Created by Icon 4x4 in California, the Derelict 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is a one-off luxo barge that costs as much as a new Phantom. The reason why it’s half a million dollars boils down to the sheer attention to detail that went into this build, starting with the Art Morrison chassis.
Reviewed by a rather festive Tiff Needell, the Derelict will upset Rolls-Royce purists with a no-nonsense independent front suspension as well as a four-link rear end, Brembo six- and four-piston brake calipers, and a V8 mill.
A very different animal from the straight-six engine from the factory, the LS7 was utilized by General Motors in high-performance applications such as the Camaro Z/28 and Corvette Z06. Built by hand and tuned to 550 horsepower in this application, the eight-cylinder lump channels the suck-squeeze-bang-blow to the rear wheels through a General Motors transmission.
The 4L85-E is a rather fitting choice given that Rolls-Royce utilized a Hydra-Matic back in the olden days, and yes, this fellow is perfect for lighting up the rear tires. General Motors developed the transmission for heavy-duty applications with a GVWR of 18,000 pounds (8,165 kilograms), so yeah, you can roast those rubber boots without a single worry in the world.
Also fitted with rack-and-pinion steering and a limited-slip differential, the Derelict 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is seriously nice inside as well, thanks to creature comforts like satellite navigation and cruise control. Air conditioning, period-correct yet all-new gauges, and a reshaped hardwood dashboard also need to be mentioned, along with buttery leather upholstery.
Although it looks stock to the untrained eye, there are three ways the exterior differs from the factory specification. Look beyond the lovely patina of the original two-tone paint job, and you’ll notice low-profile tires wrapped around big wheels designed to look like steelies. The final giveaway comes in the form of a gecko on the hood, which is the trademark of Icon 4x4.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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