The rebirth of Rolls-Royce after its acquisition by BMW is nothing short of amazing. After buying the naming rights to Rolls-Royce, BMW built an entirely new factory in Goodwood and ever since has been producing some of the most desirable (and what are probably the finest) cars ever created. Within its model line, there are cars that stand out to an even higher level. One of these is our Pick of the Day, this stunning 2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn that is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Farmingdale, New York.
Rolls-Royce is not a volume manufacturer — it’s a company that only builds about 6,000 cars per year. The Dawn is one of the lower production models offered, all of them bespoke with no two examples alike. Just the fact that this is the case in our modern world is pretty amazing. As such, the well-crafted Dawn is a car that has become a bit of a collectible.
This specific example is finished in Midnight Sapphire Blue (code X05), accented by a blue power top and an Arctic White leather interior (code Z7XX) to make for an stunning contrast. It has covered just 5,615 miles from new and, importantly, has an absolutely impeccable service history.
Under the hood is the 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine producing 564 horsepower paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that uses geolocation to anticipate the topography and adjust shifts. What this means is that when you are approaching a hill, the car already knows this and has automatically chosen the correct gear for the level of incline based on the speed you are traveling.
The seller boldly states that “everything about the Dawn signals exclusivity and refinement, from its lambswool floor mats and fine wood trim to the remarkable high-gloss stainless steel exterior package,” and I would heartily agree with this somewhat grandiose sounding statement. Major options include comfort access, backup camera with Top View, climate-controlled front seats, ambient lighting, adaptive LED headlights with high-beam and anti-glare assist, lane departure warning, Driving Assistant Plus, Side View Cameras, Navigation Professional, head-up display, satellite tuner, premium Rolls-Royce Bespoke Audio (the best factory audio system ever put in any automobile!), Night Vision with human recognition, and polished forged LA wheels.
Take a look at the detailing in the cover for the top, which has been executed in wood that perfectly matches the wood in the interior. It is the details like this that make a Dawn a very special car and so unlike anything else. All Goodwood-era Rolls-Royces live in another solar system than any other manufacturer, and it seems that Rolls uses cars like this Dawn to even further distance itself from lesser vehicles bearing the names Bentleys and Maybach.
The Dawn (and any other Goodwood Rolls) impresses you with its quality even before you are inside it. The moment you open a door, with its long and perfectly polished stainless steel door handle, you feel it. It is the very definition of smooth, having some heft but easy to use with no rattle or play in the handle.
After taking your seat, the view of the dash is also simply perfect. Every control you touch feels substantive. The glass over the instruments is crystal-clear and free of distortion. The leather on the steering wheel is better than that used for the seats of a Bentley and, everywhere you look, you see perfect stitching and impeccable finishing. There is nothing more special than sitting behind the wheel of one of these cars.
Every single aspect of this motorcar looks to be in perfect, as-new condition. If the service records are as complete as the seller states, this is an opportunity to own a truly rare, modern Rolls-Royce that is as good as it was when new. If you doubt the rarity of these cars, let me state that last week I was asked to attend the Rolls-Royce Owners Club national Meet in Palm Springs and, among more than 150 cars, there was only a single Dawn.
When the 2016 Rolls-Royce Dawn was new, it carried a price of more than $402,000, and this example with the wood top boot and other options likely cost more than $450,000. These special cars have seen some depreciation over the last decade but the price for examples as good as this one have been pretty level for a few years, likely due to their rarity. This one can be had for what I will call a very fair price of $239,900. If I had that much spare cash, I would add it to my garage before the next dawn.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars
