ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER CLOUD III HJ MULLINER PARK WARD CONVERTIBLE

1965 Rolls-Royce SILVER CLOUD III Description

LUCY, A DELIGHTFUL MOTORCAR


One of 49 convertible Silver Cloud III's built by H.J. Mulliner Park Ward Ltd. coachbuilders to design #2045, commonly referred to as the "Chinese Eye" version, this beautiful motorcar reflects the state-of-the-art design in Great Britan in the mid 1960's. Mostly aluminiun, she was hand crafted and fitted with refrigeration (airconditioning), power window lifts, power top, automatic gearchange, leather, Wilton cut pile carpeting, and beautiful burl woodwork. The leather is white with taupe piping, appears original, with only very slight wear to the driver's seat. Carpet and door panels show no wear and the wood is completely undamaged. Round Marchal parking lamps were fitted to the front fenders; an option typically found on european delivery cars as are the yellow fog lamps. These may have been changed from white lenses at some time in her life. Complete Rolls-Royce tool kit and original owner's book supplied.
Mechanically, she is excellent. Her V-8 engine was the final development in the Silver Cloud series and is smooth, quiet, and powerful. Transmission shifts well and the braking is excellent. A mechanical servo acting on three independent hydralic systems makes for smooth, safe, and effective braking that is up to modern requirements.
More recently, a complete service and detailing was performed by a highly respected Rolls-Royce specialist just prior to our purchase earlier this year.
Build records supplied with the car indicate that she was sold and shipped from the factory to a T. Greenburg at 8366 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles (the business address of Karl's Shoe Store owned by Harry Karl, Debbie Reynolds husband at that time) on October 8, 1965. At that time LCSC121 B was Valentines Black with White Leather 173/1002, with a white hood (top). Further documentation from a copy of a STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTOMOBILE certification of ownership (TA 1078314, dated 05/31/67) showing Gary Morton, 1000 N. ROXBURY DR, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA was the owner at that time. Mr Morton was married to Lucille Ball of "I LOVE LUCY" television and movie fame. I was told that Lucy did not like the black exterior and had it changed to white.
A print of a Barrett-Jackson 2003 Scottsdale NO RESERVE auction stated that lot 699 (LCSC 121B) was sold for $110,000. It stated the ownership included both Ms Reynolds and Ms Ball. Also, it said that the car had undergone a cosmetic restoration which was finished in January 1997. That information must have been given and supported to auction company at that time to be published.
For an unbiased valuation from a collector car insurance company try Hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1965-Rolls~Royce-Silver_Cloud_III-HJ_Mulliner
Lucy is not a condition #1 example but would qualify for a strong #2 with the Hagerty Valuation making her a $660,000 value plus 10% for factory air conditioning fitted, or $726,000 without any added consideration for "Celebrity" value. NADA shows a high retail of $475,900 for the HJ Mulliner Drophead Coupe and, confusingly, shows a much lower value for "hjm-pw" convertible.
Similar car sales we found include: 2014 Keno Brothers auction (LSCX 789) $575,000 2013 RM Auctions (SEV 377) $577,500 2012 Bohnams (LSEV 169) $476,738 2010 RM Auctions (LSCX 283) $429,000 2009 Gooding and Company (LSC 783) $429,000
LCSC 121B is not an "adaptive" standard steel saloon or a recent "chop top" Silver Cloud sedan made into a convertible. She is a genuine, low mileage, coachbuilt, drophead with celebrity history that could be driven or shown anywhere. She has appeared at the Jamestown, New York "Lucy Festival" where Lucille Ball was born.
We actually own her not some entity in the UK, Seattle, or elsewhere. I wrote the check to the previous owner, collected both car and title, and transported them home to Taylors, South Carolina where they remain today. I have represented LCSC 121B honestly,to the best of my knowledge with real supported facts based on published and private research I made before purchase. She was bought for resale through my South Carolina dealer's license and we are offering her for sale for considerably less than "book" value. Is she a bargain in the making? Perhaps, and she could be your bargain.
Please feel free to contact me by voice with any questions,
David864-580-0836