Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II

Description

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1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Radford Countryman

6.2L V8, Automatic, left hand drive, Very Rare

Designed for Quail hunting, African safaris and East Indian tiger hunts, this long wheelbase

Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II was custom made by coachbuilder Harold Radford. With very few

left hand drive models in existence, this particular car features split folding rear seats, offside

cabinets for Ice thermos, Spirit flasks with glasses & wine bottles. Light folding picnic table,

Espresso coffee percolator, Webasto sunroof, fishing rod container and more.

Powered by a 6.2L V8 and 4 speed automatic transmission, this beautiful machine is rolling art

on wheels, and must be seen to be fully appreciated.

Harold Radford decided to enter the coachbuilding trade during the period of the early postwar

period, i.e., during a time when independent coachbuilders were hit by fading demand. His first

designs based on prewar utilities and general purpose vans as used during wartime were

translated into reality by coachbuilders Seary & McReady on Bentley Mark VI chassis. Within a

few years Harold Radford had a controlling interest in Seary & McReady and the company was

relocated from Southgate to Ealing and the name was changed to Harold Radford

(Coachbuilders) Ltd. Hence this company was responsible for all the later creations on chassis

Bentley Mark VI, Bentley R- and Bentley S-series as well as bodies on the sister models with

the square radiator. The name of Harold Radford quickly became synonymous with quality

coachwork and luxurious interior appointments. From 1951 until 1963 Radford had his own

stand in the Coachbuilding Section of the London Motor Show and the company was awarded a

bronze medal in 1952 and no less than nine (!) silver medals during the following years.

However there was the fact that bodies built in the traditional way by skilled craftsmen were

almost prohibitively expensive at some 50 to 60 %25 above the price of a standard body ex

factory.

This was an example of Harold Radford's attempts to avoid the "cost-trap" by clever

rationalizing. He offered "Countryman adaptations" without expensive alterations to the outward

appearance of the car. A raised bootlid did improve the capacity of the luggage compartment

and a most convenient addition were split folding rear seats which allowed to stow even bulky

luggage.

From the vast range of over 40 luxury optional extras as offered in Radford's brochure quite a

few had been selected for this particular car including picnic tables enhanced by cup-holders,

cigar-humidor and writing table in the rear armrest plus cabinets with various uses behind the

front seats, drinks cabinet and accessories as well as large lockers in the front doors for various

purposes. Redesigned front seats with reclining squabs provided to convert seats to a bed.

Harold Radford maintained he had been the first to be allowed by Rolls-Royce to fit 'Webasto'

sunroofs. Two small toadstool cushions which screwed into the rear overriders plus a special

picnic table to be fitted to the car's boot enabled people to celebrate a picnic in style.