There is nothing quite like old style British Luxury of a 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. These cars never lose their appeal. These cars are still elegant after many years.
Actually I believe it is the normal (dipped) and high beam switch for the headlights. as far as I am aware in the fifties and sixties driver adjustable shock absorber rates on the move werent a thing even for luxury or sports cars.
Absolutely gorgeous! Didn’t even realize the engine had actually turned when you first turned the ignition key - that was super quiet! Thanks for the ride!
Wow, this car is impressive. It is so extremely quiet and it is really quick. Not fast, but quick. And on those potholes/bumps, it is still quiet and seems so smooth. Incredible for a car from 1964.
The Battery switch in the trunk was an option for people who left their cars layed up (for example an owner may have a car at his villa in France and only visit once a year. The switch stops any ancillary current draw and helps keep the battery fresh.
Back in the late 60s a new organist came to our parish along with his amazing Silver Cloud II in silver. We became friends and were invited to many wonderful events in that luxurious auto. I then began washing, waxing and saddle soaping it and learning to appreciate the quality. To this day I can remember the smell, comfort and silence within and the feeling of such a marvelous work of art.
Even today, you arrive to a fancy hotel or a casino with that masterpiece, they will open way for you, what a class, that view from the driving position, the imponent long hood with the spirit of ecstasy is something else
Fun Trivia: Rolls Royce may be considered the inventors of factory racing in the modern way. (and the reason you will not find on the RR homepage!) In 1912 a few guys tok part in one of the hardest and famous rallyes of the time. The "Alpenfahrt" in Austria-Hungary. This was quite the ride as they went over the highest and steepest mountain passes they had in what is now northern italy and austria. Even Ferdinand Porsche took part (with an Austro-Daimler or Steyr car iirc). He was in the winning team more than once. When they went up Katschberg Pass in 1912, the RR couldn't make it up the long steep incline. Unlike today there was no bashing of RR for not making it up. In the UK i don't even know if any newspaper even mentioned it. Yet the RR drivers told RR about it. And they, wanting to be known for building the "best car" seems, were a little embarassed. What they did next, today would be called "Challenge accepted". They changed the gearing, increased the cooling capacity and the hp... And went into the alps and tested at site. -> this is the first time a manufacturer prepared this way for a race. What came next actually is on the RR homepage: The factory sent 2 (i think) of these new cars with factory drivers to the 1913 Alpenfahrt. And they won it. The RR model was called "Continental". And british newspapers did of course mention that.
Oh my. This brings back So many wonderful memories. I had one of these beauties in the 80s...and loved every minute of driving Her. I often wish that I had not sold Her and that I still had her. Thank you for the wonderful memories. You showed this example off beautifully ! Nicely done !
I had the opportunity to work on a Rolls Royce from this era, when I was a mechanic in the late 1970s. I even took it for a test drive. I remember being impressed by the real wood interior and the fact that you had to hold the shift lever in reverse when reversing.
From what I've found the N/H switch controls the rear electric shock-absorbers. Apparently, these were quite troublesome to owners. They added another set of fluids to maintenance and were prone to leaky gaskets.
N is normal, H is hard and this is for the rear hydraulic dampeners. That switch controls a solenoid that changes the valving. They do tend to leak from the seals. When replaced with modern seals they don’t leak.
Lovely old Roller , had a few myself , a bit of interesting info , that 4 speed box was initially used in WW2 on tanks , which is why it has no park facility , to lock it in a sort of park , you put it into reverse with the motor running and foot on the brake , turn the motor off and it locks as park does on an auto these days .
Actually it was a GM Hydramatic from 1940 that RR used for decades. Yes, 2 of them were used for a light tank (M5?). It worked but while others progressed, RR didn't.
Dad bought and refreshed one of these for mom back in the late 80s.. Where it truly shone was driving out to Palm Springs. Get onto the 10 and run it up to 75 or so. AC was great, and the ride and steering got just perfect. Look back at your drive at around 14:40. When you got onto the highway and spun it up to 60 or so, the movement in the wheel diminishes, it just floats.. It was not a perfect city car, kinda way too big, and it is really not built for back roads, unless you have a patient chauffeur and some light reading in the back seat. But running on the highway at a comfortably high speed, was sublime.
Hi Tedward. In an accident with a BMW the Cloud will come out best. I've had a 1965 model for 42 years, as the second owner. I had a slight accident coming off a motorway in stop/start mode. I started when I should have stopped and hit the back of a then new Ford Granada. I had a small dent in the front overriders but the Ford chassis was buckled.
It was a revolutionary riding experience in its time. I remember passing by an automotive repair shop in NY in the 1970s and seeing a Silver Cloud on a lift a was struck by how long and particularly wide the shock absorbers were in comparison to other cars of the time and they were wider and longer than the then new McPherson struts that were becoming available in a few cars. They were similar in size to a McPherson strut you’d see in a large luxury sedan or SUV today.
