Description

1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III

Recon gearbox; formerly owned by actor Roy Stewart; a genuine '60s Kings Road icon with leopard print headlining: simply GROOVY!

Delivered new through Jack Barclay and first registered in December 1963, the factory build record and test sheets confirm that this Cloud III was originally painted Midnight blue, trimmed in Tan Connolly leather and was ordered by a gent from Moorgate in London.

A purchase note (undated) from Jack Barclay shows that they sold it, presumably to Roy Stewart, the details referring to a paint change to ICI Violet over Ermine White. There is a continuation logbook on file with Stewart's name in it dating from 1971 and this may, or may not, be when he purchased it - the V5C listing him as the only former keeper prior to our vendor acquiring it....so, either the V5C is incorrect or the original order was cancelled and the car colour-changed when new. This was not uncommon.

Roy Stewart was a very well-known character. He started his career as a stunt man and opened a gym in Kensington (where Sean Connery toned himself for the Bond films) as well as a Caribbean club and restaurant called 'The Globe' in nearby Talbot Street. This became extremely fashionable in the Swinging Sixties and was frequented by Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Van Morrison - in fact Hendrix was seen there the night before his tragic death.

He also developed a successful acting career, starring as Quarrel Junior in the James Bond film 'Live and Let Die', various Carry On films as well as lots of TV work during the '60s and '70s.

Flamboyant and fashionable, he had leopard skin material fitted to the head lining and a drinks cabinet fitted behind the rear seats (he was done three times for selling booze from his gym where he hosted an 'after hours' club) and was very much part of the Kings Road set. The history file includes Stewart's Equity Card from 1966, business cards for a variety of ventures he was involved with and one for 'The Pack of Cards' club - 'Girls Girls & Dolls'!

Moving on to the car itself, the vendor acquired it in 2013 (some five years after Stewart died) and has enjoyed using it, although it hasn't been the 'go to' car in his collection so it has covered very few miles since.

Now Mauve over silver, it has air conditioning which is untested and a few added switches and gadgets which we haven't had time to investigate either - it even comes with a drinks cabinet behind the rear seat with glasses and a champagne bucket...The seats look to have been professionally retrimmed in blue leather at some point in the recent past.

The vendor spent £4,200 in 2021 on a fully reconditioned gearbox and torque converter from JT Automatics in Kent, adding that his journey of over 100 miles to the sale is probably the furthest he has driven the car.

The paintwork is average, but the car looks solid which is the main thing with these Clouds. The tinted windows, mauve highlights and wacky headlining add a roguish anti-establishment layer and we think it is terrific fun - like a toned-down John Lennon Rolls.

Having Historic Vehicle tax status, it is ULEZ exempt - what fun it would be wafting up and down the Kings Road.

Bidders are advised that it isn't currently running on all eight so could do with a good service. The noise at the end of the video is a creak from the dash caused by the uneven running.

For more information - contact [email protected]