Produced by the Rolls-Royce Limited from April 1955 to March 1966, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was the core model of the Rolls-Royce range during this 11 years period.
The Silver Cloud III was the last of the Silver Cloud series, arriving in 1963, with slightly altered external dimensions, reduced weight by 100 kilograms, improved engine and remodeled interior.
The new engine included fitting of the 2-inch (51 mm) SU carburetors in place of the 1¾ inch units used on the Series II Silver Cloud. The compression ratio was increased to 9:1, while the option of a lower 8:1 compression ratio was still possible to choose. This is a consequence of the higher octane levels of premium fuel in major markets in that age, while 8:1 compression ratio was reserved as an option for those markets where non-availability of higher octane fuels might be an issue. This also resulted in 246 hp, a 0-60 time of 10.8 seconds, and a top speed of 115 mph, with 9:1 compression ratio.
With increased power and weight reduction, speed and performance was boosted slightly compared to the Silver Cloud I and II.
The headlights were grouped in a four-headlamp layout, a pattern that was continued with successor, Silver Shadow. Among some of the external changes made was a slightly increased slope of the hood / bonnet to correspond with a 1 1⁄2 inches (3.8 cm) reduction in radiator grille height. Others include stainless steel wheel trims which replaced chrome-plated ones, along with an improved rear window demister.
Rolls-Royce produced 2,044 units of Silver Cloud III, with 253 with the long wheelbase chassis. There were also around 328 coach-built Silver Cloud III, out 100 which were built in the so-called “Chinese Eye” design, offered in Fixed Head and Drop Head Coupe style by Mulliner Park Ward.
The Silver Cloud models signaled the end of the coach-building period, as Rolls-Royce found it could sell ten times as many cars with so-called “standard steel bodies”, than with custom-built shells.