The N/H switch on the steering collumn was for adjusting the power steering. N was the "normal" setting, and the H "hard" setting would stiffen the steering up for faster response. The Silver Clouds from this era have always been like watching artwork on the roads. Thank you for a great video!
That column switch has nothing to do with the power steering Sir, it altered the rate of the rear shock absorbers! I worked on these cars during my apprenticeship at a RR dealership. 😊😊😊
Sorry to correct. The switch turns on a constricted in the shocks for normal or hard suspension. I have owned four of the series so know .y stuff. Greetings
This magnificent, bespoke Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III is possessed of a class, elegance & stateliness that is totally devoid in ANY of today's awful, plastic, computerised offerings! It's so redolent of a time in our history when things were built to last forever & it evokes a feeling of timelessness & sublime quality that will remain forever. Thank you SO much for this utterly superb video, it was a pure joy to watch!
4:24 Details like these are why I watch videos like this. Regular boring reviews skip over all this stuff that makes each car unique. It's a bit of a shame that you didn't interact with the switches on the dashboard, though.
I think that there is a joke that an owner was noting that the transmission is smooth except for the 2-3 shift, and was told that therefore it is working perfectly. I believe that the 1-2 shift you were discussing is actually the 2-3, since the Hydramatic doesn't have a converter so first is very short, and the car is into second almost immediately.
Rally used the Cadillac 4 speed automatic transmission. Cadillac had a lot of trouble in 1957 so they completely reengineered the transmission. Rolls tried shooting walnut hulls thru the cavities and a few other things and finally wound up just bolting it o0n the Rolls.
Absolutely beautiful car. It appears to have had the upholstery redone. Still looks to be Connelly hides, but the pleats are too flat. They should be more rounded for a little more definition. The pure wool Wilton carpets do look spectacular. Way back in 1983 I saw a Series 2 for sale in Toronto. The asking price was $13,000. Almost exactly what I paid for a brand new Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale. I should have bought the Rolls-Royce.
Years back I worked on restoring a '38 Phantom 3. Surprising to see how much some of the controls and indicators on the dash are unchanged, I guess quality do not need changes 🙂
In your video you mentioned the switch on the left with an R and an H, I believe that is for suspension options, whether you want a regular or hard ride. We had a 63 Bentley S3 with the same switch. She also had many of the same attributes as the lovely lady you are showing here. Thank you for sharing.
There are cars, there are luxury cars, then there are classic Rolls Royces. Nothing spared and just the best. The Silver Cloud is old world luxury. No loud anything. Here it is and you won't find anything better. I mean the engine could have made 300 HP, but the figure was always "sufficient."
I so enjoyed watching this. You did a great job describing the driving experience. The neighbourhoods you drove to seemed appropriate for this car. I'm partial to these cars so this may well be my favourite episode of your channel. Maybe a Silver Shadow next time?
In my view, Rolls-Royce lost some of the magic with the Silver Shadow, which lacked the timeless quality of the previous cars. Instead the Shadow seemed geared for the 70’s and for time of cost cutting. Plus I can never look at one and not see a resemblance to the Checker cab of all things.
This is one of the few cars I have never owned, but I have a friend who has one. It's amusing to me because while it's very well made everything about it looks and feels so antiquated compared to my '64 Cadillac.
After an illness I decide to celebrate "my return" with a 50th birthday present - a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 2. Not the same model as in this video but just imagine the 15 year younger version with tweaks. WHY a Rolls when fuel in Europe is so expensive compared to the US? Simple: an Englishman living in Austria seemed logical for the two advantages not covered in the video. 1) Insurance for an old-timer (car not me) is much cheaper because the insurance companies tend to recognise it is likely to be driven slower, more cautiously, less risky etc...and 2) Repairs - yes - surprisingly: Rolls Royce can have repair issues but VERY rarely. 3 and 4 which I just thought of): Value depreciates so much slower that other luxury cars, especially on an older Used Car - so in terms of owning a Rolls Royce older model, I bought it and enjoyed my treasure for 11 years selling it for almost the same price I bought it.!! Without doubt the cheapest motoring I ever had. Compare it to buying a similar luxury limousine like say, a Mercedes top end which will reduce in value by around 25% the moment you turn the key first time and continue to drop about 20% or more each year thereafter. Can you name another car you can buy and drive for 10 years + and sell for the same price?
Father owned a 1957 silver cloud convertible. I absolutely LOVED weekend drives up the 101 freeway along the coast of Southern California. And the occasional car show: I remember how devastated we all were when some A hole took a key to the lacquer paint.
