1959 Rolls-Royce Hooper Silver Cloud I Empress LWB

1959 Rolls-Royce Hooper Silver Cloud I Empress LWB Two Door Saloon Coupe, chassis BLC35 and engine C34B. 

The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I was built between 1955 and 1959 with a total of 2360 units, of which 122 were long wheelbase models, which first came available in 1957. There were only 121 short wheelbase chassis that were fitted with special coach-built bodies and of the long wheelbase versions only 36 were ever bodied. The Silver Cloud & quot;Empress & quot; was one of these rare long wheelbase coach models. Eighteen examples of the Silver Cloud I Empress LWB were made by Hooper and it is one of the last creations made by the renowned Hooper Coachbuilding Company before they ceased coach building in 1959. This is Design # 8546, a Two Door 4 Light Saloon Coupe that is the only one ever produced by Hooper. It incorporates a long sweeping line and very pretty and distinctive, swirling spats at the rear. Rolls-Royce records show that this car was originally purchased by The Daily Telegraph Newspaper/Lady Camrose, the long-time companion and eventual wife of John Seymour Berry, 2nd Viscount Camrose (12 July 1909 15 February 1995). Berry was a British nobleman, politician, and owner of the Daily Telegraph. It is widely published that John Seymour Berry s father, William Berry, 1 st  Viscount Camrose was a close personal friend of Winston Churchill, making it easy to imagine that many of Englands elite upper class at some point may have ridden in this unique and prestigious automobile. There is a fascinating link in that Lady Camrose was once married to Aly Kahn, son of the Aga Kahn. Within just a few years, both father and son (or daughter in law) purchased extraordinarily distinctive coachwork from Hooper, with the father ordering a very stylish and unique Hooper body on a Phantom IV, one of the most important cars produced by Rolls-Royce since 1945 and winner of its class at Pebble Beach in 2015. 

The chain of ownership since Lady Camrose is well recorded. The noted Rolls-Royce London dealers, Frank Dale & Stepson have extensive records, including many early invoices, from the time they sold the car in 1974 and, after reviewing their files, have even found the spare key which would be made available to the new owner! There is a less gilded period in the cars history when it was owned by Herb Wetanson who owned the Wetsons hamburger (the Big W was the signature burger) restaurant chain in the greater New York area. During this time or soon after, work was done by John Dennison, the noted Rolls-Royce mechanic in PA, USA. This is reported by Paul Bier, son of the party who bought the car from Wetanson in about 1980. In March 2016 the car underwent extensive mechanical restoration to rebuild the entire braking system and to return the car to running order. There is full documentation showing all the work that has been performed. Over $20,000 has been spent on the mechanical overhaul. The engine is now blissfully quiet and balanced. Outside a new Rolls-Royce, BLC35 is quieter than almost any other Rolls-Royce, amongst hundreds, ever heard by the writer. The hydraulically operated rear passenger seat, installed by Hooper, allows for a handicapped person to easily sit on the rotated and elevated rear seat at the front passenger door.

Then, once activated, it will automatically return to the rear passenger compartment. Currently the seat can only be operated manually and will require a flushing of the hydraulic lines and pump. Once returned to its rear positon, the seat is beautifully integrated with the other rear seat and the whole arrangement is barely visible. It is an extraordinary testament to the technical and aesthetic genius of Hooper at the time. The writer believes that even in 2016, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars could not match this in creativity and imagination. The leather is original. Unless for Concours, it would be preferable to arrange a skilled repair and refurbishment to retain its immense appeal. The wood finish is largely original and usable but would benefit from refinishing, certainly for Show. The structure would appear to be outstanding and the passenger door, inevitably large on a two door coupe, closes with the conviction of a new car. An extraordinarily rare car, a highpoint of Hoopers prowess, well suited for immediate use with only minimal attention, or to a greater Concours destiny Short walk around video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk9Gaf6cSzs

Many pictures available.

Many book references, including references from the esteemed

Rolls-Royce publications of Dalton Watson, available on request

Never ever been previously presented and thus an

outstanding potential opportunity for Pebble Beach and

other Concours appearances worldwide.


Price: $