Footnotes

In 1962 this Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn was registered to none other than Haskell Wexler, the Academy Award-winning American cinematographer, film producer, and director. An innovative filmmaker (in 1976 he was the first to use the newly invented Steadycam), Wexler was judged one of the ten most influential cinematographers of all time in a survey of members of the International Cinematographers Guild. His career highlights include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966); In the Heat of the Night (1967); The Thomas Crown Affair (1968); Medium Cool (1969); One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975); and Days of Heaven (1978).

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 factory bodywork, which was better suited to the owner driver than to a chauffeur. This 'standard steel' body was available at first only on the Mark VI Bentley, the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the Silver Dawn - not appearing until 1949. Codenamed 'Ascot', the Silver Dawn was produced alongside the Mark VI and the coachbuilt Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, albeit in far fewer numbers. A separate chassis was retained, the same basic design being built in three different wheelbase lengths, while other notable features were independent front suspension and hydraulic front brakes.

The range featured a new 4,257cc six-cylinder engine (enlarged to 4,566cc in 1951) with inlet-over-exhaust valve gear, which had been under development since the mid-1930s. The company used belt drive for the water pump and dynamo for the first time on this engine, which employed a Zenith Stromberg carburettor in Rolls-Royce configuration. The latter was preferred to the Mark VI's twin SUs as it offered smoother running and a cold start facility, which was not available on the SU-equipped Bentley until 1952.

Only 760 Silver Dawns were built and this model is considered by many to be one of the most attractive 'standard steel' models from either Rolls-Royce or Bentley. The first Rolls-Royce to be offered with factory bodywork, the Silver Dawn is recognised as a landmark model in the marque's history and is fast becoming sought after as the enthusiasts' choice.

Its accompanying chassis card copies show that 'LSBA44' was delivered new to Garage de l'Athénée in Geneva, Switzerland and first owned by one Victor Lyon, whose address is given as Maison Royale, Geneva, Switzerland. The car was delivered with several special features including dust proofing; stop lamp with orange glass; reversing lamp with white glass; additional (plain) radiator cap; French type headlamps; and a horn muting switch. The original colour scheme was black with brown leather upholstery. It is not known how for long the Rolls-Royce had been in the USA before it was registered to Haskell Wexler at his home in Los Angeles, although there is an Indiana licensing sticker in the windscreen dating from the 1970s. The current vendor purchased the Silver Dawn from John Cory of Fort Lee, New Jersey on 27th March 2008, the car to be collected from Santa Barbara, California. The related invoice is on file together with a State of California Automobile Certificate of Ownership in Haskell Wexler's name. Now the car is presented in a not original champagne livery.

Please note this motor car is subject to import tax if remaining in the EU and, as it has been on static display for several years, will require recommissioning for road use. This motor car will be sold with its original US certificate of ownership, a purchase invoice from 2008 and a copy of its built sheet.