Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé - 1966
Chassis n° L.CSC.33C
Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner - Park Ward
Bonhams
Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris
The Grand Palais Éphémère
Place Joffre
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2023
Estimated : € 150.000 - 250.000
Sold for € 184.000
"The size and grandeur of the car... deceive one about the performance which would do justice to many a car of more sporting pretensions. The finish, both in detail and the broader sense of equipment and trim, is superb." - Motor magazine on the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III.
Launched in 1962, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III and its Bentley S3 equivalent employed the 6.2-litre V8 engine introduced on the 'Cloud II/S2 - though with larger carburettors, new distributor and raised compression ratio - and came with a four-speed GM-derived automatic transmission as standard equipment. Most obvious among many changes from the preceding models was the adoption of four-headlamp lighting, the absence of sidelights from the wing tops, and a slightly lower radiator shell. Inside there was improved accommodation with separate front seats and increased room for rear passengers. Notable as the last mainstream Rolls-Royce to employ a separate chassis, the Silver Cloud III proved immensely successful both at home and abroad, remaining in production until the autumn of 1965.
As well as the factory-bodied cars, bespoke creations from James Young and the recently merged firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd (by this time Rolls-Royce-owned) continued to be available on the 'Cloud III chassis for those discerning enthusiasts wealthy enough to afford them. Indeed, as the factory did not offer a convertible or drophead coupé, a coachbuilt car was the only option if one's preference was Rolls-Royce-style fresh air motoring. First introduced in 1958, H J Mulliner's drophead was the most successful of its type, lasting into 1965.
Dating from the final year of production, 'L.CSC.33C' is one of the very last 42 coachbuilt cars on the Silver Cloud III chassis; indeed, by the time the guarantee was issued on 21st February 1966, the successor Silver Shadow model had already been shown to the public (at Earls Court in 1965).
Intended for use in the USA, this original left-hand drive car was ordered with numerous special features including Jetstar air conditioning, windtone horns, electric aerial, driver's outside mirror, additional loudspeaker, additional (driver's) headrest, Sundym glass throughout, electric windows, and the heavy gauge frame. The original colour scheme was Shell Grey with scarlet leather interior and black hood. The Silver Cloud was shipped to Rolls-Royce Inc in New York and retailed by Peter Zage & Co Ltd to their customer Dr W C Casey, MD, at that time living on Wiltshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, nothing else is known of its history in the USA.
Around 2002 the Rolls-Royce belonged to a Mr Reid Davis, who kept the car at Lake Oswego in Oregon. McDonald Vintage Restorations in Canby, Oregon restored the car in 2002-2003 (restoration invoices available). A replacement engine ('S1608') was installed by Tony Handler Inc at the same time.
In 2004 the Silver Cloud was offered for sale at an auction in France from where it was sold to Ukraine. Residing in Ukraine ever since, the car has scarcely been used since its acquisition in 2004, covering only some 500 kilometres in the course of nearly 20 years. Sold because of the ongoing war in Ukraine - and extremely lucky to be a survivor after the battle for Kyiv - this end-of-an-era coachbuilt Rolls-Royce is offered with copies of the factory build sheets and Ukrainian registration documents.
Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé - 1966
Chassis n° L.CSC.33C
Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner - Park Ward
Bonhams
Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris
The Grand Palais Éphémère
Place Joffre
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2023
Estimated : € 150.000 - 250.000
Sold for € 184.000
"The size and grandeur of the car... deceive one about the performance which would do justice to many a car of more sporting pretensions. The finish, both in detail and the broader sense of equipment and trim, is superb." - Motor magazine on the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III.
Launched in 1962, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III and its Bentley S3 equivalent employed the 6.2-litre V8 engine introduced on the 'Cloud II/S2 - though with larger carburettors, new distributor and raised compression ratio - and came with a four-speed GM-derived automatic transmission as standard equipment. Most obvious among many changes from the preceding models was the adoption of four-headlamp lighting, the absence of sidelights from the wing tops, and a slightly lower radiator shell. Inside there was improved accommodation with separate front seats and increased room for rear passengers. Notable as the last mainstream Rolls-Royce to employ a separate chassis, the Silver Cloud III proved immensely successful both at home and abroad, remaining in production until the autumn of 1965.
As well as the factory-bodied cars, bespoke creations from James Young and the recently merged firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd (by this time Rolls-Royce-owned) continued to be available on the 'Cloud III chassis for those discerning enthusiasts wealthy enough to afford them. Indeed, as the factory did not offer a convertible or drophead coupé, a coachbuilt car was the only option if one's preference was Rolls-Royce-style fresh air motoring. First introduced in 1958, H J Mulliner's drophead was the most successful of its type, lasting into 1965.
Dating from the final year of production, 'L.CSC.33C' is one of the very last 42 coachbuilt cars on the Silver Cloud III chassis; indeed, by the time the guarantee was issued on 21st February 1966, the successor Silver Shadow model had already been shown to the public (at Earls Court in 1965).
Intended for use in the USA, this original left-hand drive car was ordered with numerous special features including Jetstar air conditioning, windtone horns, electric aerial, driver's outside mirror, additional loudspeaker, additional (driver's) headrest, Sundym glass throughout, electric windows, and the heavy gauge frame. The original colour scheme was Shell Grey with scarlet leather interior and black hood. The Silver Cloud was shipped to Rolls-Royce Inc in New York and retailed by Peter Zage & Co Ltd to their customer Dr W C Casey, MD, at that time living on Wiltshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, nothing else is known of its history in the USA.
Around 2002 the Rolls-Royce belonged to a Mr Reid Davis, who kept the car at Lake Oswego in Oregon. McDonald Vintage Restorations in Canby, Oregon restored the car in 2002-2003 (restoration invoices available). A replacement engine ('S1608') was installed by Tony Handler Inc at the same time.
In 2004 the Silver Cloud was offered for sale at an auction in France from where it was sold to Ukraine. Residing in Ukraine ever since, the car has scarcely been used since its acquisition in 2004, covering only some 500 kilometres in the course of nearly 20 years. Sold because of the ongoing war in Ukraine - and extremely lucky to be a survivor after the battle for Kyiv - this end-of-an-era coachbuilt Rolls-Royce is offered with copies of the factory build sheets and Ukrainian registration documents.