1963Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB

Final evolution of the Rolls-Royce Cloud Series, the Cloud III was launched in late 1962. Sporting the same imposing silhouette as its predecessors, the newcomer was distinguished by quad headlamps, a lower bonnet line and correspondingly sleeker front wings, complete with indicator units frenched into their leading edges. In keeping with its sharpened appearance, the imposing front and rear chrome bumpers wore more modest over-riders. To the interior, the driver and front seat passenger gained separate chairs, while those in the rear benefited from a more upright back to their bench seat and narrower side bolsters. Mechanically, the model's massive cruciform-braced box-section chassis featured independent coil and wishbone front suspension, a hypoid bevel rear axle, all-round drum brakes, power-assisted steering and four-speed automatic transmission. To capitalise on the smaller frontal area, its 6230cc V8 engine gained more power via a carburettor modification and higher compression ratio. Thus, the Cloud III had both a higher top speed and better acceleration than its predecessors at 116mph and 0-60mph in 10.8 seconds respectively. Only 254 Cloud IIIs were ordered as long-wheelbase variants like this car and of these just 47 were entrusted to outside coachbuilders, the rest being despatched to Park Ward's West London works where their Standard Steel saloon bodies were modified to incorporate elongated rear doors and enlarged rear three-quarter windows. This car was acquired for a private Lake District collection on November 7th 2002, and its last MOT expired only in February this year, so it has likely been in regular use though is still sold strictly as seen. As well as the V5C and Buff Logbook, it comes with copy build sheets, Handbook and Supplement to Handbook.