The Second World War meant focus shifted to building aero engines, both at the Derby Works and a new factory, commissioned by the Air Ministry, and built at Crewe in Cheshire, which would eventually become the home of Rolls-Royce Limited from 1946.

With peace restored, Rolls-Royce had totally changed in nature. It went from being what had been described as a "brilliant sprat in the ocean of technology" into a world contender in aeropropulsion. This was demonstrated with the Gloster Meteor which, powered by R-R Derwent V engines, established a new world air speed record of 606 mph.

All the Silver Wraiths had coachbuilt bodies. They continued in production until 1959 using the 4887cc engine to cope with increasingly heavy bodies such as H.J. Mulliner sedanca de ville and Hooper touring limousine.

The Silver Dawn was the first Rolls-Royce to be sold with a standard steel body and all were exported. A few were fitted with coachbuilt bodies and these are very collectable. The six-cylinder in-line engine of 4,257cc was enlarged to 4.5-litre in 1951 and then to 4.9-litres in 1954.