I wish you had tried some manual shifting. BTW, that 1-2 lunge or clunk is endemic to the original 4-speed Hydramatic. It had a fascinating arrangement of components, with the fluid coupling actually positioned BEHIND the first planetary gear assembly... In fact, while they may have been thirstier around town, this arrangement made the transmission more efficient in high gear than the later torque-converter units until the advent of the torque-converter-clutch. It's amazing, though, that Rolls was still using the Hydramatic while GM was shifting (pardon the pun!) to the Turbo-Hydramatic...
I doubt that any RR ever had "razor sharp" handling. When production in England was at its end, a friend bought a new Bentley Continental. It was really beautiful but pitched and wallowed on the highway. The suspension was not up the power and weight. It was impossible to keep out of the dealer's repair shop long enough to really enjoy so he sold it after a year or so.
No 500k supercar could hold a candle to this. It is a work of art to say the least. I would thoroughly enjoy driving it but I would also have a friend drive it so I can sit in the back and pretend I am a member of the Royal family, and when we pull up to Balmoral Castle, everyone there will bow their heads, then say Good evening "Your Royal Highness" "how about a good round of Polo" ? "Your horse awaits you sir"
This is the best video I have ever seen about driving the Rolls Royce Silve Cloud. You really see from behind the wheel. That is one of my favorite RR cars. With regard to the loud clunk sound coming from the transmission, that should not sound like that at all. I heard it and I think it was good of you to bring it up. You can not help but hear it. The transmission needs to be worked on, something is very wrong with it. Those cars are supposed to shift as smooth as silk at any speed. The Queen would not have approved of it shifting like that. Thank you for this great video. You made me laugh out loud when you said the Queens Wave. You deserve the Queens Wave for such a great driving video. Jeff❤
Had the chance to drive an early 60's Rolls. The owner's manual in the glove box listed the horsepower as "adequate." It was a straight 6 cylinder engine, and it was the quietest, smoothest engine I've ever experienced in a car.
He truly does respect the drive.... for the art and love of driving....I like your style teddy...and by the way your voice and hands are okay. Enjoy yourself.
Omg, this was one of my grandmother’s cars!! Loved it. Too bad it was always ill and its kiss of death, ethyl…There were a handful of stations that sold it and I think I recall them putting airplane fuel in it in a pinch.. It was so cool but also put you on display. Almost every single eyeball would be on you in that car - especially if she fetched me at school..
I love these cars, I remember as a kid watching the series "Burke's Law' on TV with a Silver Cloud. For me as a Texan, weakest point is the lack of air conditioning; the aftermarket units were so far behind our American cars. Fortunately the Shadow was designed for it.
Those seemingly pointless sail-panel mirrors were originally cigarette compartments... Based upon the 1936 that we had, there were holes drilled downward - probably 20 - that held unfiltered-length cigarettes that actually ROSE UP as the lid was lifted! 80>
Best Rolls -Royce ever! I think I am right in saying this was the last Rolls to have a coach-built body on a proper separate chassis. Only thing better than this is the Harold Radford Countryman conversion. It has fold down back seats that turn into a proper bed, spare water carriers in the front doors, a steerable spotlight in the bottom for the radiator grille that is controlled from the dashboard, and the boot lid folds out flat to form a picnic table, with leather upholstered seats that fit on the rear bumper so you can have your picnic in style!
If you want to know about performance try to find a RR ad featuring Tony Brooks, (F1 driver recently deceased) who took an SC III to the South of France and definitely didn't hang around!
An old Dowager Lady like this isn't meant for speed or performance, that's for sure. But if one needs to make a quick escape from some undesirable roustabouts one will find a Rolls will deliver. lol These cars really are timeless and I appreciated the ridealong. :)
That switch is for the headlights, H is the high beams, N stands for normal beams. I had a 61 Silver Cloud II Short Wheelbase. The 8-cylinder engine was made by Rolls but transmission was an General Motors Oldsmobile 2 speed transmission.
Thank you for this. It's lovely, regal, majestic, imposing and oh so stylish. Way prefer the looks of this to the modern versions, inside and out. That probably goes for the owners, too. I'm surprised how well it drives. 6:14 This switch, N is for Nuke, and H is for Hydrogen, or perhaps those features arrive in the future. It's the ride quality control switch, Normal and Hard.
My Uncle Bernard had a 1964 Silver Cloud III. I remember as a boy thinking it was an awesome car. He would self drive to pick us up at London City Airport and take us to our hotel. His Chauffeur told me the N and H stood for “Normal” and “Hard and controlled the suspension. He would us the “Hard” setting when driving on the two lane, twisty, turning, hilly B Roads when we would go out of town to visit my cousins. The “Hard” setting made it easier to drive the car on B Roads. In the city, or on the Motorway, he would select C for comfort which was a softer ride. The lever in the trunk on the right hand side was a switch to disconnect the battery. Often owners would disconnect the battery if they were not going to use the car for a couple of weeks. My understanding was the battery would go flat after around two weeks without being driving if you didn’t turn off the switch. Great video! It brought back many happy memories. Thank you.
