Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn

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See also the 1994–1998 Silver Dawn
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn 4-Door Saloon 1954
Manufacturer Rolls-Royce Ltd
Production 1949–1955
785 made[1]
Predecessor Wraith
Successor Silver Cloud
Engine(s) 4.3 L I6
4.6 L I6
Transmission(s) 4-speed manual or 3 speed automatic
Wheelbase 120 in (3048 mm)[1]
Length 4877 to 5334 mm (192 to 210 inches)[1]
Width 69 in (1753 mm)[2]
Height 64.5 in (1638 mm)[2]
Related Silver Wraith
Bentley Mark VI
Bentley R Type
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn 4-Door Saloon 1954
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn 4-Door Saloon 1954

The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn is a car that was produced by Rolls-Royce at their Crewe works between 1949 and 1955. It was the first Rolls-Royce car to be offered with a factory built body which it shared, along with its chassis, with the Bentley Mark VI until 1952 and then the Bentley R Type until production finished in 1955. The car was intended as an export only model and most were left hand drive with column gear shift. Only with the R Type based model was it officially available on the home market. [3] A mere 785 were produced between 1949 and 1955, as opposed to over 7500 Bentleys over the same time period.

Early models had a different facia (dashboard) from their Bentley counterparts. Later models were differentiated only by the entwined R-R logos on the gauges, hubcaps, engine covers, etc plus the different bonnet on the standard steel saloon as well as the square radiator.

The in-line six cylinder, engine had overhead inlet and side exhaust valves and had a capacity of 4257 cc until 1951 when it was enlarged to 4566 cc. The carburettor was a single downdraught Stromberg until 1952 when it was replaced by a Zenith.[1]

A four speed manual gearbox was fitted to all cars at first with a 3 speed automatic becoming an option in 1952 and standard in 1953. [1] Only the Rolls Royce models offered an automatic transmission.

The suspension was independent at the front using coil springs, at the rear the live axle used half elliptic leaf springs. The car had a separate chassis made with traditional riveted construction until 1953 after which it was welded. Servo assisted 12.25 in (311 mm) drum brakes were used, hydraulically operated at the front but retaining mechanical operation at the rear. Although many cars were fitted with factory built bodies, others were supplied to external coachbuilders.

It was in a car of this type that Queen Elizabeth II learnt to drive.

[edit] Performance

A factory bodied Silver Dawn with automatic transmission tested by The Motor magazine in 1954 had a top speed of 94.0 mph (151.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 15.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of 15.4 miles per imperial gallon (18.3 L/100 km/12.8 mpg US) was recorded. The test car cost £4704 including taxes. [2]

[edit] Movie appearances

Doctor in Distress (1963), The Man, the Woman and the Money (1965), The Return of Count Yorga (1971), La Carapate (1978),Odd Couple 2 (1998) Richie Rich (1994), etc[4].

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e The Rolls-Royce Motor Car. Anthony Bird and Ian Hallows. Batsford Books. 2002 ISBN 07134 8749 6
  2. ^ a b c "The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn" (May 5 1954). The Motor. 
  3. ^ A-Z of Cars 1945-1970. Michael Sedgwick and Mark Gillies. Bay View Books. 1986. ISBN 1 870979 39 7
  4. ^ Internet Movie Cars Database: Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn in Movies and TV series


v • d • e
Rolls-Royce road car timeline
1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
Independent Vickers plc VW Group BMW
Standard 10 hp
15 hp		 V-8
20 hp		 Twenty 20/25 25/30
Wraith		 WWII Silver Dawn Silver Cloud Silver Shadow/Silver Wraith II Silver Spirit/Silver Spur
Premium 30 hp 40/50 hp (Silver Ghost) Phantom I II III Silver Wraith Camargue Silver Seraph Phantom
Phantom IV/V/VI
Convertible Corniche/II/III/IV Corniche V Drophead