Beschreibung:

"The size and grandeur of the car… deceive one about the performance which would do justice to many a car of more sporting pretensions. The finish, both in detail and the broader sense of equipment and trim, is superb." - Motor magazine on the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III. As well as the factory-bodied cars, bespoke creations from James Young and the merged firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd (now Rolls-Royce-owned) continued to be available on the ‘Cloud III chassis for those discerning enthusiasts wealthy enough to afford them. Indeed, as the factory did not offer a convertible or drophead coupe, a coachbuilt car was the only option if one’s preference was Rolls-Royce-style fresh air motoring. Introduced in 1958, H J Mulliner's drophead coupe was the most successful of its type, lasting into 1963; more modern ‘straight-through wing’ designs became the preferred style thereafter. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III chassis number ‘CSC139B’ is bodied with Park Ward’s influential, ‘straight-through wing’ coachwork that first appeared on the Bentley Continental S2 in 1959, presaging the style of the later Silver Shadow. The car was delivered in chassis form to the by-then merged firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward on 9th August 1965 and after completion was displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show later that year. In December 1965 ‘CSC139B’ was sold via agents H A Fox & Co, of London W1, to its first owner, the playwright Sir Terence Rattigan, at that time resident at 29 Eaton Square, London SW1, and in February 1967 passed into the ownership of actor Peter Sellers, who had it re-sprayed silver. The original logbook (included in the sale) records the third private owner, from April 1971, as Benedict James Colman, another resident, like Rattigan and Sellers, of London SW1. Accompanying chassis card information lists original equipment that included a power operated hood, electric aerial, wing mirrors, electric windows, reading lamp and a cubby-hole compartment accommodating two glasses, presumably for champagne. The car’s next (fourth) private owner was controversial businessman Jim Slater, co-founder of investment conglomerate Slater Walker Securities. Immediately following the latter’s collapse in the 1973-74 recession, the car entered the private collection of an RREC member on the island of Guernsey, where it remained until purchased by the present owner in 2003. Apparently, the vehicle saw little use in Guernsey, remaining in storage for almost 30 years. Indeed, the total mileage from new is a mere 40,000. In August 2003 ‘CSC139B’ underwent a most extensive and thorough re-commissioning at Rolls-Royce & Bentley specialists A & S Engineering of Alton, Hampshire, whose accompanying invoice for £9,559 runs to seven closely-typed A4 pages. Earlier this year the car was bare-metal re-sprayed in original Ming Blue livery, the tan leather upholstery being re-Connollised at the same time, and is presented in good condition throughout and “driving perfectly.” A rare, beautiful and highly desirable soft-top Rolls-Royce of distinguished past ownership, it is offered with current MoT certificate and Swansea V5 registration document.