Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II 1962 left hand drive, chassis number LSAE-87; odometer reading: 16,208 [116,208] With the introduction of the "Silver Cloud" model series in 1955, Rolls-Royce created a motor car that is now recognized as archetypal for this marque. The new model turned out to be exceptionally appealing by incorporating all the best features of the dignified, perpendicular styling of motor cars. Initially, a six-cylinder engine with 4,887 cubic centimeters displacement was fitted, but this engine could not be improved on any further as it found its origin in a design dating back to 1922. In the 1950's, Rolls-Royce engineers were looking to leading American prestige car construction methods for innovations that they could incorporate into their cars. Eventually they decided to follow GM engineering practice fairly closely and developed a brand-new V-8 engine displacing 6,230 cc based on a Cadillac design. This was the first V-8 engine for Rolls-Royce since the abortive "Legalimit" design of 1905/6. Although not highly stressed, the new V-8 engine had a power output that was about 50% higher than that of its straight-six precursor. For the first time, this gave the standard Rolls-Royce car performance capabilities that could easily match those of the fastest production sports cars of the day, with a top speed of about 120 mph. Some ten years later, in 1970, the displacement of the engine was enlarged to 6,750 cc, and was finally phased out of production in 2002. The car offered in this auction is the Standard Saloon (sedan) of the "Silver Cloud II" series painted in Shell Grey over Tudor Grey, fitted with creamy gray leather interior and air conditioning. The Cloud II series was built from 1959 to 1962 and had no external coachwork changes compared to the series I. The most significant design change was the all-new V-8 mated to a Rolls-Royce version of a GM 4-speed automatic gearbox. During the three years the Standard Saloon was manufactured, 2,417 examples were built, to which a further 299 long wheelbase versions have to be added. In 1959, series "A" production began with chassis number SPA-2 and eventually ended with the "E" series commencing with chassis number SAE-685 in 1961/62. (It is perhaps interesting to note that Rolls-Royce never used the number "13" for any chassis.) With the new engine and gearbox configuration, the Silver Cloud II also received a modified version of a GM independent front suspension design, which improved cornering and road-holding capabilities considerably. Rolls-Royce had finally succeeded in making a large car "feel" like a small car in terms of manuverability. The quietly opulent interior was fitted with a walnut dashboard and door cappings, and the unblemished leather used for the interior appointments was of the very highest quality, coming from cattle that were specially kept in a barbed wire and insect-free environment. This is the Rolls-Royce of legendary quietness, as one can really hear the (already rather quiet) clock gently ticking at a road speed of around 50 to 60 mph.