Description

This Lot will be sold at auction at Symphony of Spring; Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 7th March. One of only three right hand drive examples built by James YoungAluminium bodyA RollsRoyce Silver Cloud II Long Wheelbase (LWB) by James Young is one of the most elegant and rare expressions of postwar British luxury motoring. The Silver Cloud II itself, produced from 1959 to 1962, marked a significant evolution in RollsRoyces flagship line by introducing a powerful 6.2 litre V8 engine paired with a smooth fourspeed automatic transmission and refined suspension, providing effortless performance and serene cruising at highway speeds. While the standard Silver Cloud II was already a grand car, a handful of LWB chassis were sent to bespoke coachbuilders for special bodies and among these, James Youngs coachwork stands out for its grace and craftsmanship. James Young was a respected British coachbuilder known for handforming aluminium and steel bodies to individual customer specifications, often enhancing proportions and adding bespoke touches that factory bodies didnt offer. The longwheelbase variant stretched the standard Clouds platform, creating a more spacious, dignified cabin perfect for rearseat comfort often equipped with luxurious burr walnut trim, folding picnic tables, privacy glass and other bespoke features.Most Silver Cloud IIs received the Standard Steel Saloon body, a small number of cars were sent to coachbuilders to be personally handcrafted to individual customer orders. Among them was James Youngs design number SC12, a sixlight example with rear quarter windows and a beautifully drawn rear deck. The body is fully of aluminium handformed by the skilled craftsmen at James Young. The car has beautiful burr walnut inserts with picnic tables recessed into the backs of the front seats along with built in vanity mirrors. Despite its size, the car has an unusually graceful, long, and elegant silhouette, and was among the most attractive designs created for the longwheelbase Silver Cloud II. Only five examples of this design were made, two of them on left hand drive chassis; this being one of the three right hand drive examples making it a very rare car. Finished in Royal Garnet over Black and with a grey leather interior, this is a delightfully handsome Cloud II. The car has beautiful burr walnut inserts with picnic tables recessed into the backs of the front seats along with built in vanity mirrors, unusually this RollsRoyce was built without a division. The engine runs extremely well and the gearbox operates as it should, this is a superb car to drive or be driven in. Currently on Norwegian number plates, the UK registration has been applied for. A beautiful and rare piece of British motoring history. Consigned by Stewart Banks.