Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II gallery (1959–1962)
The second generation of the series introduced a newly developed all-aluminum 6.2-liter V8 engine.
Announced in the autumn of 1959, the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II retained the exterior silhouette of its predecessor while introducing a radically upgraded powertrain. The centerpiece was an all-new 6.2-liter aluminum alloy V8 engine (the L-series V8), which yielded substantially improved acceleration and torque while maintaining exceptional refinement and quietness. The V8 was paired with a four-speed GM-derived automatic gearbox. To support the increased performance, the Silver Cloud II received power steering as standard equipment, redesigned heating and ventilation controls, upgraded front suspension dampening, and optional electric windows. Both short-wheelbase (123 inches) and long-wheelbase (127 inches) chassis variants were produced in Standard Steel Saloon specification, alongside custom coachbuilt bodies by Mulliner and Park Ward. The second generation enjoyed strong international demand, especially in the United States and Commonwealth territories, establishing the L-series V8 architecture that would power Rolls-Royce and Bentley models for the next six decades.
