"The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was the core model of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars range from April 1955 until March 1966. It replaced the Silver Dawn and was, in turn, replaced by the Silver Shadow. The J.P. Blatchley design was a major change from the pre-war models and the highly derivative Silver Dawn. As part of a range rationalisation, the Bentley S1 is also very similar apart from, of course, its radiator grille. The chassis was a simple steel box section, welded together and very rigid. Construction retained the traditional split between chassis and body which facilitated the provision of special bodied versions, although in practice the overwhelming majority of cars were delivered with the standard steel body shell, produced by Pressed Steel, and employing lightweight aluminium-based alloy for the doors, bonnet, and boot lid. The engine was a 155hp six-cylinder unit with inlet over exhaust valves; twin SU carburettors were added in September 1957 and standard was a four-speed, automatic transmission.
First registered on 28th March 1956, the handsome Silver Cloud offered here presents beautifully in its silver paintwork and Slate Blue leather interior. The factory specification includes central front and rear armrests, Smiths gauges, a three-spoke Bakelite steering wheel, folding rear tables and manual windows. The extensive burr walnut inlays, rear tables and thick grey sheepskin over mats all present very well. Supplied by Glovers of Ripon to Dr J.F.E. Johnson of Sunderland, it is noted in a letter by the second owner, Harry Cecil Brown of Leeds, his reluctance to part with the Rolls and that the car had featured in TV series Stay Lucky starring Dennis Waterman, as well as the Judith Krantz mini-series Till We Meet Again starring Hugh Grant and Courtney Cox. Reportedly treated to a comprehensive restoration and repaint during the course of 2001, prior to it being dry stored in a Carcoon for 12 years, and then recommissioned in 2013 by Nottingham based mark experts, Riste Motor Company, with work that included the replacement of the distributor cap, rotor arm, points and condensers, drive belts, rocker cover, bushes and the battery. The car has also benefitted from having an electric cooling fan installed to help the car in modern traffic conditions. Forming part of a large private collection for the past two years, the car has always been dry stored and maintained by the vendor’s personal mechanic. The vendor bought the car from a close friend of his who had owned the car from around 2015 and who also has an impressive collection that is always kept dry stored.
Accompanying the car is a history file including the original Kinsman tyre pump instruction leaflet, copies of original factory build sheets, receipts, correspondence confirming the car to be genuine, historic MoT test certificates dating back to 1972 and a toolkit in the boot which includes a jack. Boasting an impressive provenance, having been featured in a couple of A list television programmes, this handsome 50’s luxury saloon is not to be missed and is certainly one of the better Silver Cloud’s we have seen."