratio of 9.0:1; the crankshaft was hardened and
there was extra power assistance for the steering.This particular
original U.S specification example (Left Hand Drive Model) was
imported to the U.S. from England to New York and delivered to the
Rolls Royce dealership of 'J.S. Inskip, Inc' who had ordered the
car for the legendary Jack Paar, the host of the Tonight Show from
1957-62, preceding Johnny Carson. Mr Paar owned the car for
twenty-one years before selling it in 1984 to only it's second ever
owner who lived in southern California and who has owned the car
ever since.This particular original U.S specification example (Left
Hand Drive Model) was imported to the U.S. from England via the
Liverpool docks directly to 'J.S. Inskip, Inc', the Official Rolls
Royce amp; Bentley retailers of New York, NY where it was then sold
to order to its original owner, Mr Jack Paar of Bronxville, NY.The
car boasts a virtually flawless Connolly leather and wood interior
and has many surprisingly still all original components including
its original leather wrapped rear leaf springs. The car has been
maintained in recent years at the renown independent Rolls Royce
amp; Bentley specialists 'Frank McLain amp; Sons' of Encino,
California and this long time southern California family owned and
cherished and always garaged car has had no accidents and is a
completely rust free example - the floor boards, trunk and all the
typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust free - see
below undercarriage photos for some of the finest shots of an all
original Rolls Royce Silver Cloud undercarriage anywhere in
existence!The beautiful and highly striking paint color of 'Royal
Blue' exterior paint with red pin stripes is in exceptional
condition and extraordinarily striking! The car has matching Rolls
Royce hubcaps and as previously stated a virtually flawless full
'Connolly' 'Dark Red' color leather hides with light Gray carpeting
and matching Mohair headliner interior. Connolly leather is
legendary for being exclusively used in Rolls Royce and other high
end British cars and came from unfenced cows which produced
unblemished hides. All the chrome work including the front Rolls
Royce grille and bumpers is absolutely outstanding. The door
panels, carpets, dashboard and the original mohair headliner
remarkably show virtually no signs of any wear. The car has it's
original spare wheel with original jack still located in their
rightful place of storage in the trunk compartment. The car also
boasts its original factory build sheets from Rolls Royce of Crewe
and the original delivery order form and paperwork to Jack
Paar!Obviously always garaged with no accidents or damage history
and owned by only obviously two very careful owner's/custodian's
for over fifty-five years - never abused! The car drives exactly
like a well maintained and serviced Rolls Royce should and must be
driven to be fully appreciated and seen to be believed! This car
drives like no other Cloud - exactly as it is supposed to and as it
would have when new; the engine is extremely strong and purrs like
a sewing machine, the transmission shifts smooth as butter with
Rolls Royce's legendary almost imperceptible shift and the engine
temperature always remains cool. The car drives straight as an
arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles and is a
truly remarkable and responsive daily driver! The air conditioning
blows cold air throughout the car and the power windows work smooth
and fast. A truly remarkable example both mechanically and
cosmetically.This particular model truly must be driven and seen to
be fully appreciated. For those who are unfamiliar, Rolls Royce no
longer exists as it had for over one hundred years - this is one of
the last in the original line of cars handbuilt in the legendary
Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with a quality and
craftsmanship that far surpasses that of today's mass produced
models with many BMW parts - this is a rare opportunity to own a
piece of automobile history, from a time when Rolls Royce was truly
building the world's finest motor cars. This increasingly desirable
and collectible Silver Cloud III, one of the most desired of the
Silver Clouds by enthusiasts with the all aluminum 6.2L V8 engine
and the quad head lights!Along with it's tall grill and tall flying
lady the Silver Cloud III is an absolute moving work of art from a
time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were arguably building the "Best
Cars in the World" at the time of it's production; the
craftsmanship and quality of these cars obviously speak for
themselves and it is becoming increasingly hard to find any
examples at all, let alone any such unabused and rust free examples
- with only some 2,044 Silver Cloud III's built, and very few
remaining or available for sale, you will surely look long and hard
to find another in such fine condition. So bid with confidence,
with fine Silver Cloud drophead coupe convertibles now selling in
excess of $1M, this will no doubt prove a fabulous investment for
the astute investor, Rolls Royce enthusiast or British Classic Car
Collector or simply a great weekend toy for the discerning luxury
classic car owner!