One compeitor back in the 70s was the Citroën DS Safari.The BBC usesd these due to their super smooth suspension. Have a look on TH-cam for "1976: JOHN NOAKES rides a BBC TV CITROËN DS SAFARI". Citroën DS complete with 3KW generator! No one was too worried about carbon emissions back then.
I grew up not far from there, and it was great fun watching you drive these roads I'm very familiar with. Thought it confused me when you (apparently) hung a Uey on Lexington Rd and went back into the center of Lincoln, then went out Bedford Rd to Rte 2.
I would love to try out one of these ... i got a 73 Shadow that is a pleasure of its own, but a quite different car by any means ... but i can also feel the "boaty feeling" as i watch your viedeo ;-)
6:44 I've watched a ton of videos showing the interiors of cars, but I think that's the first time I've seen a speedometer laid out like that. It's upside down, weird.
There is nothing quite like old style British Luxury of a 1964 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. These cars never lose their appeal. These cars are still elegant after many years.
Totally agree with every word here.
Totally true. A symbol of elegance and style.
Steering wheel on the wrong side.
The N and H switch is to adjust the resistance in the shock absorbers. Stands for normal ride or hard ride. Lovely old car. Cheers 🙂
Put it in H!
Only alters the rear shocker rate!
@@eaglevision993 she'll go 300 hectares on a single tank of kerosene !
@@Dez456 Does it come standard with a Khlav Khlash holder or is this an option?
Actually I believe it is the normal (dipped) and high beam switch for the headlights. as far as I am aware in the fifties and sixties driver adjustable shock absorber rates on the move werent a thing even for luxury or sports cars.
Even in 2023, this car still has pure beauty. You just got a like Tedward.
id rather buy this than a new one
@WyvernABC a new RR is German
Only the English knew how to tastefully use burr walnut in a car!
Even more in 2023, I dare to say, compared to some modern trends in automotion. Class and style have no age.
This thing looks like crap honestly speaking.
Absolutely gorgeous! Didn’t even realize the engine had actually turned when you first turned the ignition key - that was super quiet!
Thanks for the ride!
These old cars always look so comfortable to sit in
Great video as always!
So is your sofa, not the point is it?
@@petercrosland5502 my sofa is actually awful😂
@@shalevhaham You need a Silver Cloud 3
Being the owner of the previous model, a Silver Wraith, they are beyond comfortable. That's the point.
Wow, this car is impressive. It is so extremely quiet and it is really quick. Not fast, but quick. And on those potholes/bumps, it is still quiet and seems so smooth. Incredible for a car from 1964.
Ford made its quietness their target to beat, which they did with the 65 LTD. But I'd rather have the Rolls, even with slightly more noise.
Quieter than Xiaomi SU7 too
The Battery switch in the trunk was an option for people who left their cars layed up (for example an owner may have a car at his villa in France and only visit once a year. The switch stops any ancillary current draw and helps keep the battery fresh.
Back in the late 60s a new organist came to our parish along with his amazing Silver Cloud II in silver. We became friends and were invited to many wonderful events in that luxurious auto. I then began washing, waxing and saddle soaping it and learning to appreciate the quality. To this day I can remember the smell, comfort and silence within and the feeling of such a marvelous work of art.
Bought one of these for my son's birthday . In black with red upholstery . It came with free post and batteries from Amazon.
How much was it
A classic car I've actually ridden in! At a wedding many years ago, was a smooth ride and quite an exciting experience for a little kid!
So quiet and elegant. It really makes sense why their cars are named Ghost, Wraith, Cloud, etc.
The next best thing to driving legendary vehicles is to be with Tedward. Fact.
Even today, you arrive to a fancy hotel or a casino with that masterpiece, they will open way for you, what a class, that view from the driving position, the imponent long hood with the spirit of ecstasy is something else
Fun Trivia: Rolls Royce may be considered the inventors of factory racing in the modern way. (and the reason you will not find on the RR homepage!)
In 1912 a few guys tok part in one of the hardest and famous rallyes of the time. The "Alpenfahrt" in Austria-Hungary.
This was quite the ride as they went over the highest and steepest mountain passes they had in what is now northern italy and austria.
Even Ferdinand Porsche took part (with an Austro-Daimler or Steyr car iirc). He was in the winning team more than once.
When they went up Katschberg Pass in 1912, the RR couldn't make it up the long steep incline.
Unlike today there was no bashing of RR for not making it up.
In the UK i don't even know if any newspaper even mentioned it. Yet the RR drivers told RR about it.
