ICON Derelict Rolls Royce Silver Cloud Gives Us a Raging Spirit of Ecstasy

Here’s a deep dive into what it took to build this SEMA Show-stopper.

It’s safe to say that we’re obsessed with Jonathan Ward and his ICON brand. Everything the brand’s iconic (pun intended) gecko touches seemingly turns to hand-hewn gold. They’re already known for an incredible attention to detail, but this Roller cranks it up to a whole new level.

This build began as a slightly decrepit 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Now, it’s perhaps the most over-built Rolls in history – and that’s saying something. If it was crafted by the Brits in Crewe, it was perfected by some Yanks in SoCal.

Simply put, Ward is an automotive genius. He likes to talk about the little details that most people might never notice on a ride in one of his cars. A Rolls is always an elegant and comfortable place to spend an afternoon wafting along. But this vintage ride has been injected with a healthy dose of modern performance and comfort.

With custom Art Morrison chassis tweaks and a General Motors LS V8 mated to a smooth GM truck transmission, this Cloud has as much American DNA as it does British at this point. It now handles better, rides more comfortably, and drives smoother than it ever did with its factory components.
 

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If you’re an automotive tech nerd like us, be sure to watch this video. Ward is happy to talk about details he usually glosses over in most interviews (like a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage). This car, while it looks like a comfy old Brit with faded paint, is a new animal. It’s been rebuilt from the ground up with modern bits and a serious flair for aesthetics. We think it’s possible that this reborn Rolls-Royce is better than anything coming from the automaker today.