Although Rollsy-Royce built a handful of V-8 engined cars prior to 1910 and the Phantom III used a V-12 and the Phantom IV (total production 18) used a straight 8, the Silver Cloud II was the first modern model to use a V-8. This is an aluminum engine with cast-iron cylinder sleeves of 380.2 cu. in. Fuel milage is 10-11 mpg. Horsepower declared as “adequate” hauls this 4,450 poind car to 60 mph in just 10.9 seconds and tops out at 113 mph according to the British “Autocar” magazine tests. The automatic transmission is the best Rolls-Royce engineers felt they could find: a General Motor’s Turbo-Hydramatic.
Rolls-Royce has always been renowened for its quiet ride which is partly due to the body having no metal to metal contact with the chassis expept through the speedometer cable.
2716 Silver Cloud 11 Rolls-Royce models were built between 1959-1962. In 1962, you could purchase 8 Ramblers for the cost of the Rolls-Royce and have a couple hundred dollars left over.
On loan from George McEvay, Boothbay Harbor, ME