Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

The Rolls -Royce Silver Cloud (German: Silver Cloud ) was the car, the Rolls- Royce produced in series from April 1955 to March 1966. He was the successor of the Silver Dawn and was replaced in 1966 by the Silver Shadow.

The streamlining of the model series at Rolls-Royce/Bentley led to the Bentley S1 can differ only on the grille from the Silver Cloud.

The design differed significantly from the Rolls- Royce of the pre-war years and was essentially an evolution of its predecessor Silver Dawn; it was largely in the hands of JP Blatchley.

Silver Cloud I

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud ( 1959)

The frame consisted of a simple, rectangular tube welded construction and was very stiff. As usual with Rolls- Royce, he was separated from the body, which enabled the construction of special structures. Most cars were but comes with the factory body, which was produced by Pressed Steel and fitted with doors, hood and trunk lid made ​​of lightweight aluminum was (self -supporting constructions held at Rolls -Royce in 1965 with the appearance of the Silver Shadow Tray). The car was 5385 mm long, 1899 mm wide and 1950 kg. The against -controlled ( Inlet over Exhaust ) inline six- cylinder engine had hanging in the cylinder head inlet valves and outlet valves sideways and made at 4.9 liters and with two SU carburetors equal pressure 155 bhp (114 kW) at 4000 min -1. To him a four-speed automatic was connected. The drum brakes were hydraulically on all four wheels and had a brake booster (System Hispano -Suiza ). While the front wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones with coil springs, the driven rigid axle hung on the back of semi-elliptical longitudinal leaf springs. From 1956 there was also a desire to have power steering and air conditioning.

A version with an extended wheelbase by 101 mm there was from September 1957, which saw the car delivered until then confusingly similar, but offered more legroom for rear seat passengers.

The British magazine The Motor tested a 1956 Silver Cloud I with a short wheelbase and body work and registered a top speed of 166 km / h and acceleration from 0-100 km / h in 13.5 s Fuel consumption of the test car was 19.5 l/100 km and its price at £ 5,078 including VAT ..

Silver Cloud II

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud ( USA, 1961 )

The Silver Cloud II was introduced in 1959. There were hardly any differences outside the predecessor, but the car had a 6.2 -liter V8 engine, which caused an increased to 2.1 tonnes unladen weight. The engine power was increased significantly and the car reached a top speed of 183 km / h The most significant improvements but were in better acceleration and higher torque. The steering is now fitted as standard. On request, there were power windows.

The British magazine The Motor tested a 1960 Silver Cloud II and registered a top speed of 169 km / h and acceleration from 0-100 km / h in 10.9 s Fuel consumption of the test car was at 22.0 l/100 km and its price at £ 6,092 including VAT.

Silver Cloud III

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud (built in 1964)

The Silver Cloud III was published in 1963. Outer dimensions were slightly changed, designed the interior and the new weight reduced by almost 100 kg. Improvements to the engine included 2 " SU carburettors in place of old with 1 ¾ " diameter Series II The compression of the engine increased to 9.0: 1, as the höheroktanige gasoline in most markets in the world allowed this. Rolls- Royce refused, as the previous model, specify the exact engine performance, but added that the new model had a " maybe 7% higher performance." This higher engine performance and lower weight made ​​for slightly better performance. At the drum brakes, however, was retained. The Silver Cloud III had double headlights that looked very similar to those of the later Silver Shadow. In Rolls- Royce documents it is mentioned that the four- eyed face was introduced to prepare the clients of the totally new Silver Shadow or not to let the last series of cloud in comparison with the new car look too old.

Despite criticism of the restrained amendments, the Silver Cloud III sold so well that extra shifts had to be driven to process all orders. Production of the Standard Steel Saloon therefore ended though as planned in 1965, the last special versions were not finished until 1966.

A notable variant of the Silver Cloud III is an unofficially as the " Chinese Eye" famous four-seater. Its design is an evolution of the convertibles, the Norwegian Vilhem Koren was originally designed for the Bentley S2 Continental and which had been prepared at the house Karosserier Park Ward. Rolls- Royce acquired 1961 the body corporate HJ Mulliner & Co., and laid it with Park Ward together ( not to Rolls- Royce belonged since 1939). This resulted H. J. Mulliner, Park Ward, Inc. ( MPW ). For revised Koren design now came a Fixed Head Coupe ( Coupe) with clear-cut roofline. To better utilize the MPW plants in Willesden, the first time a Rolls- Royce variant was launched. Unlike the Bentley Continental counterpart with the engine but this was no increase in performance. The staggered dual headlights that gave this variant, their nicknames, also received the corresponding S3 Continental. In particular, the coupe version takes many details of the later Silver Shadow anticipated.

From this model, only 100 pieces were made, including the Cabriolet, which Peter Sellers had for four years, and another that belonged to Lucille Ball, among others. A blue convertible version was also driven by the lead actor in the British film Blow Up of 1966.

Gallery Images

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud III (1964 )

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud III "Chinese Eye" by Mulliner Park Ward Body (1964 )

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud III Mulliner Park Ward bodied by

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud Coupe (USA, 1964)

Rolls- Royce Silver Cloud III (1964 )

Production figures

  • Silver Cloud I: 2238
  • Silver Cloud I with a long wheelbase: 85
  • Silver Cloud I with special bodies: 121
  • Silver Cloud II: 2417
  • Silver Cloud II long wheel base: 258
  • Silver Cloud II with special bodies: 107
  • Sliver Cloud III: 2044
  • Silver Cloud III long wheelbase: 206
  • Silver Cloud III with special bodies: 328
Car classification Luxury vehicle Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Hispano-Suiza Rolls-Royce Phantom (2003) Rolls-Royce 10 hp Rolls-Royce 15 hp Rolls-Royce 20 hp (1905) Rolls-Royce Twenty Rolls-Royce 20/25 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Rolls-Royce 30 hp Rolls-Royce Phantom Rolls-Royce Phantom I Rolls-Royce Phantom II Rolls-Royce Phantom III Rolls-Royce Wraith Rolls-Royce Camargue Rolls-Royce Corniche Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Rolls-Royce Phantom V Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Rolls-Royce 100 EX Rolls-Royce 102EX
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