1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I

Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I - Rare left-hand drive - Restored

This Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I - chassis SDD 172 - was delivered new from the factory on February 21, 1957, to the dealer J. Olding & Co in London to be sold to its first owner, Broadmead Wireless Co, in left-hand drive. A special order, the car was directly shipped to Los Angeles to become the property of a film production company in Beverly Hills, where it remained for around ten years.

The car’s history remains relatively discreet until September 1966, when SDD 172 returned to the UK in the hands of Electrical & General Development. Novelist James Hadley Chase chose this car for the cover of one of his novels in 1977 (“I Hold the Four Aces”), and the car took part in several local concours d’elegance before being sold to its third owner.

Arriving in Monaco in 1991, the car underwent a complete restoration: engine, gearbox, full mechanicals, braking system, and interior. It was purchased in March 2003 by the current owner, who has carefully maintained it ever since and took the opportunity to carry out a full repaint (in Cardinal Red) by a specialist body shop in 2006, then replaced the soft top, installed new upholstery, and restored all of the interior woodwork. The car has since been in superb overall condition and requires no expenses, with the radiator and entire cooling system having been recently replaced.

SDD 172 has participated in numerous events in the UK and France. It is well known within the community and Rolls-Royce clubs.

1st prize at the Concours d’Elegance of Les Andelys in May 2005

Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club rally in Northamptonshire in 2007

1st prize at the Concours d’Elegance of Saint-Cloud in June 2008

The car appears on page 192 with its owner in the reference book “Rolls-Royce, Best Car in the World”

The car retains all its original equipment: owner’s manual, tool kit, flashlight. It also comes with an extensive file of invoices, a valid roadworthiness inspection, and a full service has been carried out for the sale.

Internal reference: AQ4072