Regular attendees of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will note that the award for Most Elegant Rolls-Royce bears the name of Lucius Beebe. In the early years of the concours, few judges stood more prominent than Beebe, literally—the noted society journalist and gourmand stood 6’4” and could always be found in an impeccable bespoke morning suit and top hat. The flamboyant personality disguised a truly knowledgeable enthusiast, who loved Rolls-Royces and advocated for them fiercely; it was due to Beebe’s influence that Rolls-Royce became the modern Pebble Beach Concours’ first single-marque class.

This Silver Cloud, chassis number LSKP403, was the final Rolls-Royce purchased by Beebe. An extremely late-production car with all the updates made to the model over its run, it was ordered through Bill Harrah’s Modern Classic Motors by the Nevada Silverado Corporation, believed to have been one of Beebe’s business entities, in the care of Reno attorney Francis Breen. Equipment was noted as standard US specification, with the addition of power windows and radio aerial. Delivery was made in August 1965, with the car noted as resident with Beebe in Virginia City, Nevada, on its ownership record the following year.

The car was next recorded by the Rolls-Royce Owners Club with John T. Markum of Fullerton, California, in 1985, then passed to longtime RROC member and enthusiast, Barry Cooney. In 1994 it was advertised by Mr. Cooney as “a truly fine original” car with one repaint since new and 61,000 miles. It is believed that he sold the car to John Arena of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who in turn passed it in 2000 to Michael North of Orlando. Finally, in 2009, the car returned to the West Coast in the hands of Alan Mason Peterson Jr., of Newport Beach.

In the September/October 2015 issue of The Flying Lady, it was noted that Ray and Bonnie Kinney found the Silver Cloud III with Mr. Peterson “in Newport Beach, California, at Christmastime 2010. It was love at first sight, particularly the soft creamy golden color which gave the car its name: Magnolia.” Such was the Kinneys’ appreciation for their saloon that it traveled to shows in a 26-foot trailer, wrapped with an image of the car in a field of bluebonnets! The car participated in several RROC events in their ownership, winning 2nd in the Touring Class at the Annual Meet in 2013. In a recent road test, it was noted to run a bit hot and would benefit from further mechanical servicing prior to extended use by a new owner.

Well-kept and accompanied by a particularly thorough file, this must be one of the most attractive Silver Cloud IIIs available today.