No. Made : 2,297 (253 with long wheelbases)
Engine : 8 cylinder 90 degree V configuration
Transmission : 4 speed automatic gearbox
Chassis : All
welded closed box section frame
with centre cruciform bracing
Dimensions : Wheelbase 123 or 127 inches
Performance : Max speed 117 mph (188.1 km/h)
The side lamps formerly on top of
the wings were no longer
in evidence,
their function having been integrated into a combined
side lamp/indicator placed in the
wing's nose on a level with
the headlamps.
The new model names were justified
not merely because of these changes but because of numerous
other modifications and
improvements which were not apparent
at first sight.
The engine's compression had been
raised to 9:1.
Another duo of carburettors gave
better breathing - resulting in
a noticeable performance increase.
For some export markets the Silver
Cloud III was fitted with
engines suitable for low-octane
fuel, in which case the compression
was reduced to 8:1.
A motor car with seperate chassis
and coachwork attached by means
of bolts and screws was looked
at somewhat askance by some critics
at the start of the sixties.
Accusations were made that the
basic design was antiquated,
the shape dated and the drum brakes
had too long been the
means of stopping.
At Rolls-Royce work on a new generation
had begun long ago -
these latest models were, in fact,
a stop-gap.
But the Silver Cloud III cannot
be regarded merely as such.
Quite the opposite is the case,
however, because they enjoyed all
those improvements
that had been implemented into
the series over a long production
period.
The criticisms about drum brakes
could not stand considered
judgement. The
advantages of drum brakes were that they had
low sensitivity to fade and possessed
perfect balance in
combination with effort-free use
because of the brake servo.
They were not prone to squeaking
and although maintenance was
more labour intensive than for
disc brakes, the
service intervals
were longer.
What is remarkable is that production
of the Silver Cloud III was continue even after the introduction of the
replacement model,
the Silver Shadow.
For the better part of a year -
until March 1966 - production of the previous' model's
chassis ran in parallel with that
of the new model.