In the early 1960s, a brand new Rolls-Royce cost about $8,000. Five decades later, when fully restored to its original grandeur, this 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II - opens in new window or tab. is listed on eBay for a cool half-mil. Why is it fetching such a price?
The first reason: historical legacy. The model, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, was introduced in April 1955. At the hand of designer John Blatchley, it would become the signature model for Rolls-Royce in the decade that followed. The Silver Cloud’s coach is built by hand, as was standard in the time. In this case, it was H. J. Mulliner & Co. a well-known British coachbuilder established in 1897. Mulliner was one of the last remaining coachbuilder companies when it was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1959, the same year that the Silver Cloud II was introduced.
On top of legacy, now add power to the equation. The Cloud II version was the first to utilize Rolls-Royce’s aluminum 6.2-liter, 230-horsepower V8 engine. The more powerful engine, which had been in the works since 1947, pushed the top speed beyond 110 miles per hour (although some critics complained that the V8 was louder). The same 6.2-liter V8 continued to be used in Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles for a half-century.
The V8 boosted horsepower by about 30 percent, although at the cost of dropping fuel efficiency from about 16 miles per gallon to 10 mpg. Road tests at the time showed acceleration from 0-60 mph in 10.9 seconds—more impressive in the day. Power steering, which was an option from 1956, became standard with the Silver Cloud II.
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Factory AC, Power Steering and Windows, in 1962
Two more factors contribute to the price: luxury and style. The combination of a beige metallic exterior and tan leather interior with walnut woodwork is exquisite. The platform is termed “drophead,” British for convertible—commonly in a design with four seats, two doors, a soft-top and sloping rear. Unique for its time, it has factory air conditioning and power steering. In 1961, blue instrument lighting was added, as well as indicator and handbrake warning lights. Power windows were an option.
The final touch is rarity. By the end of the run for the Silver Cloud III in 1966, the era when Rolls built every vehicle by hand like the coachbuilders of the previous generations, was coming to an end. By the 1970s, custom coach-built models were replaced with standardized bodies, although certainly not lacking in bespoke features and over-the-top luxury touches.
This Silver Cloud II, with just 44,094 miles on the odometer, is one of only 75 factory-built Cloud II dropheads built with left-hand drive. The original owner’s manual and tools complete the package.
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About the author
Bradley Berman
Bradley Berman is a leading writer and researcher about electric cars and green transportation. He regularly contributes driving reviews and technology articles to The New York Times, Fortune, MIT Technology Review, Popular Mechanics, and other publications.
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