1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead

The Silver Cloud was introduced in April 1955, was powered by a 160bhp, 6 cylinder in-line engine and over the years, was adorned with coach built bodies by the best in the business. By 1959 however, increased competition put greater demand on Rolls-Royce to stay abreast of the market and the pressure was on to re-invent. The answer was a complete move from the six cylinder powerplant to an all new V8 with a cubic capacity of 6,230cc and a claimed 200bhp; some 25% more than the inline six.

Maintaining the refined performance and achingly beautiful bodies for which they were famed remained paramount for R-R, and despite a trend for modern buyers to look beyond coach built craftsmanship and more closely toward Standard Steel Saloon bodies, thankfully at least some of the core audience understood what it meant to own a coach built Rolls', let alone a Drophead variant...

By rights, the correct term to describe the H.J. Mulliner Cloud II Drophead is as an "Adaptation' and care must be taken not to confuse these hand-crafted period Adaptations with cars that have been converted in later life. From our research we understand that just 32 original H.J. Mulliner Drophead Coupes were built in right hand drive configuration on the Cloud II chassis, but other sources guesstimate this could have been fewer still.

Expertly restored by a dedicated team of skilled craftsman from the Byrnes Motor Trust, and entered to the Concours d'Elegance at Salon Prive 2015, this charming Cloud II Adaptation in glorious Sand paintwork with complementing luxurious Beige interior trim and deep grain burr walnut wood trimmings is magnificent to behold. A column-change automatic gearbox variant, this capable V8 powered gentleman's carriage demands respect and emanates a charm never likely to be matched by manufacturers of today. There is no finer and greater way to make an occasion of any journey than by undertaking that from behind the wheel of a Drophead Rolls-Royce.

The electrically operated hood in matching sand-coloured material fits snugly when in place and stows neatly beneath a fitted tonneau when the weather affords open-top motoring. The engine bay is a masterpiece of shiny chrome, steel, matt paint and purposeful engineering. The detail of this car from the oversized front grille and Spirit of Ecstasy mascot to the instrument panel, occasional tables and even the ashtrays shout 60's opulence and over-engineered craftsmanship. It's impossible not to fall head over heals in admiration for the level of design, expertise and skill that goes into creating a Crewe built Rolls-Royce, and we hope that you'll share our enthusiasm when the car passes under the hammer.

We encourage you in the strongest terms, to please come and see for yourself just how important this car will prove to be over the next forty years.