Let me introduce to you the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, a magnificent luxury automobile crafted by Rolls-Royce Limited between the years of 1959 and 1962. This prestigious vehicle stands as one of the final editions to bear the original Rolls-Royce name, and exudes the class and elegance that the brand is known for.

1. Detailed design evaluation

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II is a luxury car that was first produced in 1959 to replace Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I. Compared to Silver Cloud I, Silver Cloud II has no significant changes in appearance as well as in appearance. The interior equipment, however, is equipped with a new V8 engine developed by Rolls-Royce, which makes the total weight of the car increased to 2.11 tons.

The car’s body is constructed from steel produced by the Pressed Steel Company, a British tank company founded in Cowley, near Oxford, in 1926. To achieve a lighter weight, the car’s doors, hood, trunk lid, and trunk have been crafted from lightweight alloys. The chassis is manufactured by Rolls-Royce using a monolithic alloy that has been welded together to create both rigidity and durability. The car measures 5,410 millimeters in length and has a total unladen weight of 2.11 tons.

Despite remaining largely unchanged between 1959 and 1963, the design of the Silver Cloud II underwent constant refinement, with small details like the ventilation system and dashboard air vents being updated regularly. In May of 1962, modifications were made to the taillights, and in August of the same year, the hooded headlights were also updated.

The interior of the Silver Cloud II is similarly luxurious, with an illuminated dashboard featuring blue lights. New equipment such as turn signal switches, headlights, and brake warning lights have been added to make the car more modern, convenient, and safe.

2. Engine – Operation

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II boasts of its class with its new V8 engine, exclusively developed by Rolls-Royce. The engine showcases a significant upgrade in power and torque, resulting in improved vehicle performance, with a top speed of 183 km/h. To make driving operations more convenient, the car is equipped with a standard power steering system, which also enhances the driving experience by providing a smooth and effortless feeling

In 1960, the Silver Cloud II engine underwent testing. The recorded top speed was 168.5 km/h, with an acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h in approximately 10.9 seconds, and a fuel consumption of about 22 liters of gasoline per 100 km. The test car had a cost of £6,092 (equivalent to approximately 191 million VND), inclusive of tax.

While the improved performance was appreciated, experts noted that the V8 engine of the Silver Cloud II was not smooth and produced a lot of noise from the combustion chamber when compared to the engine of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I. Additionally, the new V8 engine was also larger in size, making the engine compartment narrow and structurally more complex, requiring the removal of the front wheel of the vehicle to change spark plugs, resulting in inconvenience during use, operation, and maintenance.

Furthermore, it appears that the bearings were under-lubricated, leading to a crankshaft fracture in the V8 engine of the 1962 Silver Cloud II, causing the engine to be underrated compared to its predecessor.

3. Basic parameters of Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud IIProduction year 1959 – 1962Number of cars shipped 2,417 unitsLuxury car segmentStyle4-door sedan2-door coupe2 door convertibleDimensions Length x Width x Height 5,410 x 1,899 x 1,626 (mm)The standard longBasic version 3.124 (mm)Extended wheelbase version 3,226 (mm)6.2-liter V8 engine

SRC: https://classiccarsite.us/