Beschreibung:

Things were looking up for 1957. People, too. Up in the sky, it wasn’t a bird, a plane or even Superman, but the USSR’s Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. Measuring 23 inches in circumference, the polished sphere weighed some 184 lb. but did little but beep via its four antennae, however it heralded the Space Race and a whole new world as well. Back on terra firma, the London based company of Rolls-Royce had just finished celebrating its 50th Anniversary as a manufacturer of the “best car in the world” a sobriquet earned back in 1906 when it launched its Silver Ghost. While not as high flying at Sputnik, Rolls-Royce engines had also taken to the sky powering the famous Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire aircraft in the Battle of Britain. Rolls Royce would continue to score success in the skies and on showroom floor around the world. By 1955 the United Kingdom and Rolls-Royce were enjoying the upswing of a re-invigorated market economy with reaction to their new models leaving reviewers “uniformly stunned by their speed, smoothness, silence, handling and especially the braking.” A famous line touting the cars stated, “At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in this new Rolls-Royce comes from the electric clock.” In 1957 Rolls-Royce sold 500 cars in the U.S., a new record for the company, the Silver Cloud cars particularly popular in Hollywood. Thus encouraged, an advertising firm employed by RR launched a highly successful campaign whose objective was to “shun chauffeurs and baronial halls and show Rolls-Royce in the context of American life.” One rather fanciful magazine advertisement went so far as to show a family washing their new Silver Cloud in their driveway…though not a convertible model as seen here. The “7410” Mulliner bodied convertible, considered the most desirable of all the Silver Cloud I models, is a limited production, truly coachbuilt car and sheaved in hand-formed aluminum panels stretched seamlessly over an extruded aluminum skeleton. As for the Mulliner connection, the original company was founded in 1919 by Henry Jervis Mulliner who established a highly regarded coachbuilding concern in London not far from Conduit Street and Rolls-Royce's first showroom. The company was taken in 1939 by Rolls-Royce but proceeded to function as an individual entity for another 20 years. This Silver Cloud I, chassis No. LDD 146, and powered by the 4887 cc six-port engine, was delivered new in 1957 to New York City with a list of features that included power windows, power seats and factory original continental kit with spare wheel cover. The rear brakes are a stout combination of mechanical and hydraulic via a Rolls gearbox driven servo while front suspension is provided by unequal length wishbones and coil springs with rear semi-elliptic electrically controlled dampers, all of which contribute to its legendary ride. Moreover, the luxury touring car was capable of 106 mph. The motor press of the day called the new Silver Cloud from Rolls-Royce “The finest car in the world,” and went on to predict, “There’s little doubt that these fine new cars will carry on the maker’s tradition and reputation.” Today Rolls-Royce looks proudly back to the Silver Cloud I as a milestone model. While originally two-tone Sand over Mason's black with beige interior, this handsome example is now completely Mason's black after having been fully restored in Southern California including new paint, chrome, interior, wood and leather as well as all mechanicals. Step back in time to the classic styling of the 1957 Silver Cloud, put down the convertible top, and watch the skies, perhaps to catch sight of Sputnik’s descendants flashing overhead.