Featured is a beautiful 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. The Silver Cloud series comprised the Silver Cloud I, Silver Cloud II and Silver Cloud III. The Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds were built from Oct 1959 to 1965.
The Silver Cloud model replaced the Silver Dawn which was the car that brought Rolls Royce post war prosperity. The Rolls Silver Dawn was produced from 1949 to 1956 and was the first Rolls Royce model to have factory fitted bodies. The Silver Dawn is also extremely rare with only 760 models built during it’s entire run. The Silver Cloud was a beautiful, stylish and luxurious automobile and it was very popular among luxury car buyers.
Rolls Royce and Bentley
Bentley Motors Limited, started in 1919, was acquired by Rolls Royce in 1931. This acquisition no doubt was a result of the consolidation taking place due to the onset of the worldwide Great Depression. Rolls-Royce, while also feeling the effects of the onset of the Depression, was in a much better position to survive with revenue coming in from their airplane engine production.
Because of this merger many of the vehicles going forward, especially after the end of World War Two, had both Rolls Royce and Bentley characteristics. While Bentley models continued to be produced with the Bentley name, they increasingly used many Rolls-Royce components. When both the Silver Cloud and Bentley S were introduced in 1955, they were really the same design although with different badges. Both the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II and the Bentley S2 were hand built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Crewe, England.
Bentley eventually was acquired by the German Volkswagen Group in 1998, one year prior to Rolls being taken over by BMW.
The Bentley S-series automobiles were produced during the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud production years.
The Silver Cloud II Styling
The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II was little different than the Silver Cloud I with the exception of a new engine. This was an aluminum 380 cubic inch V-8. The new engine was so noteworthy that the engine itself was shown with the new Rolls Silver Cloud II at the London Motor Show.
As an example of the power difference, the 1956 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I engine was a 4.9 Liter Inline Six with 155 HP. The Inline Six can be traced all the way back to the Silver Ghost model decades earlier. The Silver Cloud II V-8 was rated at 185 HP. So significant was this move up from a straight six to a V-8 that The Motor magazine published a road test of the new Silver Cloud II, with the subhead, “Effortless speed and extreme quietness with a new V-8 engine.”
1962 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Specifications
Engine for the Silver Cloud II is a 380 cubic inch V-8 delivering 185 HP.
Transmission is a four speed automatic but a four speed manual was available.
Brakes are four wheel hydraulic drums.
Dimensions include a 123.0 inch wheelbase, 212.0 inch overall outside length, width 75.0 inches, 64.0 inch height. Curb weight 4,670 lbs.
Total Silver Cloud II production during the entire run of the I, II and II models was 7,885 vehicles. This was divided fairly evenly among the three models.
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Reference material for this article includes…The Rolls-Royce-Motor-Car and the Bentleys Built By Rolls-Royce by author Anthony Bird…Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud: The Complete Story by James Taylor…Complete Book of Collectible Cars by the Editors of Consumer Guide.
(Article and photos copyright Auto Museum Online)
The Rolls-Royce Silver Could II Collector Automobile
Many regard the Silver Cloud models as the last of the regal Rolls-Royce saloons. The Silver Cloud goes back to the era of luxurious styling and craftsmanship. Both the Silver Cloud models and the Bentley S2 models are coveted collector automobiles and one’s with generally high price tags.
Typically, the Rolls-Royce models will garner higher auction prices than Bentley’s mostly due to the iconic name recognition. Silver Cloud II’s with their big V-8’s also attain somewhat higher prices than the Silver Cloud I models with their Inline Six engines.
Auction sales results for the 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II varies greatly depending on condition of the vehicle. Perfect restored original examples fall in the $200,000 to $450,000 range. Examples in good condition have crossed the auction block in the $40,000 to $60,000 range. Silver Cloud II’s in fair condition are below that range.