The policy of rationalisation begun in the late 1930s continued at Rolls-Royce after WW2. More components were bought in rather than manufactured in house, and for the first time there was standard bodywork. In a break from the coachbuilt tradition this was made of pressed steel panels welded together. This ‘standard steel’ body was available at first only on the MkVI Bentley, the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the Silver Dawn - not appearing until 1949. A separate chassis was retained, the same basic design being built in three different wheelbase lengths, while other noteworthy features were independent front suspension and hydraulic front brakes. The range featured a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine (enlarged to 4,566cc for 1951) with inlet-over-exhaust valve-gear, which breathed via a Zenith Stromberg carburettor in Rolls-Royce configuration or twin SUs in Bentley form. A much-needed improvement to the standard bodywork arrived in mid-1952 in the shape of an enlarged boot together with associated changes to the rear wings and suspension, subsequent models being known as the ‘E’ Series Silver Dawn and R-Type Bentley. This 4.5-litre E-Series Silver Dawn was purchased by the current owner at the RREC Annual Rally auction in 1993 (Lot 616). An automatic transmission model, the car had already undergone restoration and since acquisition has been maintained by the vendor, an RREC member and graduate engineer. A reliable and economical runner, the ’Dawn was in regularly use until the recent completion of its owner’s Phantom III restoration project, because of which it is now offered for sale. The vendor describes the car’s condition as generally very good and reports that the only deviation from standard specification is the fitting of a manual choke Zenith carburettor (original supplied). Finished in Velvet Green with tan leather interior, ‘PLE 843’ is offered with file containing copy build sheets, workshop manual, parts list, sundry parts invoices, expired MoTs (from 1993) current road fund licence/MoT and Swansea V5.
The policy of rationalisation begun in the late 1930s continued at Rolls-Royce after WW2. More components were bought in rather than manufactured in house, and for the first time there was standard bodywork. In a break from the coachbuilt tradition this was made of pressed steel panels welded together. This ‘standard steel’ body was available at first only on the MkVI Bentley, the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the Silver Dawn - not appearing until 1949. A separate chassis was retained, the same basic design being built in three different wheelbase lengths, while other noteworthy features were independent front suspension and hydraulic front brakes. The range featured a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine (enlarged to 4,566cc for 1951) with inlet-over-exhaust valve-gear, which breathed via a Zenith Stromberg carburettor in Rolls-Royce configuration or twin SUs in Bentley form. A much-needed improvement to the standard bodywork arrived in mid-1952 in the shape of an enlarged boot together with associated changes to the rear wings and suspension, subsequent models being known as the ‘E’ Series Silver Dawn and R-Type Bentley. This 4.5-litre E-Series Silver Dawn was purchased by the current owner at the RREC Annual Rally auction in 1993 (Lot 616). An automatic transmission model, the car had already undergone restoration and since acquisition has been maintained by the vendor, an RREC member and graduate engineer. A reliable and economical runner, the ’Dawn was in regularly use until the recent completion of its owner’s Phantom III restoration project, because of which it is now offered for sale. The vendor describes the car’s condition as generally very good and reports that the only deviation from standard specification is the fitting of a manual choke Zenith carburettor (original supplied). Finished in Velvet Green with tan leather interior, ‘PLE 843’ is offered with file containing copy build sheets, workshop manual, parts list, sundry parts invoices, expired MoTs (from 1993) current road fund licence/MoT and Swansea V5.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
