1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupé by James Young (SC15VL)
- Colour
- Oxford Blue
A uniquely rare 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I drophead coupe bodied by James Young of Bromley, Kent, to design SC15VL — one of only two built on left-hand-drive chassis, both with aluminium coachwork. Originally delivered to Alfred Hart, a colourful California socialite with connections to Al Capone and the founding of City National Bank of Beverly Hills, the car has passed through several notable American collectors and presents today in Oxford Blue with a Saddle Tan interior, believed to retain its original mileage of under 52,000 miles.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$671,000
- —Auction saleSold US$648,500
- 1959-05-22 →Factory deliveryAlfred Hartpartial documentation
Prominent Bel Air, California socialite with ties to banking, real estate, and hospitality industries; car was specified with power top, radio antenna, and power windows.
- → 1975Acquisition unknownAnthony Prestonpartial documentation
Noted Rolls-Royce enthusiast based in New York, known for extended stewardship of a Phantom II Henley Roadster.
- 1975 → 1978Acquisition unknownCharles Pattersonpartial documentation
Owner based in Pittsburgh; no further details given regarding his tenure.
- 1978 → 2003Acquisition unknownRobert Martinpartial documentation
Owner based in Houston, Texas; no further details given regarding his tenure.
- 2003 → 2007Acquisition unknownDr. John Livesaypartial documentation
Did not register the vehicle in his name during his period of ownership.
- 2007 →Acquisition unknownUnnamed well-known collectionpartial documentation
During this ownership the car received a cosmetic refinish in Oxford Blue with a Saddle Tan top and matching interior, along with upgraded factory-style air conditioning by Vantage Motorworks.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownOrin Smithpartial documentation
Described as the fifth registered owner from new; car has been lightly used and maintained to a high standard, retaining its refinished condition throughout his stewardship.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
Comprehensive cosmetic refinishing in Oxford Blue with a Saddle Tan convertible top and matching leather interior; brightwork was refurbished and a correct tinted windshield reinstated.
Carried out during the ownership of the sixth custodian, identity not publicly disclosed, acquired in 2007.
- —ModificationVantage Motorworks
Installation of an upgraded factory-style air conditioning system.
Carried out during the same ownership period as the cosmetic refinishing.
Are you the owner of this car?
This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.