1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn

Sold for $451,000 at 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island.
761 Silver Dawns were built 1949 and 1955 and 64 of those received unique coachwork.

This 1953 H.J. Mulliner, alloy-bodied, Silver Dawn Drophead Coupe (Serial No. LSLE31) is the only one produced. It was ordered and owned by Texaco attorney Howard Kizer. The Kizer family, along with Carl Fisher, financed the Indianapolis Raceway.

The sporting nature of this Bentley is reminiscent of the drophead coupes on the Bentley Mark VI chassis. It has a raked and vee'd split windshield and deeply skirted and curved fenders.

The car is powered by a 4.6 liter, in-line 6-cylinder, developing 150-horsepower, coupled to an automatic 4-speed transmission, with a 120-inch wheelbase. It weighs about 4,100 pounds with power front hydraulic and rear mechanical brakes and is capable of speed of about 87 miles per hour. It has a proper set of hand and road tools, a British wicker picnic hamper, a 'polo' walking stick, and a red umbrella stashed in the boot.

A 4000-hour restoration project preserved this one-and-only example of a H.J. Mulliner, 1953 Rolls-Royce, Silver Dawn Drophead coupe.

This rare example is a one-of-a-kind project with custom body by the leading coachbuilder, H.J. Mulliner. It won best in its class at the Rolls-Royce Owners Club Grand Classic at Meadowbrook and at Amelia Island. It also won Best in Class at Eastern U.S.Concours,Best in Class at the Rolls Royce Grand National, Best in Division and Sponsor's Major Award at Buckingham Concour's d'Elegance.