This 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn was delivered new to Eli Lilly International Corp. of Indianapolis, Indiana, in April 1953, and it spent time in Wisconsin and Virginia before being exported to Kuwait in 2001 and re-imported to the United States in 2022. A refurbishment in the 1990s included a respray in blue, and power is from a 4.6-liter inline-six paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. The car has 16″ steel wheels with covers and is further equipped with power-assisted drum brakes, coach doors, and chrome bumpers with overriders. The cabin is upholstered in gray leather, and amenities include a sunroof, aftermarket air conditioning, a Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo, burl wood trim, and fold-down tray tables. The carpeting was replaced in October 2024, and other service performed under current ownership involved replacing the tires and the fuel pump, cleaning the carburetor, flushing the fuel system, and changing the oil and transmission fluid. This Silver Dawn is now offered on dealer consignment with photocopies of factory records, an owner’s manual, a tool kit and service records from current ownership.

The Silver Dawn was introduced in 1949, and it shared a chassis and a factory-built body with the Bentley Mark VI and the Bentley R-Type. This “big-boot” example left the factory finished in two-tone Thornley & Knights Velvet Green and Shell Grey, and it was refinished in blue with lighter-blue pinstriping during a refurbishment that was carried out in the mid-1990s. Features include a badge bar, Lucas driving lights, a Spirit of Ecstasy radiator ornament, fender-mounted mirrors, coach doors, stone guards, and chrome bumpers with overriders. The headlamps and the hood handle were replaced in September 2022.

Steel 16” wheels are adorned with multi-color covers and are mounted with 6.50” Firestone whitewall tires. A spare is stored beneath the trunk floor. Suspension consists of an independent coil-spring setup up front and a live axle with leaf springs at the rear. Braking is provided by front and rear power-assisted drums. Service performed in September 2022 included replacing the tires and inner tubes, the front suspension bushings, and the brake cylinders as well as flushing the brake fluid.

The left-hand-drive cabin features front bucket seats, and a rear bench upholstered in gray leather with blue piping that extends to the door panels. Amenities include a sliding sunroof, burl wood trim, a Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo, and aftermarket air conditioning. The rear quarters offer fold-down tray tables, a folding center rear armrest, footrests, throw pillows, and vanity mirrors. In October 2024, the selling dealer replaced the beige carpeting and installed blue sheepskin overlay rugs.

The three-spoke steering wheel fronts Smiths instrumentation consisting of a 110-mph speedometer, an analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 59k miles, approximately 250 of which have been added under current ownership.

The 4.6-liter F-head inline-six is equipped with a downdraft Zenith carburetor and was factory rated at 130 horsepower. Service performed in September 2022 involved repainting the engine bay, flushing the fuel system, cleaning the carburetor, servicing the air conditioning, changing the oil, and replacing the following components:

• Exhaust-manifold gaskets
• Carburetor gaskets
• Fuel pump
• Coolant hoses
• Spark plugs
• Spark-plug wires
• Ignition points
• Distributor cap and rotor
• Battery

A custom radiator-fan shroud has been installed and was repaired in preparation for the sale.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission, for which the fluid and filter were changed under current ownership.

A complete tool kit and owner’s handbook will accompany the vehicle.

For more information and details, please call or text Harry Clark at +1.602.245.7200 or email us at sales@classicpromenade.com.  This Rolls is available for inspection at our showroom in Phoenix.  We are pleased to coordinate inspections, and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.