One of the most elegant postwar bodies created for Rolls-Royce was the Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupe by H.J. Mulliner, design number 7504. Introduced very late in Silver Cloud I production, the car was officially known as an Adaptation, as it was created using a factory Standard Steel Saloon body shell, modified into a convertible by removing the steel roof, fitting two doors, and adding a modified chromed waistline molding. So thoroughly massaged and reworked were the factory components, however, that the end result was truly a piece of coachbuilt craftsmanship, as much as any fully custom body. A total of 107 examples were made on the Silver Cloud II, of which 74 were left-hand-drive models.

The Drophead Coupe Adaptation offered here was equipped with power windows and top, as well as a radio. It was originally shipped from London to Miami for delivery to Elisabeth Freeman Barney of Palm Beach, Florida, whose husband Philip was heir to an extremely wealthy East Coast family that had financed the building of the New York City subway and was involved in the foundation of Wells Fargo.

In previous ownership the car was restored in Sand Beige Metallic over a light tan leather interior with attractive dark accent piping, and fitted with correct factory-style air conditioning. It later received over $51,000 in mechanical work by noted marque specialists Vantage Motorworks in January 2020, with further work to correct paint and body blemishes and address the heater core. More recently the convertible top was serviced and the top boot repaired by Harry’s Auto Top and Upholstery of Los Angeles, and the interior leather refinished and the body paint-corrected and given a ceramic coating, invoices for all of which are included in the history file.

Handsomely presented and striking to admire, this car began its life here in sunny South Florida, and is still ideally sorted for enjoying the ocean breezes on seaside roads today—making its offering here in Miami totally appropriate.