1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud IIIFrench title Chassis no.

SDW31- Elegant configuration
- Final evolution of the Silver Cloud before the introduction of the Silver Shadow
- 6.2-litre V8 engine with an automatic gearbox, ensuring smoothness driving
 
As early as the 1950s, Rolls-Royce engineers recognised that their six-cylinder engine had reached the end of its development potential.

Harry Grylls’ engine team was therefore tasked with designing an entirely new power unit.

At the time, no one could have anticipated that this engine—and its derivatives—would remain in production until 1995, nor that it would ultimately become the last engine designed entirely in-house by the prestigious marque, before BMW was selected to power future Rolls-Royce and Bentley models with V12 units.
An alternative concept existed at the time in the form of the B-80 straight-eight engine of 5.7 litres, but it was only ever fitted to the Phantom IV, produced in just eighteen examples over six years.

Early ...