1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Saloon

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud isn't a nameplate that one takes lightly. It was one of the early post-war efforts by the British carmaker that brought them great success. Available from 1955 onward for a period of 10 years, the Silver Cloud had three iterations, namely the Silver Cloud I, II, and III, with the corresponding Bentley models called the S1, S2, and S3. Together with the Bentley-badged cars, it's said that the British marque sold about 13,000 examples. Of which, the Silver Cloud II was responsible for more than 2,000 units. A respectable number, no doubt, but it was equipped with quite a lot to easily justify that, including a great naturally aspirated V8 engine.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II shared its appearance (with pretty much everything else) with the Bentley S2, albeit with a different grille and badges. While the company updated some of the underpinnings (like the engine) and standard equipment (power steering for instance), the design of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud remained largely unchanged. This is from the period when Rolls-Royce started offering a standard-steel body from the factory, witnessing demand from their customer base. The bodywork on the 1960 example looks free from damage, the chrome trims look fairly fresh, and the paintwork isn't bad at all. Upon closer examination, you might find tiny damage on one of the door edges and minute scratches, but elsewhere, it looks decent.

Unlike the Silver Dawn which preceded it, the Silver Cloud was made for the domestic market and beyond — and not the other way around. This meant Rolls-Royce left no stone unturned in offering the best luxury and comfort the brand could offer for that price bracket. Apart from the rarer coach-built models, even the standard-from-the-factory Standard Steel bodied cars were built to keep the discerning (and demanding) customer happy. From Connoly leather to the standard wooden/walnut veneer, foldable picnic tables to aircon, the customer (or their manager ordering it for them) would've been spoilt, that's for certain. The 1960 example listed here exhibits a decent interior with visible use-related wear on the seats and not much damage elsewhere — just one of the foldout ashtrays appears to be broken. The boot of this car appears to be okay if not mint. It also has the car's spare wheel.

There were a handful of changes made to the Silver Cloud range in the 10 years of its life, with the Silver Cloud II getting a 6.2-liter V8 engine. It was also equipped with an automatic gearbox, hydraulic brakes, and power steering. The car, while said to be over a ton in weight, wouldn't feel lacking in power. The claimed top speed was 113 mph, a 10 mph improvement over the Silver Cloud. Would that matter now? Probably not but let's not forget that the V8 engine stayed in service for decades to come, meaning part availability isn't likely to be an issue.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was available from 1955 onwards, and it stayed on sale until the arrival of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow in the mid-60s. Through the 10-year-long period, it was updated both aesthetically and mechanically. The Silver Cloud II was the first recipient of the V8 engine, which was one of the most prominent changes during the car's life. What we have here is a 1960 example with a standard 123-inch wheelbase.

This 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II is presented in decent condition both inside and out. It has 80k+ miles on the clock, and as far as the condition goes, it mightn't even need a complete recommission if it had to be made Concours-ready. With the arrival of the V8, the Silver Cloud range became more usable, and with the engine having been in service for decades, one wouldn't find it too difficult to find parts. Whoever asked for a usable classic Rolls-Royce must get in contact soon!