12. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
The 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was one of the top cars of its time, with its unique look and better performance. It had that classic British style, big and luxurious, but updated for the modern era.
Inside, it had air conditioning and comfy leather seats. For power, you could choose between a 4.9-liter straight-six or a strong 6.2-liter V8 that could go over 100mph.
Overall, the Silver Cloud was Rolls-Royce’s first big design after the war, making it a very important model for them.
Overview:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 1955 |
| Purpose | Luxury car |
| Body Styles | |
| * Standard steel body by Rolls-Royce (most common) | |
| * Custom coachwork by various coachbuilders (rare) | |
| Engine Type | Inline-6 (straight-6) |
| Displacement | 4,887 cc (298 cu in) |
| Horsepower | Not officially stated by Rolls-Royce, estimated to be around 155 hp (116 kW) |
| Torque | Not officially stated |
| Transmission | 4-speed GM Hydramatic automatic |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Top Speed | Approximately 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | Approximately 13.5 seconds |
| Fuel Economy | Approximately 14.5 mpg (UK gallons) |
| Chassis | Box-steel chassis |
| Suspension | Independent front suspension, live rear axle with leaf springs |
| Brakes | Drum brakes on all four wheels |
| Length | 19 ft 3.5 in (5,880 mm) |
| Width | 6 ft 6.5 in (1,994 mm) |
| Height | 5 ft 6.5 in (1,692 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 9 ft 10 in (2,997 mm) or 10 ft 4 in (3,150 mm) |
13. Aston Martin DBR1
The Aston Martin DBR1, driven by legends like Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, or Carroll Shelby, completely changed the game for racing cars in both looks and performance.
This beauty hit the tracks in 1956, and it was a showstopper. It raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times and triumphed at the Nürburgring 1,000km race in 1958.
At its core was a groundbreaking inline-six engine that propelled the DBR1 to a top speed of 155mph, delivering an impressive 254hp. It was truly a marvel of the automotive world.
The specific DBR1 mentioned was sold at an auction by RM Sotheby’s during the 2017 Monterey Car Week for an incredible $22.5 million.
Overview:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 1956 |
| Purpose | Sports racing car |
| Body Style | Two-door open-cockpit sports car |
| Engine Type | Inline-6 (straight-6) |
| Displacement | 2,493 cc (2.5 L) |
| Horsepower | 180 hp (134 kW) @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 160 lb-ft (217 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Top Speed | Over 150 mph (241 km/h) |
| 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | Approximately 7 seconds |
| Chassis | Tubular steel frame with aluminum body panels |
| Suspension | Independent front suspension with double wishbones and coil springs, live rear axle with leaf springs |
| Brakes | Disc brakes on all four wheels |
| Curb Weight | Approximately 1,764 lbs (800 kg) |
| Length | 15 ft 7 in (4,747 mm) |
| Width | 6 ft 0 in (1,829 mm) |
| Height | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 8 ft 7 in (2,616 mm) |