Rolls-Royce Silver Clouds, Standard and Long

For 1955, Rolls-Royce finally joined the post- World War 2 trend to "envelope" bodies, where fenders were largely or entirely integrated with the main car body.  The resulting Silver Cloud was perhaps the best Rolls-Royce design of the 1949-to-present era when RR supplied complete all-metal bodies.  (Previously, Rolls-Royce bodies were created by coachbuilding firms.)

I posted a Silver Cloud Walkaround here.  The Wikipedia entry for the Silver Cloud is here.

Basic Silver Clouds could be owner-driven, supposedly a step down from the aristocratic/luxurious practice of the owner seated in the rear, the driver being a chauffeur.  Since that didn't comport with Rolls' position at the apex of the motoring world, a lengthened version was introduced for 1957.  Standard and lengthened Silver Clouds are compared in today's post.

Wheelbases, regular and long: 123 ionches (3124 mm), 127 inches (3226 mm).

Lengths, regular and long: 213 inches (5410 mm), 215.7 inches (5480 mm).

Lengthening was achieved in the rear passenger compartment, its exterior form being a wider door.  Now a chauffeured Rolls could carry its back-seated owner in proper comfort.

Both cars in the Gallery below were listed for sale on the Internet.

Gallery

1957 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I - car-for-sale photos
The standard, first-generation Silver Cloud.  Designer John P. Blatchley included the then-traditional Rolls-Royce grille and hood, an essentially-envelope body, and a 1950-vintage British sports car fenderline.  An odd assortment, but he made it work very well.  When the subject of Rolls-Royce comes up, this is one of a few designs that comes to my mind immediately.

1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Long Wheelbase - car-for-sale photos
Second-generation Silver Clouds differed from the first generation mechanically, not styling-wise.

Differences are best seen in side views.  This is the initial, classic profile.

Long wheelbase version with its larger passenger compartment greenhouse.  The retractible rear door main window is clearly wider, as is the fixed window abaft of it.  Door cutlines on the rear fender seem the same.  The C-pillar is narrower here.  The overall effect is a moderate downgrade from the standard's profile.

Note the slight sculpting forming the C-pillar's profile transition to the roofline.  A subtle, useful touch.

It's missing here, the C-pillar - roofline - backlight window zone becoming curved, softer.  And less visually interesting.