What do Chevrolet and Rolls-Royce have in common? Well, nothing much except for that time when the British used GM gearboxes a few decades ago. But at some point in the 1970s, someone blended the two to create a unique and quirky car. That person was named Jon Tedesco, and the car was known as the Custom Cloud.
Born in the mid-1970s, the Custom Cloud was essentially a Chevrolet Monte Carlo with Rolls-Royce-esque front and rear sheet metal. Jon even went as far as to use a grille nearly identical to contemporary Rolls-Royce models. Needless to say, the venture ended after a lawsuit, but some of the cars have survived to this day.
The silver example you see here is based on the 1975 Monte Carlo and is resting in the Isle of Man Motor Museum. It's the first Custom Cloud ever built and is almost pristine, most likely due to a restoration performed some years ago.
The Custom Cloud was born out of Jon's desire to bring more people into South Florida Chevrolet dealerships. With clowns and free hot dogs no longer enough to attract customers, he devised the idea of customizing a car. He picked Rolls-Royce as inspiration due to the brand's prestige and recognizable design. He teamed up with businessman Lenny Borger and established Custom Cloud Motors Inc.
The company completed the first car in time for the 1975 Miami International Motor Show. Meanwhile, Jon discovered that Rolls-Royce did not have a patent for its unique grille in the US, so he designed one for his new car. He also decided to use original Rolls-Royce taillights, and the story goes that he went on to purchase all available inventory. When there were no more taillights to buy, Jon ordered a production run from UK-based manufacturer Lucas.
The car shown at the Miami show, which is the car you see here, was sold to a customer in England. Shortly after, the Custom Cloud made it on the front cover of Car and Driver. In 1976, Custom Cloud showcased its second car at the New York Auto Show. That's when some Rolls-Royce executives noticed the Monte Carlo and decided to sue the company.
The British firm was displeased not only with the grille and the patent Jon had filed but also with the hood ornament and the Custom Cloud emblem, both of which were very similar to those seen on Rolls-Royce cars. Not surprisingly, Mr. Tedesco lost the lawsuit and was forced to modify the Custom Cloud. The company was eventually sold in 1978 after only around 20 cars had been completed.
As seen in the video below, the Custom Cloud remained a standard Monte Carlo under the shell. The interior is mostly unchanged, while the engine bay hides a 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8, one of four units available with the second-generation Monte Carlo. The mill was rated at 145 horsepower and 250 pound-feet (339 Nm) of torque.
And yes, the round headlamps and the blocky hood make the Custom Cloud look like a Stutz Blackhawk at first glance, but it's nowhere near as luxurious or exotic. I'm not sure whether I like it or not, but it's definitely a sight to behold. But it's up to you to decide whether the Custom Cloud is pretty, quirky, or downright ugly.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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