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Books Models Highlights Cars
of 98 |
Car of
the Month - October 98 |
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 Presumably it has been part of Rolls-Royce's success that the company has always been keen to fulfil any desire even by slightly eccentric customers. In 1961 it was not unusual when a wish for custom-built coachwork was expressed - the company offered a perfectly suitable basis in the form of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, which was delivered complete or as chassis cum engine only. It was rather unusual though when a client ordered a body in the form of a Sedanca de Ville to be fitted to that chassis. After all those days had gone when chauffeur was exposed to the elements while passengers were protected in comfort. However just such an outdated design was ordered by Nubar Gulbenkian, one of the most wealthy men in the world. He was a well-known customer to Rolls-Royce - and his sometimes strange styling ideas were well-known too.
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 A second clock and a separate speedometer to inform
the passengers in the rear compartment was built into the division: Specially upholstered
rear seats with back-rests of different heights were not considered as a problem.
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Panelcraft built the body in conjunction with Rolls-Royce - the company arranged a one-off
handbook to be printed for this unique motor car. After this Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II
Sedanca de Ville had been stored for several years in a collection in Germany it recently
came into the custody of an enthusiast in France.
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When he asked for an interior with no visible wood
this was dealt with by covering the fascia and the division's capping completely with
leather.
Some more work was necessary because rear-hinged rear doors had
been asked for (the standard body did show front-hinged rear doors) and headlamps as well
as taillamps were distinctively to special design. But topping it all was the roof with
its Sedanca hood operated by a most complicated electro-mechanism.
