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 very similar, apart from its radiator grille. Production Rolls Royce Silver Cloud: 2,238 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Long Wheelbase: 85 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud special coachbuilder styles (convertibles, limousines, etc.): 121 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II: 2,417 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Long Wheelbase: 258 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II coachbuilder styles (convertibles, limousines, etc.): 107 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III: 2,044 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III Long Wheelbase: 206 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III coachbuilder styles (convertibles, limousines, etc.): 328 In their 1971 song "Up To Me," the British rock band Jethro Tull refers to this car with the lyric "I'll buy a Silver Cloud to ride." The Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III arrived in 1963. External dimensions were slightly tweaked, the interior remodelled, the weight reduced by a little over 100 kg (220 lb) and improvements made to the engine which included fitting 2-inch (51 mm) SU carburettors in place of the 1¾ inch units used on the Series II Silver Cloud.[3] The compression ratio was increased to 9:1, reflecting the higher octane levels of premium fuel in major markets,[3] although the option of a lower 8:1 compression ratio was still offered in markets where non-availability of higher octane fuels might be an issue.[4] Rolls-Royce, as before, refused to disclose overall engine power output, but indicated that there had been an improvement of "perhaps 7%".[3] Increased power and weight reduction boosted speed and performance slightly. The engine now included a nitride hardened crankshaft to reflect the extra power being generated and in response to reports of broken crankshafts in the earlier V8 Silver Clouds.[4] The transmission was a GM Hydramatic which Rolls-Royce used under licence.[6] The headlights were grouped in a four-headlamp layout subsequently continued in the later Silver Shadow. Other external changes included a slightly increased slope of the hood / bonnet to correspond with a 11⁄2 inches (3.8 cm) reduction in the height of the radiator grille.[4] Between 1963 and 1966 there were no major changes. Stainless steel wheel trims replaced chrome-plated ones in April 1963, and an improved rear window demister was introduced in November of the same year.[4] Wider front seats were fitted in January 1964, and five months later a revised headlamp surround now incorporated a very small RR monogram.[4] A chrome badge reading "Silver Cloud III" in an italic font can be seen on the right bottom side of the boot of most UK and European delivered examples, whilst US versions were delivered without this badge. As with earlier models, Rolls-Royce continued to make the Silver Cloud chassis available to traditional coachbuilders. A notable version is the so-called "Chinese Eye" design, offered in Fixed Head and Drop Head Coupe style by Mulliner Park Ward. It was derived from the earlier H. J. Mulliner & Co. design for the Bentley S1 and S2 Continentals.[7] To widen production in a diminishing market, this adaptation was made available for the Bentley S3 Continental as well as for the Silver Cloud III so, of the 328 coach-built Silver Cloud III, about 100 were of this style. The British Motor magazine tested a standard-wheelbase factory-bodied Series I in 1956 recording a top speed of 102.9 mph (165.6 km/h) and acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.5 seconds and a fuel consumption of 14.5 miles per imperial gallon (19.5 L/100 km; 12.1 mpg-US). The test car Rolls Royce Silver Cloud cost £5078 including taxes. The Motor magazine tested a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Series II in 1960. They recorded a top speed of 104.7 mph (168.5 km/h), acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.9 seconds and a fuel consumption of 13 miles per imperial gallon (22 L/100 km; 11 mpg-US). The Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Series II test car cost £6092 including taxes.

• published: 08 Mar 2016
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