And they, wanting to be known for building the "best car" seems, were a little embarassed. What they did next, today would be called "Challenge accepted".
They changed the gearing, increased the cooling capacity and the hp... And went into the alps and tested at site.
-> this is the first time a manufacturer prepared this way for a race.
What came next actually is on the RR homepage: The factory sent 2 (i think) of these new cars with factory drivers to the 1913 Alpenfahrt.
And they won it. The RR model was called "Continental". And british newspapers did of course mention that.
That IS some fun trivia !.. Thank you for mentioning it here ! 😊
Oh my. This brings back So many wonderful memories. I had one of these beauties in the 80s...and loved every minute of driving Her. I often wish that I had not sold Her and that I still had her. Thank you for the wonderful memories. You showed this example off beautifully ! Nicely done !
That car is a beauty. I’m so envious you got to drive it. It sounds silky smooth.
I had the opportunity to work on a Rolls Royce from this era, when I was a mechanic in the late 1970s. I even took it for a test drive. I remember being impressed by the real wood interior and the fact that you had to hold the shift lever in reverse when reversing.
If the lever is adjusted correctly you don't have to hold the lever when reversing. reverse also acts as a parking brake on hese cars.
I have a 1965 lll 54,000 miles, & 1966 PV Both cars are in excellent condition. Those are the BEST made Roll Royce's cars.
A dashboard powered flashlight? Wow, what a feature.
A pretty Rolls that makes quite a bit of sound.
Old Datsuns also had a light with a long lead that could reach around the car.
As a British car so it's a torch not a flashlight.
Yes but on a RR your butler illuminates things for you, with the ultra posh 🔦
@@lundsweden Absolutely xD
What a finesse checking your tire pressure on the spare, without taking it out!
From what I've found the N/H switch controls the rear electric shock-absorbers. Apparently, these were quite troublesome to owners. They added another set of fluids to maintenance and were prone to leaky gaskets.
N is normal, H is hard and this is for the rear hydraulic dampeners. That switch controls a solenoid that changes the valving. They do tend to leak from the seals. When replaced with modern seals they don’t leak.
That was a pretty snazzy feature regardless, predating MagneRide by Delphi by nearly forty years.
"Just" a daydream!!! ❤
Rolls Royce is a class of it's own!!!
My great dream forever is a day with driving one of these legends... 🙏
Thank you Tedward. I really love your reviews, and the fact that you show old cars that are rarely seen anymore.
That was one of the best drives from the viewer’s perspective I have ever experienced. The site, sound, and explanation were perfect. Nice work!
wow I love seeing Massachusetts again, while living overseas for the past 25 years, not to take away from the beautiful car.
Amazing review Ted. A nearly 60 year old car that drives well in modern traffic, and looks stunning🥰♥️.
Best presentation of a Silver Cloud I have ever seen.
From a BMW M2 to this... no one can accuse Tedward of a lack of diversity! 😊
2023 M2 to 1964 Silver Cloud 3 to 2018 Freightliner
I'd rather have the Rolls.
Lovely old Roller , had a few myself , a bit of interesting info , that 4 speed box was initially used in WW2 on tanks , which is why it has no park facility , to lock it in a sort of park , you put it into reverse with the motor running and foot on the brake , turn the motor off and it locks as park does on an auto these days .
Actually it was a GM Hydramatic from 1940 that RR used for decades. Yes, 2 of them were used for a light tank (M5?). It worked but while others progressed, RR didn't.
To its credit, the GM Hydramatic is regarded as one of the smoothest automatics of its time.
Oh man, how buttery smooth this car feels over the video. I would certainly love to have the opportunity to drive one.
Dad bought and refreshed one of these for mom back in the late 80s.. Where it truly shone was driving out to Palm Springs. Get onto the 10 and run it up to 75 or so. AC was great, and the ride and steering got just perfect. Look back at your drive at around 14:40. When you got onto the highway and spun it up to 60 or so, the movement in the wheel diminishes, it just floats.. It was not a perfect city car, kinda way too big, and it is really not built for back roads, unless you have a patient chauffeur and some light reading in the back seat. But running on the highway at a comfortably high speed, was sublime.
Hi Tedward. In an accident with a BMW the Cloud will come out best. I've had a 1965 model for 42 years, as the second owner. I had a slight accident coming off a motorway in stop/start mode. I started when I should have stopped and hit the back of a then new Ford Granada. I had a small dent in the front overriders but the Ford chassis was buckled.
Excellent video....and superb style and elegance from 1964. Thank you. Greetings from Australia.
Les Griffiths
Thanks Les!
Wow, what an opportunity to drive such a beautiful classic. Thanks for this video.
