6,230cc OHV V8 Engine
2 SU Carburetors
Est. 220bhp
4-Speed Automatic Transmission
Front Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*One of only 9 Cloud III Flying Spurs produced
*Delivered new to Palm Beach, Florida
*Accompanied by copies of its Rolls-Royce Build Sheets
*The most sporting of the Clouds

THE FLYING SPUR

This left-hand drive Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III features the elegant H J Mulliner-designed 'Flying Spur' four-door coachwork which debuted on the Bentley Continental in 1957 and became available on a Rolls-Royce chassis for the first time shortly after the introduction of the Silver Cloud III in 1962. Virtually all Flying Spur coachwork was, however, built on the Bentley Continental chassis and only a handful - estimated at between 15 and 20 - were made for the Rolls-Royce chassis. The arrival of the unitary-construction Silver Shadow in 1965 signaled the end of the true coachbuilt Rolls-Royce, making these exclusive, hand-built, last-of-the-line Silver Clouds all the more desirable.

Rolls-Royce had envisaged the Bentley Continental as exclusively a two-door car, but late in 1957 the decision was taken to sanction the production of a four-door variation by H J Mulliner. Introduced on the S1 Continental and known as the 'Flying Spur', this design was a collaborative effort by Rolls-Royce's in-house styling department and HJM, and bore a strong resemblance both to the two-door Continental and to existing coachbuilt four-door styles on Rolls-Royce and (non-Continental) Bentley chassis. To the Continental's existing qualities of pace and elegance, the Flying Spur added four-door practicality, a more spacious interior and generously proportioned trunk.

The Flying Spur body style continued on the V8-engined S2 Continental and was revised to incorporate the S3's four-headlamp front end following the latter's introduction in 1962. Owner of Park Ward since 1939, Rolls-Royce had taken over H J Mulliner in 1959, and by the time chassis number 'LCSC9B' was completed in 1964, the pair had been merged as H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd, thus securing the future of Britain's two largest surviving coachbuilders.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

One of only nine left-hand drive Silver Cloud III Flying Spurs built, chassis number 'LCSC9B' was sold new in Palm Beach, Florida to first owner B.A. Whittemore, Esq. Originally finished in Shell Grey with blue coach lines over blue leather, Baroda Blue cloth headliner and Ambassador Blue carpets, optional equipment included Hirschman electric aerial, Van Gerbig quarter lights and panel, power windows, Sundym glass, lambswool rugs in the rear, rear radio speakers, and air conditioning. A copy of the original purchase order indicates that the cost of the options alone was nearly enough to buy a new Mustang and the whole car came to $28,109 including delivery. Delivered to the shippers in June of '65, it wasn't registered until the next year.

It appears the Rolls would remain in Florida for much of its life, heading south to Patti Rae Hewitt in Fort Lauderdale, then north to Delray Beach with Josephine Lilly, finally south again to Coconut Grove with Jack Kensinger—all before 1972. The interim history is not recorded, but the current owner acquired it through a dealer from a Coral Gables collector in late January, 2002.

Described at the time of sale by the dealer as being in "excellent condition" and that it "starts, runs and drives", it was noted to have 55,784 miles. 21 and a half years later, the odometer reads 55,831—a mere 47 miles in all that time. Today the older looking repaint still shows well while the interior appears to be largely original, if somewhat faded from decades of Florida sunshine. When purchased, the radio and speakers were described as being later units—and they have been retained as such. Additional updates in the present ownership include a newer Moto-Lita chrome and wood rimmed steering wheel, power mirrors that appear to have been sourced from a late model Chevy, and an updated air conditioning system. All that being said, the under 50 miles driven the past two decades was done shortly after purchase, so mechanical recommissioning is strongly recommended prior to active use.

A truly magnificent and unique automobile, worthy of the closest inspection.