This Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, a left-hand drive model, showcases the exquisite ‘Flying Spur’ four-door coachwork designed by H J Mulliner. Originally featured on the Bentley Continental in 1957, it made its debut on a Rolls-Royce chassis shortly after the introduction of the Silver Cloud III in 1962.
Notably, the majority of Flying Spur coachwork was constructed on Bentley Continental chassis, with only a limited production, estimated at 15 to 20 units, for Rolls-Royce chassis. The era of true, hand-crafted, coachbuilt Rolls-Royce vehicles drew to a close with the introduction of the unitary-construction Silver Shadow in 1965, enhancing the appeal of these exclusive last-of-the-line Silver Cloud models.
Initially, Bentley’s Continental was envisioned as a two-door car; however, in late 1957, the decision was made to authorize the production of a four-door version by H J Mulliner. This design, known as the ‘Flying Spur,’ debuted on the S1 Continental and was a collaborative effort between Rolls-Royce’s styling department and HJM. It seamlessly blended the Continental’s speed and elegance with four-door convenience, providing a more spacious interior and a generously sized trunk.
The Flying Spur design evolved onto the V8-powered S2 Continental and incorporated the S3’s four-headlamp front end after its introduction in 1962. Notably, Rolls-Royce had acquired H J Mulliner in 1959, and by 1964, the two had merged into H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd, securing the future of Britain’s two largest coachbuilders.
Source: Bonhams Cars
