ROLLS- ROYCE SILVER CLOUD II

1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Standard steel saloon. Finished in Smoke Green over Pacific green with magnolia upholstery. fawn carpets with polished walnut dashboard. door capings. picnic tables and companions. This car is in superb original condition. retaining its original colour scheme.  
Ordered new from Rolls-Royce agents Glover's of Rippon by Fox's Biscuits of Batley North Yorkshire for use by their CEO Mr F. E. Fox. The car was retained by the company until 1964 when it was sold to Sir John (Jack) Mallabar of St. James London. Sir John was a wealthy business man who sat on government committee's and on the boards of may prestigious companies. He was also the chairman of Harland and Wolf shipyards for a time. He used the car sparingly keeping it in the underground garage at his home near the Ritz hotel in St. James's London. For the last 15 years of his life Sir John suffered with poor health which prevented him using the car. He died in 1989. Lady Mallabar never used the car. it remained in its underground garage until her death in 1999. After her death. Lady Mallabar's trustee's sold the car to a Chesterfield car dealer who extracted it from the garage. It was somewhat hurriedly recommissioned and sold to a lady in Chesterfield for use as a wedding hire vehicle. After a short time the lady sold the car back to the dealer.
 My son and I bought the car in 2001. It was in excellent order cosmetically. mechanically however the car was in a sorry state. Decades of  storage had taken their toll on the engine. Internal corrosion was blocking the coolant passages and the valve gear was worn. The engine and transmission were removed and  completely overhauled. The cylinder liners were removed. the internal detritus removed. All components were meticulously measured and inspected. The engine was rebuilt with new main bearings and big end shells. new piston rings. a reground camshaft. new hydraulic tappets. new rocker assemblies and new valves. The fuel pumps and carburettors were rebuilt. as were the dynamo and starter motor. All the original Rolls-Royce fasteners (nuts. bolts washers etc) were meticulously restored and re-cadmium plated (at considerable expense) and re-used. The original finishes for all components were researched and replicated.
The Hydramatic automatic transmission was dismantled and checked over. A new 3rd gear planet gear bearing pin was installed and the shift control springs were replaced. The unit was then sent to be rig tested and evaluated by an expert tester before being installed in the car. The braking system was also fully overhauled with all wheel cylinders receiving stainless steel liners. Numerous other components were overhauled at the same time in an effort to ensure the car drives as a Silver Cloud should.
With the car back in splendid mechanical order attention was turned to the interior. A new West of England Cloth headlining was installed and a set of new hide bound Wilton carpets replaced the worn originals. Finally the suite of book matched burr walnut woodwork was meticulously restored to its original mirror polished brilliance. The interior leather work is original to the car. it was re-conollised to improve its colour but some cracking of the leather commensurate with its age and use is present . The car retains its original "His Master's Voice" valve radio which is in perfect working order.
The boot area received a new black union cloth lining to the boot lid. and a set of new hair-cord carpets. The original fitted tools were re-cadmium plated and reinstated. Regrettably the tray of small tools beneath the boot floor is not complete. the set of  ring spanners is missing.  the screwdriver. plug spanner. and adjustable spanner. are present along with the spare bulbs etc. The larger tools are clipped to the boot floor. these include the tyre pump (complete with instruction sheet). wheel brace and tommy bar. the lifting jack. and  lead light. The car also retains its original Johnson & Johnson first aid kit in its original tin with a protective canvas pouch.
Since restoration the car has been sparingly used during the summer months and only in dry fine weather. It is currently in climate controlled storage ensuring its continued preservation. It was last serviced in April 2013.
The car will be sold with a large file of history including many invoices. Rolls-Royce warranty sheet. and copies of the factory build sheets etc.
This car is not the run of the mill Silver Cloud. it really is one of the best examples in the UK. having had thousands of hours of careful restoration and conservation work carried out over the last 12 years. It is being sold because my son is now disabled and no-longer able to use it.
If you have any questions. or would like to view the car. please call 0121 706 3989

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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