Love the reviews on the older cars! Keep up the good work!! 👍
It was a revolutionary riding experience in its time. I remember passing by an automotive repair shop in NY in the 1970s and seeing a Silver Cloud on a lift a was struck by how long and particularly wide the shock absorbers were in comparison to other cars of the time and they were wider and longer than the then new McPherson struts that were becoming available in a few cars. They were similar in size to a McPherson strut you’d see in a large luxury sedan or SUV today.
The N/H switch on the steering collumn was for adjusting the power steering. N was the "normal" setting, and the H "hard" setting would stiffen the steering up for faster response. The Silver Clouds from this era have always been like watching artwork on the roads. Thank you for a great video!
That column switch has nothing to do with the power steering Sir, it altered the rate of the rear shock absorbers! I worked on these cars during my apprenticeship at a RR dealership. 😊😊😊
Sorry to correct. The switch turns on a constricted in the shocks for normal or hard suspension.
I have owned four of the series so know .y stuff. Greetings
@@punchwilliamson8383 yes but only on the rear shock absorbers as I said
This magnificent, bespoke Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III is possessed of a class, elegance & stateliness that is totally devoid in ANY of today's awful, plastic, computerised offerings! It's so redolent of a time in our history when things were built to last forever & it evokes a feeling of timelessness & sublime quality that will remain forever. Thank you SO much for this utterly superb video, it was a pure joy to watch!
جودة الصناعة الإنجليزية العظيمة في الماضي .. السيارة عمرها 60 سنة ومع ذلك كل شيء فيها يعمل بشكل مثالي .. ولا تصدر منها اي اصوات ..خرافية
Wonderful - This beautiful car has lived half a century & is still on the road ❤❤❤
This car was once my dream. Unfortunately, the dream remained.
What a ride! So much cooler than the new ones.
Agreed
4:24 Details like these are why I watch videos like this. Regular boring reviews skip over all this stuff that makes each car unique. It's a bit of a shame that you didn't interact with the switches on the dashboard, though.
The switch on the left side of the steering column is for adjusting the rear suspension for normal loads "N" and heavier rear loads the "H" setting.
I think that there is a joke that an owner was noting that the transmission is smooth except for the 2-3 shift, and was told that therefore it is working perfectly. I believe that the 1-2 shift you were discussing is actually the 2-3, since the Hydramatic doesn't have a converter so first is very short, and the car is into second almost immediately.
Rally used the Cadillac 4 speed automatic transmission. Cadillac had a lot of trouble in 1957 so they completely reengineered the transmission. Rolls tried shooting walnut hulls thru the cavities and a few other things and finally wound up just bolting it o0n the Rolls.
Absolutely beautiful car. It appears to have had the upholstery redone. Still looks to be Connelly hides, but the pleats are too flat. They should be more rounded for a little more definition. The pure wool Wilton carpets do look spectacular. Way back in 1983 I saw a Series 2 for sale in Toronto. The asking price was $13,000. Almost exactly what I paid for a brand new Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale. I should have bought the Rolls-Royce.
Years back I worked on restoring a '38 Phantom 3. Surprising to see how much some of the controls and indicators on the dash are unchanged, I guess quality do not need changes 🙂
And changes cost the company money. Also many of their customers were old and they enjoyed the familiarity.
In your video you mentioned the switch on the left with an R and an H, I believe that is for suspension options, whether you want a regular or hard ride. We had a 63 Bentley S3 with the same switch. She also had many of the same attributes as the lovely lady you are showing here.
Thank you for sharing.
I've always liked this vintage RR and enjoyed the opportunity to see what it's like driving and riding in one. I'm sold. I'd love to have it.
There are cars, there are luxury cars, then there are classic Rolls Royces. Nothing spared and just the best.
The Silver Cloud is old world luxury. No loud anything. Here it is and you won't find anything better.
I mean the engine could have made 300 HP, but the figure was always "sufficient."
Adequate
I so enjoyed watching this. You did a great job describing the driving experience. The neighbourhoods you drove to seemed appropriate for this car. I'm partial to these cars so this may well be my favourite episode of your channel. Maybe a Silver Shadow next time?
In my view, Rolls-Royce lost some of the magic with the Silver Shadow, which lacked the timeless quality of the previous cars. Instead the Shadow seemed geared for the 70’s and for time of cost cutting. Plus I can never look at one and not see a resemblance to the Checker cab of all things.
This is one of the few cars I have never owned, but I have a friend who has one. It's amusing to me because while it's very well made everything about it looks and feels so antiquated compared to my '64 Cadillac.
After an illness I decide to celebrate "my return" with a 50th birthday present - a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 2. Not the same model as in this video but just imagine the 15 year younger version with tweaks. WHY a Rolls when fuel in Europe is so expensive compared to the US? Simple: an Englishman living in Austria seemed logical for the two advantages not covered in the video.
