Description

1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

From a deceased estate; ex-Scottish Motor Show car; three owners from new, the current since 1965; new automatic gearbox; brakes and suspension recently overhauled by Ristes; power steering; stainless steel exhaust; runs beautifully; paintwork needs attention

No other car conjures up the splendour of aristocratic life in post-war Britain quite like a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Little wonder this imperious machine came top of the shopping list for Sixties rock stars like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles who painted theirs in shocking colours to flick two fingers up at the Establishment as their fortunes rose and those of the gentry declined.

Introduced early in 1955, the all-new Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Bentley S-Type were conceived as replacements for the ageing Silver Dawn and the R-Type. The duo sported sleeker bodywork on a new box-section separate chassis incorporating improved brakes and suspension, the latter featuring electrically controlled damping.

The last models powered by the venerable straight-six in its most developed form, they had a larger 4,887cc capacity and a six-port cylinder head which boosted the - traditionally undisclosed - power output of this uncannily smooth engine, while automatic transmission was now standard and power-assisted steering was an option. Fast (100mph+), relatively economical and cheaper to maintain than the succeeding V8 versions, the Silver Cloud is arguably the most user-friendly of all post-war Rolls-Royces. Vastly expensive when new, only 2,360 were sold before it was replaced by the Cloud II in 1959.

As copies of the factory build sheets confirm, this Cloud was built in 1957 and was specially prepared for display at that year’s Scottish Motor Show. Originally finished in Tudor Grey over Black Pearl with a single Gold pinstripe between, it had beige leather seats, fawn carpets, fawn headcloth, a Smiths 200X radio and power steering.

The buff logbook shows that LRS 727 was first registered in June 1958 to Mr Alexander Aitken of Aberdeen who kept it until July 1960 when ownership transferred to Mr WJ Riley of Solihull, Director of Eccles of Birmingham, the famous caravan and horsebox manufacturer. Riley kept the car until December 1965 when it was acquired by a Sutton Coldfield gentleman who was to keep it right up until his death last year.

On offer here from a deceased estate, it has recently been put into the name of another family member but has effectively had just three owners from new. Although there is not a great deal of service history with the car, we are told that the indicated mileage of 102,832 is correct and this is backed up by no fewer than 41 old MOTs back to 1965 when it had covered 34,450 miles. The last MOT expired in June 2017 (with no advisories) since when the car has only covered a handful of miles. There are also 46 old tax discs back to 1965, confirming that the car has always been kept on the road.

Invoices show that in June 2007 the car was fitted with a new exchange gearbox (GM 4-speed automatic) by Graham Whitehouse of Halesowen at a cost of £4,286 since when it has only covered some 600 miles. In September 2009 it was sent to Ristes of Nottingham when the front suspension was fully rebuilt, the braking system was overhauled and the chassis lubrication system was repaired, the bill for this lot coming to £9,564.

We are told that the car has also had new front wings at some point in the not-too-distant past along with a new headliner and a new stainless steel exhaust. The interior woodwork is in lovely condition and must have been refurbished fairly recently, while the leather seats are also in good shape with a nice patina. All that really lets the side down is the paintwork, which is acceptable on the lower half but severely weathered on the bonnet and the roof.

Other documentation includes the original owner's handbook; original radio instruction booklet; original guide to the automatic gearbox; original 'faults and remedies' supplement; a period Silver Cloud sales brochure plus a 5-page guide to the Cloud/Bentley S-Series from Classics Monthly October 2020.

Starting instantly and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site, with good oil pressure, this aristocratic motorcar is being offered here at a modest guide price which should leave ample scope for the cosmetic work now required. Or you could follow the Keith Richards/John Lennon example and flick two fingers up at the Establishment by driving it around just as it is…

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com