1959 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe by James Young

1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe by James Young
Sold for $742,500 Including Commission
RM Auction, Monterey, CA. 2014
Chassis no. LSJF202
Engine no. SF226
178 bhp, 4,887 cc high-compression (8:1) F-head inline six-cylinder engine with twin two-inch SU carburetors, four-speed automatic transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs and hydraulic dampers, rear semi-elliptic springs with controllable hydraulic dampers, and self-adjusting hydraulic front brakes with combined hydraulic and mechanical rear brakes with servo-assist. Wheelbase: 123 in.
A one-off, custom design by James Young
Original body, engine, gearbox, and left-hand drive
Less than 38,000 original miles
Unusually equipped with power steering and a power antenna
A unique, beautiful, and genuinely sporty Silver Cloud
In 1955, the long-awaited Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I was introduced and enthusiastically accepted by eager buyers. The Silver Cloud I combined the best of old-world tradition with modern processes, as it was the final Rolls-Royce model to be powered by the reliable inline six-cylinder engine, yet it could also be had with full modern “standard steel saloon” bodywork, which was beautifully proportioned and cost far less than a coachbuilt car. In fact, of the 15,414 Silver Cloud chassis—Series I through III—produced between 1955 and 1965, fewer than 200 were outfitted with custom coachwork, and even fewer of these were truly “unique” designs.
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. This car, chassis number LSJF202, was the only example built as a two-passenger design. As a two-passenger design on such a long chassis would have seemed rather awkwardly proportioned, James Young utilized the same basic design as for the four-passenger model, but he replaced the rear seat with additional space for luggage.
The car was bodied in lightweight aluminum alloy that was reinforced with steel, and it was equipped with practically every optional item available in 1959, as well as a few extras. Car radios still weren’t commonplace in 1950s Europe, but this car has one, as well as power steering, power windows, and even a power-operated radio antenna, with the latter being installed by James Young. Also specified were Le Mans-type “24” headlamps, high-frequency horns with a muting switch, an export-type rear number plate, a fitted suitcase, chrome-plated disc wheel covers, and a speedometer reading in kilometers. The interior was painstakingly stitched together from vat-dyed Connolly leather hides, and matching tan carpets were fitted with the finest British Wilton wool. Burled Circassian walnut veneers define the fascia, trim, and door sills. Naturally, with the “L” prefix on its chassis number, it was originally equipped with left-hand drive, and it still retains this most desirable feature today.
The completed Silver Cloud I was delivered through the Garage de l’Athénée, of Geneva, Switzerland, to Count François de Salverte, a prominent socialite and expert in Louis XVI furniture, on April 11, 1958. After being acquired by its second owner and shipped to the United States, this one-off Drophead Coupe received a concours-quality restoration, which was performed by leading Rolls-Royce specialists. The body was finished in the creamy white known as Magnolia to Rolls-Royce enthusiasts, and it featured a correct, heavily padded tan cloth top and fitted tonneau cover, resulting in a sensational appearance. With its blank rear quarters, the raised top gives the car an unusually sporty air. The Rolls-Royce has been driven only a few hundred miles since the completion of its restoration, and as records validate, it has been driven scarcely 37,000 miles from new.
Photographs and descriptions of the car from new can be found in several highly regarded publications, including on pages 170 and 171 of Silver Cloud I and Bentley S1: Fifty Years and on page 217 of Lawrence Dalton’s Rolls-Royce: The Elegance Continues. Copies of the original chassis cards and factory records, which have been supplied by the Rolls-Royce Foundation and the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, further validate the car’s authenticity and history and are included in the sale.
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Robert Myrick Photography