1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB

Our regal looking Silver Cloud III left Crewe in the Spring of 1963 and was first registered on the 25th April of that year. Records suggest that the car left the factory in “grey” paintwork with its change to white being recorded in 1980. We also know that the car was a home market right hand drive car from new and that it is one of just 206 long wheelbase Silver Cloud III’s produced compared to over 2,000 of the standard wheelbase cars built.

Between 1963 and 2006 the Silver Cloud III fell under the stewardship of just two registered keepers, the first of which kept the car until 1980. The current owner acquired the car in 2006 to become the third with the Silver Cloud having covered around 55,500 miles at that stage. Ownership periods of 17, 26 and 18 years respectively can only bode well in terms of the quality and reliability of this Silver Cloud III.

In its current ownership our car has been used as wedding transport which should be considered as a definite positive. It means the mileages travelled tend to be modest, with less than a further 2,000 miles a year added in current ownership, and maintenance routines diligent. No one, after all, wants to be responsible for starting someone’s marriage with a ride on the back of a recovery truck! 

Blatchley’s hastily sketched design may have played to the board’s more traditional bent, but few can argue it is not a sophisticated and stately looking car. Old fashioned, maybe, but that’s a key facet of its charm. Drink in that elegant side profile and you see an almost unfeasibly long bonnet and a tapering roofline resulting in surprisingly short rear doors (if less obviously so in this rare long wheelbase version). 

Our example looks splendid in its Antique White colourway. The DVLA note a colour change to white in 1980 so we believe this hue to date from then. The paintwork seems to have been evenly and appropriately deeply applied and exudes a lustrous shine. A fine, painted double navy blue coachline runs along the bonnet sides, across both doors before parting to encompass the rear door handles. It is all very classy and Cloud-appropriate. There are a few minor chips and scrapes in evidence and photographed for your review but certainly nothing of significance.

The bodywork looks equally well presented with no note-worth dents, dings or deformations noted. The panel gaps still look Rolls-Royce tight and symmetrical for a 61-year-old car. The front of the car is a particular highlight of Blatchley’s design. Despite the iconic Pantheon grill losing 1.5 inches in height in the III it still dominates and looks enormous by today’s standards.

Swinging open a rear door of this Silver Cloud III immediately confirms why it is a perfect wedding car, especially in this long wheelbase guise. Those extra inches aid ingress and egress for those in voluminous garb and allows for the fitment of a glass dividing partition to keep any pre-wedding day confessions from the ears of the driver.

The interior of our car appears to be in its original condition and, as such, exhibits a charming level of patina and character. The rear seats consist of full width bench, whilst the fronts are two separate entities that meet in the middle. These are upholstered into vertical box pleats in a grey hue, and both are served by fold-down central armrests. 

The rear cabin offers seeming acres of leg room with rear outer footwells extending under the walnut veneer clad partition base. This also conceals a pair of fold out picnic tables and a smattering of controls and buttons, including a switch to electrically lower the partition. The inlaid walnut veneer extends around into the door caps, complimenting the quality, chromed door furniture. A fitted lambswool rug is present in the rear with the grey, edge bound carpets beneath looking a little stained in places.

In the front the seats appear a little more worn and the carpets are split in places. Door cards and headlining are all in decent shape and seemingly highly original. There is some fading to the grey leather evident, but it all adds to the period character of the car. The dashboard is scattered with a plethora of white on black Smiths gauges and chromed switches and buttons. The original, large but slender Bakelite steering wheel is present.

The large boot is trimmed with a fitted and hard-wearing black vinyl mat. The spare wheel is housed under the boot floor and a tool roll is in evidence. Additionally, a cased, compete tool kit is present together with a number of included spare parts. 

With the upgraded 6.2L engine and the significant weight saving over its predecessors, the Silver Cloud III was the best performing of the lot. The power output was still just quoted as “adequate” but thought to be roughly 220bhp in reality.

This adequate power is relayed via the smooth four-speed General Motors Hydramatic automatic gearbox to the rear wheels. The suspension is configured for cosseting comfort and consists of a live axle on leaf springs at the back and a very good independent coil system at the front. The shocks are lever-arm, adjustable at the back between a smoother ride or sharper handling. 

Thanks to the highly diligent, and carefully recorded, maintenance regime in the current ownership the Rolls-Royce is known to run and drive very well. No known mechanical faults have been reported. As part of the rolling (no pun intended!) maintenance program any issues be they mechanical or body related were noted and rectified in turn.

The under-bonnet presentation is very original looking, clean and tidy. There is some scope for further tidying and fettling, however, if required. The underside looks to be in very good shape for the car’s age and mileage. Plenty of preserving underseal still seems to be present and it is known that some underside repairs have been made in the current ownership.

The V5 registration document is present classifying the car as an Historic Vehicle and, as such, MoT exempt and VED zero rated in the UK. The Silver Cloud was last MoT tested in 2017 and plenty of earlier, hard copy MoTs are present.

When we alluded to the benefits of wedding car use, this car’s handwritten service record booklet is what we were talking about. Here, every bit of maintenance, repair work and new parts fitted have been documented and recorded. It’s not as fancy as an original stamped service book but it is many, many times more instructive.

The Silver Cloud, especially in this ultimate SIII V8 guise, is becoming increasingly coveted by those in the know. The Silver Cloud remains the ultimate expression of automotive luxury with a regal nature that’s, quite literally, fit for a king, queen or blushing bride.

Our example has a lot going for it. It appears to be in a fine overall condition and very much looks the part in gleaming white. The documented and rigorous rolling maintenance record is a real boon and should prove highly reassuring for the next owner. For those that like their Rolls-Royces to be “proper” body on chassis models this car will represent an exciting and enticing ownership opportunity, most especially in this much rarer and more practical long wheelbase form.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.