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1964 ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III

Registration Number: EBY 717B
Chassis Number: SGT 61
Recorded Mileage: c.56,000 miles

- Three private owners from new
- A dry-state resident for much of its life
- Very genuine and straight example

‘Conservative in approach to a degree, which some critics call old-fashioned, it is nevertheless a vehicle, which impresses uniquely by its refinement and quality of construction. Furthermore - and this is what most interested us - it is a machine that responds as much to the sporting driver as to the kid-gloved chauffeur.' - Sporting Motorist, 1964.

With mounting competition from faster rivals and the end in sight for its ageing six-cylinder engine, Rolls-Royce turned to V8 power for its cars of the 1960s. Launched in 1962, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III and its Bentley S3 equivalent employed the 6.2-litre V8 engine introduced with the 'Cloud II/S2, although with larger carburettors, new distributor and raised compression ratio, mated to a four-speed GM-derived automatic transmission. The biggest visual clue was the adoption of four-headlamp lighting, the absence of sidelights from the wing tops, and a slightly lower radiator shell. Inside there was improved accommodation with separate front seats and increased room for rear passengers. Notable as the last mainstream Rolls-Royce to employ a separate chassis, the Silver Cloud III proved immensely successful both at home and abroad, remaining in production until the autumn of 1965. 

Chassis SGT 61 was order new in April 1964 by dealers Macrae and Dick of Inverness on behalf of Mr. Frank Thomson, the then head of Highlands whisky distillery Invergordon. One of the most colourful figures in Scottish business in his day, Thomson had been an outstanding track athlete in his youth, later to be remembered for his campaign to save the Highland railways, which brought him the label of ''Mr. MacPuff.''

First registered to the 17th June of that year, the new Cloud was specified in Burgundy with a Tan leather interior, and a number of Special Features such as full refrigeration, electric windows and aerial, Sundym glass, high frequency horns, additional cabin storage, an auxiliary fuel tank, safety harnesses and child locks to the rear doors. Once completed, the Cloud was then sent to coachbuilders Harold Radford for the fitting of a Webasto sunroof, which it wears to this day.

Frank Thomson later moved to California, taking the Rolls-Royce with him. He kept the car until 1996, whereupon the car joined the private collection of Mr. Danny Howard of nearby Tarzana in California. Mr. Howard kept the Cloud for a further 20 or years before the car traveled back to the United Kingdom and into a new collection. Upon its arrival the Rolls-Royce was inspected by specialist Everything Rolls-Royce in Wales, attending to the brakes and suspension and keeping the vehicle in dry storage.

We understand the Cloud runs and drives extremely well with positive and gear changes. The electrical systems and dials/gauges all appear to be functioning, with the exception of the refrigeration system which appears no longer to be working and could well be removed if required.

The car’s coachwork appears to be damage-free, and we believe most of the paintwork to be original and in good order, with the exception of localised areas of crazing as a result of the hot Californian sun. The chromework presents well, as does the leather seating and wood cappings to the dash and doors.  

The Rolls-Royce is supplied with a copy of its factory History Book, containing copies of order and build cars, instruction book, lubrication chart, previous Californian title and UK V5C document.

For those seeking a genuine and unmolested example to drive and enjoy, this could well be the one.