1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud series was produced between 1955 and 1966 with a production run of 7,372 units.

The first generation of Silver Cloud was constructed as a body-on-frame arrangement, which still allowed for custom-bodied versions. The majority of examples were produced using a steel body shell with lightweight aluminum alloy used for the doors, bonnet, and boot. The chassis was an extremely rigid, steel box section frame. The motor was a 4.9-liter, 6-cylinder pushing 155 hp through a General Motors Hydromatic automatic trasnmission. The-11 inch drum brakes were hydraulic with assistance from a Rolls-Royce mechanical servo. Front suspension was independent coils while the rear utilized semi-elliptical springs. Power steering and air-conditioning were available options as early as 1956.

The Silver Cloud III was shown to the public for the first time at the Paris Salon in 1963, but was displayed on a custom coachbuilder’s stand. Weight had been reduced by close to 220 lbs., from earlier editions, while Rolls-Royce moved move away from the earlier 6-cylinder motor in favor of a 6.2-liter V8 as their important market the U.S. had a love for the larger motors. This new V8 also featured twin 2-inch SU carburetors to replace the 1 3/4 inch unit from the Series II, and compression was increased to 9:11. Rolls-Royce in standard form did not promote the now 6.2-liter V8’s overall horsepower, but instead stated that perhaps there was an increase of 8% over the Series II.  Other small changes to the Series III Included twin headlights, a slight increase to the slope of the bonnet and the reduction of the radiator grill by 1 1/2 inches.

As with previous Silver Clouds, the Series III chassis was made available to outside coachbuilders such as James Young, Mulliner Park Ward, and H.J. Mulliner & Co. to ply their trade.

After WWII, Mulliner was one of the few coachbuilders to resume building bespoke coachwork focusing primarily on Rolls-Royce and Bentley.

The stately open top vessel seen here is bodied by H.J. Mulliner & Co.

The standard Cloud III came as a 4-door saloon, but in the hands of H.J. Mulliner & Co., the example seen here is 1 of just 27, 2-door, left-hand drive drop tops created.

The Silver Cloud III is as stately, elegant and large as another British creation, The Queen Mary. Likewise, you almost need a fleet of tenders to bring this land yacht into port. But does one ever parallel park one’s Rolls? I think not. It is docked by a harbor pilot or other minion.

This is a car that the word “cosseted” was created for. You are overindulged by leather, burled wood, and fancy carpets while occupying the interior of a Silver Cloud III. And, should you decide to drive your example, as opposed to being driven in it, one has a large very period steering wheel to grasp. The highly polished wood dash holds the Smiths gauges with the speedometer directly in front of you. The Rolls isn’t so gauche as to have a tachometer as the Cloud takes care of its shifting on its own, thank you very much, but the other multi-gauge handles amps, water temp, fuel, and oil pressure. There is also a timepiece so one stays punctual.

As befitting a machine of this magnitude, everything you do is done in a calm and leisurely manner. You settle behind the wheel, turn the key and take it on faith the super quiet motor is running. You place it in gear and sedately drift away from stillness. The Cloud inspires you to drive in a smooth and gentle manner, you are in no rush and all is right with the world. Whether you are out for an afternoon of shooting clays or a challenging time at your club drinking single malt and talking world affairs, you are in a regal state of mind as you are transported along, “dare I say it”, on a cloud.

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