Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I expected to fetch £1m at auction

A vintage Rolls Royce that comes complete with a James Bond-esque drinks compartment is expected to sell for more than £1m at auction- although enjoying a tipple behind the wheel is not advised.

The 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Two-Seat Drophead Coupe is only one of two ever built and has undergone an exhaustive workover to restore it to former glories. Nicknamed the “Honeymoon Express”, the Silver Cloud I has extremely rare body work bespoke designed by Freestone & Webb.

Revolutionary at the time, the model moved away from classic rounded Rolls Royce designs of the 1950s, instead featuring vertical tail fins reminiscent of the Cadillac. Inside the Silver Cloud I is drenched with style and comes with matching red leather interior and carpets. A pair of rear cocktail cabinets each contains a cocktail shaker and four crystal whiskey tumblers

Under the hood the model runs on a six-cylinder engine, capable of producing 178 brake horsepower. It has just 42,000 miles on the clock.

Freshly restored it looks every bit as glamorous as when it first debuted at the Earl’s Court Show in 1958. The first owner of the “Honeymoon Express” was prominent Freemason Arnold Moreton, who went on to become Deputy Grand Supreme Ruler of the group - a position he held until his death in 1982.

The model is being sold by RM Auctions and will go under the hammer in Monaco on 12 May.