1) Insurance for an old-timer (car not me) is much cheaper because the insurance companies tend to recognise it is likely to be driven slower, more cautiously, less risky etc...and
2) Repairs - yes - surprisingly: Rolls Royce can have repair issues but VERY rarely.
3 and 4 which I just thought of): Value depreciates so much slower that other luxury cars, especially on an older Used Car - so in terms of owning a Rolls Royce older model, I bought it and enjoyed my treasure for 11 years selling it for almost the same price I bought it.!!
Without doubt the cheapest motoring I ever had.
Compare it to buying a similar luxury limousine like say, a Mercedes top end which will reduce in value by around 25% the moment you turn the key first time and continue to drop about 20% or more each year thereafter. Can you name another car you can buy and drive for 10 years + and sell for the same price?
Father owned a 1957 silver cloud convertible. I absolutely LOVED weekend drives up the 101 freeway along the coast of Southern California. And the occasional car show: I remember how devastated we all were when some A hole took a key to the lacquer paint.
Those SC dropheads were certainly among the most elegant cars the company ever produced.
These will iron out bumps like nothing else I've driven, truly a Cloud.
I wish you had tried some manual shifting. BTW, that 1-2 lunge or clunk is endemic to the original 4-speed Hydramatic. It had a fascinating arrangement of components, with the fluid coupling actually positioned BEHIND the first planetary gear assembly... In fact, while they may have been thirstier around town, this arrangement made the transmission more efficient in high gear than the later torque-converter units until the advent of the torque-converter-clutch. It's amazing, though, that Rolls was still using the Hydramatic while GM was shifting (pardon the pun!) to the Turbo-Hydramatic...
Bond group looking after you Ted, Stunning motor
You can do such kind of speeds in a 1964 RR😳 can't believe this. It also has a razor sharp handling. It corners like a dream.
I doubt that any RR ever had "razor sharp" handling. When production in England was at its end, a friend bought a new Bentley Continental. It was really beautiful but pitched and wallowed on the highway. The suspension was not up the power and weight.
It was impossible to keep out of the dealer's repair shop long enough to really enjoy so he sold it after a year or so.
Lovely car, aged pretty well ❤.. Ted you are doing top notch videos, I gotta give it to you man 👍🏼
No 500k supercar could hold a candle to this. It is a work of art to say the least. I would thoroughly enjoy driving it but I would also have a friend drive it so I can sit in the back and pretend I am a member of the Royal family, and when we pull up to Balmoral Castle, everyone there will bow their heads, then say Good evening "Your Royal Highness" "how about a good round of Polo" ? "Your horse awaits you sir"
This is the best video I have ever seen about driving the
Rolls Royce Silve Cloud. You really see from behind the wheel.
That is one of my favorite RR cars. With regard to the loud clunk
sound coming from the transmission, that should not sound
like that at all. I heard it and I think it was good of you to bring
it up. You can not help but hear it. The transmission needs to be
worked on, something is very wrong with it. Those cars are
supposed to shift as smooth as silk at any speed. The Queen
would not have approved of it shifting like that.
Thank you for this great video. You made me laugh out loud
when you said the Queens Wave. You deserve the Queens Wave
for such a great driving video.
Jeff❤
so what is the N & H switch?
Not supa hot fire
And
Hot hot supa hot fire
N & H
Rear shock absorber adjustment is what I found
Normal and Hard, to help you deal with poor road surfaces
Had the chance to drive an early 60's Rolls. The owner's manual in the glove box listed the horsepower as "adequate." It was a straight 6 cylinder engine, and it was the quietest, smoothest engine I've ever experienced in a car.
This model of RR is car of my dreams
Great review of a really nice automobile. The tour made me exceptionally homesick!
First car that made me sleepy just by watching you drive it. It's like moving ambient calm noise generator.
So before it was a flashlight now it is an umbrella so thoughtful qnd generous
He truly does respect the drive.... for the art and love of driving....I like your style teddy...and by the way your voice and hands are okay. Enjoy yourself.
I love how quiet it is. Nice!
Nice to see you in the horn button.
Omg, this was one of my grandmother’s cars!! Loved it.
Too bad it was always ill and its kiss of death, ethyl…There were a handful of stations that sold it and I think I recall them putting airplane fuel in it in a pinch..
It was so cool but also put you on display. Almost every single eyeball would be on you in that car - especially if she fetched me at school..
Thanks for the ride! Love the wood/leather interior design
I love these cars, I remember as a kid watching the series "Burke's Law' on TV with a Silver Cloud. For me as a Texan, weakest point is the lack of air conditioning; the aftermarket units were so far behind our American cars. Fortunately the Shadow was designed for it.
I loved these cars growing up, still looks great.
A lovely afternoon drive in a solid, quiet, leather-wrapped British den.
