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.

The 4.6-liter F-head inline-six is equipped with a downdraft Zenith carburetor and was factory rated at 130 horsepower. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.  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 complete tool kit and owner’s handbook will accompany the vehicle.

For more information and details, please call or text Kendi Brown at +1.623.404.9042 or email us at sales@classicpromenade.com. We are pleased to coordinate inspections, and we help coordinate shipping worldwide. We also have financing partners if you are interested in financing.

The post 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn appeared first on Classic Promenade.

Chassis No. LSMF-30 was delivered new on June 9^th, 1953, to Mr. John Mason in Cambridge City, Indiana.  By September 16, 1965, Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas and his wife Carolyn Agger acquired the Rolls and enjoyed it for the next 16 years.  The Rolls was an important part of their lives and was frequently written about in Time Magazine and numerous other publications.  By December of 1986, the LSMF-30 was acquired by Margo Reese from Culver City, California.  Ms. Reese enjoyed ownership for the next 25 years.  The present owner acquired the Silver Dawn in 2011 and set out to have it restored through 2014.  Most of the restoration was performed by the highly regarded specialist, Santos, at Tony Handler’s in Los Angeles.  The mechanical restoration is superb in every respect.

LSMF-30 was ordered new in the same stunning color combination as it is today, Velvet Green (X21416) over Shell Grey (222/2128) with a single Ivory pinstripe.  The paint and chrome are concours quality and performed by Lanse Collision Restoration Center in Los Angeles during 2007 for over $19,000.  The quality of the paint and chrome speak for itself, this is concours quality workmanship.

The interior was restored by Harry’s Auto Top & Upholstery in Los Angeles in 2012 for an investment in excess of $19,000.  This included Grey leather, Grey Wilton wool carpeting and Grey wool broadcloth headliner.  All the leather is like new today.  The wood refinishing is spectacular.  The burl walnut and crossbanding is gorgeous and in excellent condition today.  All of the instrumentation works as it should, and the original radio has been restored.  In the glovebox is a modern stereo CD player as well.  The rear window shade can be raised remotely by the driver for increased privacy.

The venerable 4,566 cc (278.6 cu in) inline six-cylinder engine was a replacement engine that was completely rebuilt by Santos at Tony Handler’s.  He has more experience rebuilding Rolls-Royce engines than any other expert in North America.  The radiator, transmission, engine, steering column, and more were all rebuilt or replaced at a cost of more than $40,000, with most of the work being performed in 2014.

The engine has excellent power and the transmission shifts perfectly, much smoother than most any Silver Dawn we’ve driven.  There are no rattles, clunks, vibrations, etc.  All of the instruments work exactly as they should.  The only item we see is that it desperately needs new tires.  We would normally replace them, but we want the new owner to decide on the new tires such as radials versus bias ply, whitewalls versus blackwalls, etc.

LSMF-30 comes complete with its original Owner’s handbook, small tools, large tools with jack and spare, and a custom fitted car cover.  Of course, the history file for this Rolls is extensive and includes the factory guarantee, factory build records, service and restoration invoices since 1989, registration details since 1965 and more.

For more information and details, please call or text Kendi Brown at +1.623.404.9042 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.

The post 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn appeared first on Classic Promenade.

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 +1.623.404.9042 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.

The post 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn appeared first on Classic Promenade.

Long ago the Rolls benefited from a repaint in its present two tone dark blue metallic contrasted with light blue metallic. It was a high quality repaint when done and now presents itself well with minor lacquer cracking in some areas, most noticeable on the roof. This car does not need a repaint. It presents itself very handsomely and the chrome and stainless are very good to excellent. The tan coach stripes really make the paint and chrome pop!

The interior is very nice. The gray leather is new and looks excellent. The rear seat could be the original leather in excellent condition, just redyed in gray. The carpet is a gorgeous blue Wilton and looks perfectly correct. The wood is beautiful throughout and is in very nice condition. The headliner is new and looks terrific. It also has the rear window silk shade that is operated by the driver, to increase privacy and intimacy for back seat passengers. The rear seat also benefits from the vanities and of course the gorgeous picnic tables. The front passengers have the tools and manual under the dashboard.

The Rolls drives very well and feels rock solid. It definitely feels like a low mileage original car that has been well maintained. The Rolls benefited from a tear-down and rebuilding by ACME Car Service in 2000. We haven’t had time to test everything, but it all seems to work as it should. The gauges work well and the car starts right up and is extremely quiet. The temperature and oil pressure are all in line. The original leather gaiters wrapping the rear leaf springs is a testament to the low mileage and the car not seeing damp weather. They look nearly as new.

The Rolls was ordered new with wide white wall tires. Today, an older set of Firestone tires are on the car. We would love to see a set of wide white wall radials be fitted, to enhance the handling and safety.

The engine compartment and chassis would benefit from additional detailing. As stated previously, we recommend minor touch ups for the paint. It really looks brilliant! We love driving the four speed column manual transmission. It is a very sporty yet elegant experience.

HISTORY OF LSDB86: This motorcar was bought new by Frank D Gardner in Midland, Texas. He enjoyed the Rolls for the next 18 years. On September 23, 1970, Mr. Gardner sold her to Glenn Cardon in Rosemead, CA. Mr. Cardon joined the Rolls Royce Owners Club (RROC) in 1973 and drove LSDB86 through 1980. Mr. Cardon is a RROC member today. In 1980, Mr. Cardon sold the motorcar to Mr. Stephen F. Anderson of Mill Valley, CA. It was Mr. Anderson that started having the Rolls maintained and serviced at ACME Car Service in Hayward, CA. The Colgett’s have been famous in the RROC for being the leading experts at vintage Rolls and Bentley service. By 2000, the Rolls had accumulated 31,900 miles. According to Mr. Anderson, this is the true mileage. After 20 years of ownership, Mr. Anderson sold the motorcar to Richard Allen Shaw of Visalia, CA. Mr. Shaw continued to have the Rolls serviced with ACME and by 2006 it had accumulated 32,700 miles. It is now being consigned by Mr. Shaw’s cousin.

The Rolls shows just under 35,000 miles on the odometer. We aren’t sure if that is correct or not. The motorcar shows many signs of being a low mile example.

The Rolls comes complete with a library of books on Rolls and Bentley, a wonderful file history, most of the large and small tools and service and operating manuals. It also comes with a treasure trove of spare parts! This is the kind of car to buy if you are looking for a car to drive and enjoy. It has a known history from new and is gorgeous!

The Rolls is in our Phoenix, AZ showroom. For more information or to schedule a viewing, please call, text or email Harry Clark at +1.623.404.9042 or sales@classicpromenade.com.

The post 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn appeared first on Classic Promenade.