The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was the core model of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars range from April 1955 until March 1966. It replaced the Silver Dawn and was, in turn, replaced by the Silver Shadow. The J.P. Blatchley design was a major change from the pre-war models and the highly derivative Silver Dawn. As part of a range rationalisation, the Bentley..
Successor to the R-Type, the Bentley S1 was introduced in 1955 with a whole new chassis; the car's wheelbase had been extended three inches to 123”, and the luggage compartment was expanded. The S1 had softer suspension than the R-Type, with electrically controlled rear shock absorbers. Brakes had been improved, and the steering was lighter, even m..
The Jaguar Mk. VIII was introduced at the 1956 London Motor Show and shared its ten-foot wheelbase with its predecessor, the Jaguar Mk. VII, which outwardly it closely resembled. However, the interior fittings were more luxurious than those of the Mk. VII. Distinguishing visually between the models is facilitated by changes to the front grille, the..
Registered new on 12th August 1957, this rare Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk. II was coachbuilt by Tickford and was delivered new to a gentleman in London in its original colour combination of black over a beige interior. Having passed through the hands of various other owners the DB2/4 was later acquired on 20th May 1966 by our vendors late father, Doctor ..
The Bentley S2 Saloon and Continental models all received a shot in the arm in 1959 when introduced at London Motor Show, the Rolls-Royce/Bentley straight-six engine was replaced by an all-new aluminium V8 unit. The more muscular engine, producing approximately 200bhp, was designed primarily to deliver more torque, but it also allowed the company t..
With demand for American styled cars in the UK soaring, Vauxhall announced the PA series Cresta in 1957, with styling cues from its older General Motors siblings such as tail fins, wrap around windscreen, whitewall tyres and lashings of chrome. Power came from the tried and tested 2,262cc straight six-engine from the previous Cresta E, and a larger..
In 1954, Mercedes displayed a concept version of the 190SL at the New York Auto show alongside the 300 SL ‘Gullwing’. This concept came to market in 1955 as the 190 SL. A more approachable, less intense sports car compared to the record-breaking 300 SL Gullwing. While the 190 SL featured a carburetted 1.9 litre in-line four-cylinder engine compared..
Introduced in late 1954, the Porsche 356 Speedster was a true dual-purpose sports car – one that could serve as both daily transportation and, with minor modifications, a successful weekend race car.
Originally priced at $2,995 – well below Porsche’s Coupe and Cabriolet models – the Speedster was equipped with a stylish, cut-down windsc..
Launched in 1958, the XK150 S represents the ultimate development of Jaguar’s legendary line of XK sports cars. In its original 3.4-litre form, the “S” model yielded significant performance dividends, with three SU carburetors, straight-port intake manifolds, and upgraded camshafts contributing 60 hp over the standard XK150. Equipped with Le Man..
Jaguar’s XK140 added several meaningful developments to its predecessor, the XK120, which had stunned the public when it debuted in 1948. Clever repackaging increased interior space, while the technical specification gained rack and pinion steering and telescopic shock absorbers. Some of Jaguar’s most thrilling technical innovations, which contr..