• Year of manufacture 
    1962
  • Mileage 
    66 025 mi / 106 257 km
  • Car type 
    Other
  • Lot number 
    71
  • Reference number 
    322
  • Drive 
    LHD
  • Condition 
    Used
  • Exterior brand colour 
    other
  • Location
    United States
  • Exterior colour 
    Other

Description

Chassis No. SAE79

In 1955, the long-awaited new Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I was launched and enthusiastically accepted by eager buyers. A vast departure from the former inline-six series arrived in 1959 with the Silver Cloud II, which received the exciting new 6,230 cc, OHV V8 engine with rated top speed of 112.3 mph. This new powerplant provided sufficient power to compete with sporting cars of the era. The venerable, silky four-speed GM Hydramatic transmission was married to a servo-assist system to effortlessly enhance braking.

The accepted term for this H. J. Mulliner Design 7504, is "Adaptation". The standard steel saloon was adapted into a convertible by removing the steel top, then fitting two doors in place of four. Rolls-Royce specialists agree that this was the most popular body H. J. Mulliner ever created. As described in the definitive work on these cars, Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining, SAE79 was one of only 33 examples built, described as having, "...gorgeous lines, perfect proportions."

Rolls-Royce chassis cards validate this was a special-order example, fitted from new with power-assisted steering, brakes, windows, antenna, and convertible top. Air-conditioning was a more recent and sensible addition. The car's first owner, John Halperin, a highly respected mortgage banker in New York, accepted delivery on 8 April 1962, through J. S. Inskip, shortly after this special-ordered Rolls-Royce was flown from England via Silver City Aircraft to New York. The Rolls-Royce had made its way to California by the late 1990s while it was owned by a resident of Rancho Santa Fe, California, before being acquired by the Fleischman Collection in 2005.

Beautifully presented in shimmering "Sand" paintwork, the interior cabinetry, picnic and map trays and instrument panel are exquisitely finished like fine furniture using the finest burled walnut veneers. Buttery-soft "Beige" Connolly hides, fitted Wilton wool carpets in "Cumberland Stone" with "Fawn" West of England wool head-cloth, a fresh mohair top and correct white wall tires result in an authentic and complete example.

A comprehensive digital file of service documentation dates back to 1998, and details the considerable efforts to maintain the Rolls-Royce during its tenure in the Fleischman Collection, with most work entrusted to marque specialists Scott Motors in Los Angeles, California. Notably, in 2016 the transmission was overhauled. More recently, in 2019 Chales Agapiou, Ltd. performed a service and the alternator was replaced. Today, it presents as an attractive, drivable example of an open special coachwork Rolls-Royce, proudly wearing an older restoration that still shows extremely well.

The rare Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud coach built cars, like SAE79, whether in motion, or displayed on the concours field, offer the best of all car worlds: timeless design, superior quality, and enduring value.