West Coast Classics are proud to present a very rare example of this mostly unrestored 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III V8 4 door saloon, with only 2,044 of these completely hand built cars ever built (1962-65) and with very few fine examples remaining anywhere! This particular example boasts only two known registered owners since new with reportedly original ownership to have been in the service of the British Royal Family with original 'ER' (Elizabeth Reigns) painted initials still visible on the body. The car was then sold by 'Laurence Kayne & Company Ltd', renown Rolls Royce & Bentley dealers and purveyors of Queensgate, London where is was sold to its most recent long time San Diego, California owner on 10/13/1976. Finished in an exceptionally striking color of 'Silver' with 'Red' pin-stripes matching the 'Dark Red' color Connolly hides interior with matching carpeting and its original mohair headliner.
For those who are unfamiliar, the Bentley S3 and the Silver Cloud III were absolutely identical with both vehicles hand built at the Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with the only differences being their nameplates, radiator and mascots. The Silver Cloud III was introduced in 1962 and lasted until 1965. Little changed externally from the Silver Cloud II with the same improved 6.2 L V8 Series II engine from the original Series I but performance was greatly improved though in the new upgraded Series III models with the top speed raised to 183 km/h (114 mph), with the main improvements being in acceleration and torque and the inclusion of larger SU carburetors. Separate front seats now replaced the bench seat and there was more legroom in the rear. Power steering had already become standard with the Series II but electrically operated windows and air conditioning were now available as an option.
In autumn 1962 the Series II production cars were given a facelift and the Silver Cloud III and Bentley S3 were introduced. The most obvious visual feature was the twin headlamp arrangement in what was virtually an unchanged body style. Four headlamps provided more illumination and made it easier for Rolls-Royce to pass the latest North American lighting regulations. Also this layout had been chosen for the next generation Silver Shadow and this provided a convenient way of bridging the visual gap between the old and the new. The side lamps and flashers were combined and mounted in the noses of the front mudguards: the earlier cars had separate side lamps on the top of the mudguards and used the fog lamps also as flashers. Internally, individual front seats became standard and there was some reshaping of the rear seats. The heating/ ventilation system was upgraded, there were extra radio controls and a number of other such details were improved. The engine had a new compression ratio of 9.0:1; the crankshaft was hardened and there was extra power assistance for the steering.
This particular original RHD (Right Hand Drive) model was imported to the U.S. from England in 1976 to only it's second owner who lived in southern California and who has owned the car ever since. The car shows an odometer reading of 36,970 miles which is believed and reported to be original and boasts a virtually all original Connolly leather and wood interior and has many surprisingly still all original components including its original leather wrapped rear leaf springs. The car is rust free with the floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are completely solid and rust free!
The beautiful and highly striking paint color of 'Silver' exterior paint with red pin stripes and original 'ER' insignias is in very good condition with only very minor imperfections. The car has matching Rolls Royce hubcaps and as previously stated a mostly all original full 'Connolly' 'Dark Red' color leather hides interior showing obvious patina for its over 55 years of service but still as comfortable as your favorite leather sofa. Connolly leather is legendary for being exclusively used in Rolls Royce and other high end British cars and came from unfenced cows which produced unblemished hides. All the chrome work including the front Rolls Royce grille and bumpers is in very good shape and the door panels, carpets, dashboard and the original mohair headliner remarkably show very little signs of any wear. The car has it's original spare wheel with original jack and both small and heavy tools still located in their rightful place of storage in the trunk compartment.
Obviously always garaged with no signs of any accidents or damage history and owned by only obviously two very careful owner's/custodian's for over fifty-five years! The car drives exactly like a well maintained and serviced Rolls Royce should with the engine being extremely strong, the transmission shifts smooth as butter with Rolls Royce's legendary almost imperceptible shift and the engine temperature always remains cool.
For those who are unfamiliar, Rolls Royce no longer exists as it had for over one hundred years - this is one of the last in the original line of cars handbuilt in the legendary Rolls Royce factory in Crewe, England with a quality and craftsmanship that far surpasses that of today's mass produced models with many BMW parts - this is a rare opportunity to own a piece of automobile history, from a time when Rolls Royce was truly building the world's finest motor cars. This increasingly desirable and collectible Silver Cloud III, one of the most desired of the Silver Clouds by enthusiasts with the all aluminum 6.2L V8 engine and the quad head lights!
Along with it's tall grill and tall flying lady the Silver Cloud III is an absolute moving work of art from a time when Rolls-Royce and Bentley were arguably building the "Best Cars in the World" at the time of it's production; the craftsmanship and quality of these cars obviously speak for themselves and it is becoming increasingly hard to find any examples at all, let alone any such unabused and rust free examples - with only some 2,044 Silver Cloud III's built, and very few remaining or available for sale, you will surely look long and hard to find another in such fine condition. So bid with confidence, with fine Silver Cloud drophead coupe convertibles now selling in excess of $1M, this will no doubt prove a fabulous investment for the astute investor, Rolls Royce enthusiast or British Classic Car Collector or simply a great weekend toy for the discerning luxury classic car owner!