Those seemingly pointless sail-panel mirrors were originally cigarette compartments... Based upon the 1936 that we had, there were holes drilled downward - probably 20 - that held unfiltered-length cigarettes that actually ROSE UP as the lid was lifted! 80>
Best Rolls -Royce ever! I think I am right in saying this was the last Rolls to have a coach-built body on a proper separate chassis. Only thing better than this is the Harold Radford Countryman conversion. It has fold down back seats that turn into a proper bed, spare water carriers in the front doors, a steerable spotlight in the bottom for the radiator grille that is controlled from the dashboard, and the boot lid folds out flat to form a picnic table, with leather upholstered seats that fit on the rear bumper so you can have your picnic in style!
If you want to know about performance try to find a RR ad featuring Tony Brooks, (F1 driver recently deceased) who took an SC III to the South of France and definitely didn't hang around!
An old Dowager Lady like this isn't meant for speed or performance, that's for sure. But if one needs to make a quick escape from some undesirable roustabouts one will find a Rolls will deliver. lol These cars really are timeless and I appreciated the ridealong. :)
The N and H switch is for your suspension adjustment. It's either Normal or Hard
absolutely bonkers for 1964.
Humber Imperial had a similar addition.
Great video. Excellent job of capturing the qualities of this wonderful machine.
That switch is for the headlights, H is the high beams, N stands for normal beams. I had a 61 Silver Cloud II Short Wheelbase. The 8-cylinder engine was made by Rolls but transmission was an General Motors Oldsmobile 2 speed transmission.
Nope. Rear shock adjustment and the auto trans was a 4 speed GM Hydramatic. You are correct that the 1939 trans. was offered in Olds of 1940.
its an epidemy of style & ultimate comfort
The Bentley S3 was the corresponding model to the Silver Cloud III.
beautiful car. loved the pov driving part.
Oh my; I love this car!! You nail it everytime.. man, what a dreamjob you have. Kudos to you! Big fan!
An absolute beauty. Inside and out. No questions asked 😎👌
Thank you for this. It's lovely, regal, majestic, imposing and oh so stylish. Way prefer the looks of this to the modern versions, inside and out. That probably goes for the owners, too. I'm surprised how well it drives. 6:14 This switch, N is for Nuke, and H is for Hydrogen, or perhaps those features arrive in the future. It's the ride quality control switch, Normal and Hard.
My Uncle Bernard had a 1964 Silver Cloud III. I remember as a boy thinking it was an awesome car. He would self drive to pick us up at London City Airport and take us to our hotel. His Chauffeur told me the N and H stood for “Normal” and “Hard and controlled the suspension. He would us the “Hard” setting when driving on the two lane, twisty, turning, hilly B Roads when we would go out of town to visit my cousins. The “Hard” setting made it easier to drive the car on B Roads. In the city, or on the Motorway, he would select C for comfort which was a softer ride.
The lever in the trunk on the right hand side was a switch to disconnect the battery. Often owners would disconnect the battery if they were not going to use the car for a couple of weeks. My understanding was the battery would go flat after around two weeks without being driving if you didn’t turn off the switch.
Great video! It brought back many happy memories. Thank you.
I remember film companies at the time used Rolls Royce chassis for camera and operators - because of it's smoothness!
One compeitor back in the 70s was the Citroën DS Safari.The BBC usesd these due to their super smooth suspension. Have a look on TH-cam for "1976: JOHN NOAKES rides a BBC TV CITROËN DS SAFARI". Citroën DS complete with 3KW generator! No one was too worried about carbon emissions back then.
Cars are already going from bubble to sharper. But i hope they keep going until they look like 50 or 60's THAT WOULD BE A DREAMMMMMM.
I grew up not far from there, and it was great fun watching you drive these roads I'm very familiar with. Thought it confused me when you (apparently) hung a Uey on Lexington Rd and went back into the center of Lincoln, then went out Bedford Rd to Rte 2.
Thanks for posting this. I have loved rolls royces since I was a kid, but have never ridden in one. Thus vid takes me close!
I would love to try out one of these ... i got a 73 Shadow that is a pleasure of its own, but a quite different car by any means ... but i can also feel the "boaty feeling" as i watch your viedeo ;-)
N and H : normal and high-beam on the headlights, perhaps?
(Though in the UK we would say dipped and full-beam).
Most people's dream cars are Lamborghinis and bmws, but my dream car is this.
R & H switch is for the suspension selection . I think it’s Roads or Highway
The damping of the shock absorbers.
Such a lovely car; the toggle switch on the left of the column is supposed to be for the suspension-N = normal, H = hard.
6:44 I've watched a ton of videos showing the interiors of cars, but I think that's the first time I've seen a speedometer laid out like that. It's upside down, weird.
It's a dream, thank you.