Always
keen to present customers with as bespoke a choice as possible, Rolls-Royce
overlapped production of the Silver Cloud III and its Silver Shadow successor
by more than a year. While the latter model was undeniably more technologically
advanced, it was (a) initially only available as a four-door Standard Steel
Saloon and (b) lacked the sheer road presence/grandeur of its forebear. Based
around a version of the Crewe manufacturer's 'Bentley 9' modular platform
(which underpinned everything from the Cloud/S-series to the Phantom V/VI), the
Cloud III may not have been absolutely 'cutting edge' by 1966 standards but it
was still a wonderfully refined and luxurious motorcar.
Featuring independent coil and wishbone front suspension, a leaf-sprung
semi-floating back axle (complete with hypoid bevel final drive), hydraulic
shock absorbers (adjustable at the rear), power steering and servo-assisted
drum brakes, its enormously strong cruciform-braced box-section chassis
provided the perfect foundation for coachbuilders to practice their art.
Powered by a 6230cc OHV V8 mated to four-speed automatic transmission, it also
had the benefit of near 120mph performance. Last of the line, the Silver Cloud
IIIs bearing CSC1C to CSC83C chassis numbers were destined to carry bespoke
coachwork.
One of the more striking designs available, the H.J. Mulliner Park Ward
Drophead Coupe owed its beautifully sleek profile to Vilhelm Koren, a freelance
stylist from Sweden. The 'straight-through' wing line and 'cut-back'
wheelarches he had pioneered on the Bentley S2 Continental chassis were
successfully carried over to its successors. Visually updated by the diagonal
placement of their quad headlights, the Koren-inspired coachbuilt Cloud IIIs
(available in both Fixed- and Drophead Coupe guises) thus boasted a decidedly
modern yet majestic look.
This beautifully presented right-hand drive MPW Drophead Coupe was first
registered in January 1966 and features Seychelles Blue Metallic coachwork
teamed with a Biscuit coloured hide interior. The first owner was a J.R.C
Townsend Esq. of Maidenhead, Berks (who is rumoured to have been a relation of
rock musician Pete Townsend). However at this stage of its life the Cloud
changed hands fairly rapidly, and had passed to E.N. Villiers Esq. of New
Maldon, Surrey by December 2nd 1967 and London-based Clement Stone Esq. of the
Combined Insurance Co of America by April 28th the following year. Resident in
Hawaii for some of the twenty to twenty-five years it spent with its previous
keeper, the Drophead Coupe returned to the UK during 2000 before entering the
current ownership a decade later.
Once i had re-registered, MOT'd and driven the Cloud III for a while, I decided
to treat it to a painstaking 'nut and bolt' restoration. Every piece of chrome
was removed, stripped, polished and re-plated. The hood frame was removed, sand
blasted and repainted the correct Rolls-Royce factory colour before reassembly
with new triple-layered Dark Blue Everflex material teamed with Beige coloured
West of England cloth headlining. The engine and gearbox were removed, fully
checked, stripped and painted before being replaced. The entire body, chassis
and underside (including the engine bay) were stripped back to bare metal. The
only metalwork that had to be replaced was the inner sills and the lower rear
wheel arches, which had started to deteriorate but only very slightly.
The underside was painted with the correct specification of Rolls-Royce chassis
Black and fully detailed right down to the new Wefco leather gaiters on the
rear leaf springs. The relevant tools were re-nickled and the handle and
bracket for the spare tyre re-chromed. The under-bonnet was repainted the
correct shade of khaki and all of the nickel plating redone. The complete
exhaust system was professionally polished along with the front grille. All of
the car's chrome work was removed, polished and re-plated to perfection. The
indicated 48,000 miles to be commensurate with the evident lack of wear and
tear however is not warranted, there has fitted a correct new Avon 820/15
Turbospeed to the spare wheel - the other four Avon tyres are in very good
shape. The hub caps were not, so four brand-new, old-stock stainless
steel ones were purchased for the princely sum of £2,000! I now regards the
Rolls' shut lines as "perfect" and new rubber seals have been fitted
throughout. The brake system has been fully overhauled and the power roof
apparently works "perfectly and extremely rapidly!"
This sensational-looking motorcar carries the chassis number CSC63C is
understood to be one of only 13 C-Series models created and among the last true
coachbuilt vehicles to emanate for the Crewe factory. Following the most
thorough 'no-expense spared' restoration that took a year to complete at a cost
of just over £121,000 the bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, engine and
gearbox as all being in "concours" condition. On the button and MOT'd
into next January, 'GVR 24D' is ready to be wafted away to a new home. A simply
stunning motor car, it is offered for sale with all Factory Chassis Card
Details, Price £ POA
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