This will be the third Roller I’ve learned about this year that has been converted from the stately lump that weighs in at about half a cruise ship to GM LS power. A Rolls-Royce with GM powertrain components? Yes, ok…they used a variation of a GM automatic that Rolls-Royce licensed, that’s very true. But c’mon, an LS? Nevermind the usual crying out over the late-model mill, imagine how a typical Rolls enthusiast feels about that. It’s like finding a gorgeous work of art and drawing “Kilroy was here” graffiti in the northwest corner because you felt like it. Originally, a 1958 Roller would have come with a 300 cubic inch inline-six that cranked out 155 horsepower and just enough torque to adequately move 4,600-plus pounds of British opulence…it was certainly “adequate”, alright.
ICON, you should know. The company, headed up by Johnathan Ward, is basically a restomod wizard. They are known for making trick Toyota FJ40s, early Broncos, bitchin’ Power Wagons, even going so far as to do up a solidly evil 9C1 Caprice for a customer with special..um…”requests”. The guy doesn’t half-ass what he does. Ward puts together cars based upon a level of build…in this case, the Silver Cloud is a “Derelict” build…that means that the car visually keeps it’s age and wear, but has been brought up to modern powertrain, handling and brake levels. We like the dude’s style. Not the clothes, but his overall demeanor that is displayed right off the bat!
This has to be Geordies favorite car EVER !!
Cool Rolls Royce, is this a Christmas present for CHMG?
love it
I can’t say I’d be sorry to lose the old F-head inline six. There aren’t any creditable mods for that kind of old lump. The old 4-speed GM Hydramatic wasn’t very efficient, although it DID complement the inefficiency of the engine very well… I was surprised they binned original chassis frame. That frame looked to me like leftovers from building the Tyne Bridge and just as strong. Jonathan Ward here found that original frame to be made multiple layers of flimsy sheet metal. Kudos to Mr. Ward, though, for chucking out the ancient Hispano-Suiza-designed transmission servo-assisted drum brakes. They’re hydraulic drums in the front and mechanically-actuated drums in the rear. When the car is idling in traffic, more pedal pressure is needed to slow and stop the car. It’s not bad, but it’s not a consistent brake feel, either. This car must be far more fun to drive than the original Series 1 Cloud. It be interesting to see if a turbocharged 1990s Rolls-Royce/Bentley engine could be stuffed into one of these along with a 4L80E and discs…without all the Citroën palaver, please…all around. Perhaps maybe someone’s done that, and we’ll see it in BangShift one of these fine days…
Ah ye aaall reet mate?
Ah think ye are another Geordie…
I’m from down in Suffolk, unfortunately, but it has been my distinct pleasure to have been up your way a time or two.
The original Silver Cloud I chassis were a welded steel box design.very rigid and stiff.
Interestingly,in 1959,Rolls-Royce offered a Silver Cloud I Estate Wagon.
2 were built,both on the short wheelbase design for Silver Cloud I versions.
Left-hand drive.Automatic transmission.
Among the accoutrements were rear seats that folded down,permitting transport of luggage up to 6\’ long.( Wink,wink).
Air conditioning,coat hangers,radio,and cloth top.
What say,governor?
You know one day these dipshits will swop an LS into a Chevy that already has one under its hood. I have heard of a Hemi powered Rolls Royce out there that is going to blow this abortion’s tyres off and I’d love to see that. But for the real thinking man’s RR transplant just put a twin turbo Bentley V8 under that lovely hood running of 10 bar of boost – dare to be different always wins!