1996 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn

This lovely Silver Dawn is presented in a striking colour combination of Royal Blue, with Magnolia hide interior. Smart, elegant, and positively shouting good taste.

Now twenty-five years old, the car has been loved and cherished by just 4 owners, each one working hard to maintain her as the manufacturer intended. The raft of invoices accompanying the car is testament to this, some main dealer, the remainder from independent garages.

Just over 54,000 cossetting miles have been covered, the car most likely being used for high days and holidays in recent times. Just a thousand miles have been covered in each of the last three years.

The car is being offered for sale by a gentleman who buys and sells cars for a living and who has successfully sold cars before via The Market.

A recent MoT has been carried out for reassurance that all is well, and we strongly urge interested parties to come and inspect this lovely, rare Rolls-Royce.

We have already commented on the suitability of Royal Blue as a smart paint finish for the Silver Dawn, but that would count for nothing if it was not in tip-top order. Thankfully it is, the last owner having spent money with a body specialist dealing with any minor paint imperfections.

We can see from the invoices that the rear bumper has been attended to, in addition to some paint for the nearside front wing and door.

There are also recent bills which show the owner had the car regularly machine polished, his intention clearly to ensure that the paint finish truly sparkled at all times.

Yes, you will find the odd stone chip and mark, commensurate with a car that is a quarter of a century young.

We do note a scratch above the Roll-Royce badge on the rear offside pillar and some surface scratches on the nearside rear wing, but nothing else worthy of detailed comment.

The wheels are a mixed bag, with one in particular showing signs of corrosion and in need of attention. One of the many specialists should be able to restore them to as new condition with ease.

Correct manufacturer recommended Avon tyres are fitted all round, with plenty of tread. Matching premium rubber is always a good indication of caring and considered classic car ownership.

The gleaming chrome, and there is plenty of it, does just that – gleam!

We defy anyone to find a more luxurious and opulent interior than that found in any Rolls-Royce. They are the masters!

Not only is the Silver Dawn’s interior a visual treat, with acres of soft leather, and a forest of wood, but the smell is something really quite special too.

The front seats, more comfortable than any armchair that you may have at home, are infinitely adjustable for the very finest view out. And what a view it is, the magnificent Spirit of Ecstasy mascot proudly erect at the bonnet’s end, as if guiding the way.

The seats themselves are in excellent condition, with just the slightest creasing evident.

We note from the car’s history that the rear seats were reconnollised a few years back and are almost as comfortable as those up front.

We do note some marks to the centre console close to the electric seat switches and the trim to the doors is a little grubby in places. A little elbow grease should well improve this.

The wood trim looks to be in good order and has clearly been cared for by the car’s owners.

Lambs wool over rugs have done a good job of protecting the carpets, with just a little wear detected in the driver’s footwell. Lift that particular mat and the rubber protective area has deteriorated.

The Silver Dawn was a well-equipped car in its day, the only thing that was perhaps missing was a reversing camera and DVD player. An Alpine unit has been fitted which solves this problem, the screen only being deployed if required, so as not to spoil the rather lovely old-school interior. It can easily be removed if it is not to taste.

This is most definitely a car in which to relax, watching the world drift by, whichever seat you occupy. Ideal for a touring holiday and with a 350-litre boot, there will be no need to travel light.

The boot houses a spare wheel, nicely tucked away under the floor and you will also find the expected tools and a warning triangle. Also included is an electric tyre pump and a Bentley trickle charger, ideal if the car is only going to be used occasionally.

We always include plenty of pictures of a car’s underside, so pause a while and examine them. There are a few areas which could be improved with sympathetic repainting or wax oiling and there is some degradation to the foil covering by the oil pan. There is however very little sign of any surface corrosion, with the car most likely not used in the very worse winter weather.

Lift the bonnet and that renowned, smooth old Roll-Royce motor is revealed in all its glory. It is a packed engine bay, but it all looks clean and presentable as one would expect from a properly maintained car.

Powerful, smooth, refined and mated to a slick four-speed automatic transmission, this engine will impress.

We would always expect a prestigious car such as this to come with a fully documented history file. That we can report is the case here.

There are plenty of bills from the car’s earlier life, including main dealer invoices as well as a raft from P & A Wood, Rolls-Royce and Bentley heritage specialists.

The last owner chose to use Auto Audio in North London to maintain the car. We are told this company expanded from its audio roots into repairs and maintenance of fine cars.

Over the last few years, the following work has been carried out:

• New rear suspension struts

• New cruise control ECU

• Repair rear brake pump assembly

• Respray of nearside door, wing, and rear bumper

• New coach line

• New boot actuator

• Reconditioned steering rack

• New auxiliary battery

Earlier this year the rear brake pads were replaced, and a new coil spring and rear shock absorber was fitted.

Servicing has been carried out too, though not annually due to the low mileage the car has covered.

The car also comes with a bundle of old MoT certificates which help corroborate the modest mileage displayed on the odometer and some old tax discs. There are manuals for the infotainment system and plenty of keys.

We would mention that we noticed the headlights flickering when we moved the car around in our facility – an earthing problem perhaps?

This lovely and rare Silver Dawn defies her years and still has the power to impress and is a guaranteed head-turner. If there is a more comfortable way to travel, we have yet to find it.

Clearly cherished by her owners, ably demonstrated by the raft of paperwork, the car is ready for exciting new adventures.

If you fancy taking on custodianship, we confidently estimate the car will sell for between £23,000 and £43,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’