Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe LH by Mulliner
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Automobilhersteller : |
Rolls Royce |
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Modell: |
Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe LH by Mulliner |
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Jahr: |
1955-1959 |
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Art: |
Cabriolet |
Construction was body-on-frame, which permitted special bodied versions, though the overwhelming majority were built with the standard Pressed Steel Company manufactured steel body shell. A light-weight aluminium-based alloy was used for doors, bonnet/hood and boot/trunk lid. The chassis was a simple steel box section, welded together and very rigid. The car was 5.38 m (212 in) long, 1.90 m (75 in) wide, and massed 1.95 tonnes. The engine was a 155 hp / 4000 rpm 4.9 L six-cylinder unit with inlet over exhaust valves: twin SU carburettors were added in September 1957. The standard transmission was a four-speed automatic. The turning circle was 41 feet 8 inches (12.70 m).
Brakes were hydraulic and assisted by the Rolls-Royce mechanical servo with 11 in (279 mm) drums and suspension was independent coils at the front and semi-elliptic springs at the rear. Twin brake master cylinders were incorporated from April 1956.
Power steering and air conditioning became available as options in 1956.
A long-wheelbase version lengthened by 4 in (102 mm) was also made available in September 1957, outwardly very similar to the existing car but offering improved leg space for rear-seat passengers.
Among the most prominent and prestigious coachbuilders for the Silver Cloud was James Young Ltd., of Bromley, Kent. This renowned shop, which was established in 1863, survived for 104 years and was known for its distinctive, instantly recognizable detailing, which included unique door handles and graceful body moldings. Following 1937, the firm worked almost exclusively on Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis, as it had been acquired by prominent London dealer Jack Barclay that year. It would survive and produce fine coaches until 1967.
Eight Silver Cloud I chassis were bodied by James Young as drophead coupes, and of these, seven were four-passenger cars.
Beginning about halfway through the production run of the Silver Cloud I, Rolls-Royce offered a drophead coupe by H.J. Mulliner, style number 7504. Unlike previous Mulliner Drophead Coupes on this chassis, the new car, referred to as an adaptation, made use of a “Standard Steel Saloon” body shell, which was heavily modified by Mulliner. This would be the standard method of construction for most Mulliner Drophead Coupes through to the end of the Silver Cloud series in 1965. No others were as rare as the Silver Cloud I variant, of which 13 were built, with 10 being left-hand-drive examples.
