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Books Models Highlights Cars
of 1998 |
Car
of the Month - June 2001 |
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 In June 1953 H.H. Sheikh Sir Salman bin Hamid al-Kalipah (this is written exactly as stated on the 1953 Rolls-Royce chassis card) ordered two left-hand drive Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn motor cars. The correct name of His Highness perhaps should have been written Sheikh Sir Salman bin Hamid Al-Khalifa; for centuries the Al-Khalifa Dynasty has been ruling the island emirate in the Persian Gulf. The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn by 1953 had been developed into the "Big Boot, Big Bore-Version", i.e. the 4,6 litre engine with full flow oil filter was fitted and the coachwork offered more room for luggage when compared to early versions of the Silver Dawn. As regards outward appearance the model was almost identical to the Bentley R. Both cars were delivered in September 1953. This was the very last month that the model series Silver Dawn was made for export only (in October 1953 the first 5 Silver Dawn were delivered in the home market).
Chassis Cards for #LSMF26 and #LSMF28 specified lots of extras on these cars with the additional information FOR USE IN PERSIA. H.H. Sheikh Salman bin Hamid Al-Khalifa didn't have the intention to use these cars as his personal transport but handed over both cars to his sons. #LSMF28 was given to H.H. Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (who followed his father as Emir of Bahrain) and #LSMF26 was given to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (who does serve his country as Prime Minister).. |
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With a mileage of some 65,000 miles the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn makes up a fine pair with Rossfeldt's 1954 Bentley R #B77WG, though that one's odometer reading is in excess of 498,000 miles.
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#LSMF26
is in a condition that almost belies its age of some 50 years. The car is
absolutely complete with original handbook, all original tools - not even
the description attached to The Kinsman Tyre Pump in the boot is missing.
The full set of documents handed over with the car supplies conclusive
evidence that this Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn had been maintained during its
whole lifetime with no expenses spared. After having been locked away for
a considerable period as the one and only Rolls-Royce added to a
collection of Ferrari motor cars the Silver Dawn is now in the custody of
Klaus-Josef Rossfeldt. Having been subject to some minor alterations the
car does comply with German legislation and is permanently registered.
Components of a later fitted air-conditioning unit were considered as
occupying too much space under bonnet as well as in the boot hence the
whole unit was taken off. The original radio was substituted by a modern
CD-player/radio combination.